Inweekly Aug. 3 2023 Issue

Photos by Richard Rodriguez, Exhibition Designer at Pensacola Museum of Art

winners &

winners losers

WALKER WILSON The Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) board of directors unanimously voted to extend the contract of executive director Walker Wilson for another three-year term. Wilson was selected in 2020 from a competitive pool of 53 candidates. Within his first six months, he steered downtown through the challenges posed by Hurricane Sally and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, while simultaneously reducing overhead costs by 5% and launching significant initiatives for the 44-block downtown district. DIB chairman Chris McKean said, "Walker Wilson's unwavering dedication to our downtown, coupled with his extensive experience and active involvement in the community, continues to provide a solid foundation for him to collaborate with community stakeholders, business leaders and DIB staff."

CHRISTOPHER FAIRLEY The Florida Power & Light lineman won a new Kia from United Way of West Florida. Kia AutoSport of Pensacola donated the new car to encourage donors to give to United Way of West Florida during its annual fundraising campaign. Every donor giving $300 or more was eligible to win. Fairley's name was randomly drawn from hundreds of entries. This was the ninth year for United Way of West Florida's Kia Giveaway.

ROXANNA CONYERS Lakeview Center welcomed Conyers as its new director of nursing. Conyers will play a key role in recruitment, development and retention to position nursing staff as leaders in the field. She will lead, solidify and implement best nursing practices and work on innovative ways to assist clients with physical and behavioral health needs. She will oversee the compliance of state, federal and community rules and regulations and serve as an advocate for clients and nursing staff.

PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Florida Department of Transportation awarded Pensacola International Airport its Commercial Service Airport Project of the Year Award for Project Titan Element 1, ST Engineering's second hangar at the airport. Pensacola International Airport distinguished itself among other Florida airport nominees by demonstrating exceptional contributions to airport development, sustainability, efficiency, capacity and safety.

HEATHER LINDSAY

The Milton mayor wanted to get rid of City Attorney Alex Andrade after blaming him for the city council's approved new city manager, Scott Collins, deciding not to take the job. Lindsay insisted her conversations with Collins left no doubt that Andrade's communication with him was a "motivating factor." However, the public records show several council members injected themselves into the contract negotiations and Collins did not blame Andrade for his withdrawal. A motion to fire Andrade failed by a 5-2 vote.

B&C CORPORATE SERVICES OF CENTRAL

FLORIDA According to the once-daily newspaper, the owner of Johnson Lakes Apartments, a senior living complex on Johnson Avenue, has been dealing with Fair Housing, the Florida Department of Health, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and Code Enforcement after agencies received complaints from tenants about mold, mildew, roof leaks, broken air conditioning systems and safety.

ANTISEMITIC ATTACKS

An act of vandalism recently was committed against Temple Beth El, the oldest Jewish congregation in the State of Florida. This was the fourth antisemitic attack in the Pensacola area this summer. Temple Beth El appreciates the support and concern of the greater Pensacola community: "We are committed to working with our neighbors of all faiths and backgrounds to build an ever more tolerant and welcoming community."

FLORIDA MEDICAID U.S. District Judge

Donald Middlebrooks issued a seven-page order denying the state's request for a stay of July 14 ruling that ordered the state to increase the availability of private-duty nursing to allow children to receive care in their family homes and communities instead of in nursing homes. The judge denied the stay because any delay would do "substantial harm" to children. The state has been fighting this lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice for more than a decade. Meanwhile, the state Agency for Health Care Administration has settled another lawsuit that may lead to the Medicaid program providing incontinence supplies to adults with disabilities.

Walker Wilson / Photo Courtesy of DIB Heather Lindsay / Photo Courtesy of City of Milton

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

HEALTHCARE BEFORE HOUSING

Next month, Baptist Health Care will move to its new $650-million hospital on Brent Lane, and Mayor D.C. Reeves and the Pensacola City Council are interested in how the old campus will be developed.

The council has made it known that it would like to see 500 affordable housing units there. Last month, Mayor Reeves mentioned he was interested in obtaining the property.

The city received a $5 million Rebuild Florida Hometown Revitalization Program grant to aid in the demolition of the old Baptist Hospital. In the grant application, the city stated it planned to acquire the property to meet the grant requirement and receive funding for a revitalization project.

On my radio show, the mayor praised Baptist's efforts to get community input on a conceptual plan for how the site could be best developed.

"The collaboration has been good with Baptist," Reeves said. "They realize the obligation of what they leave behind, as well as we understand what this opportunity is. When you're a city of 39 square miles, 53 acres in the middle of your city doesn't come along often."

Besides affordable housing, a school, grocery store, retail, community center and park have also been mentioned as possible uses for the Baptist Hospital campus on E Street. What hasn't been mentioned is healthcare.

The hospital is surrounded by pockets of poverty that have some of the worst health outcomes not only in Escambia County, but also the entire state. According to the University of West Florida Haas Center, the five census tracts close to the site have a 42% poverty rate. The countywide rate is 18.5%. More than 1,800 children living in poverty reside in those neighborhoods.

When Achieve Healthy EscaRosa published its Community Needs Assessment in 2021, Escambia County ranked in the lower middle range of all Florida counties (25%-50%) for health outcomes, 47 out of 67 counties. Since then, Escambia County has dropped to among the least healthy counties in Florida (0%-25%)

and is ranked 51. And the outcomes in the poorer neighborhoods have suffered the most.

When he announced Baptist Hospital's move to Brent Lane, CEO Mark Faulkner promised the hospital would maintain a "significant presence" at its E Street campus, and he committed to looking at the needs of 32501 and being a "partner in better serving those needs."

Those healthcare needs have worsened since Faulkner announced the relocation in 2019, and the community must discuss how the needs of the E Street neighborhoods can be better served before Baptist Hospital loads the moving vans in September.

Community Health

Northwest Florida would appear to be a location solution, but CEO Chandra Smiley told me no one has talked with her about how to do it. Any expansion of its services to E Street would require funding for facilities, equipment and staff. Community Health recently closed its adult clinic at Lakeview due to budget constraints after the Medicaid expansion funded under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was discontinued in April.

We need to look at Baptist Hospital's move as an opportunity to be innovative in meeting the healthcare needs of those living near its old campus. Baptist and Sacred Hospital created Community Health to serve the poor and uninsured when the Escambia County Commission closed its hospital. It's time to recommit to that mission and determine how to improve health outcomes in struggling neighborhoods.

The hospitals cannot do it alone. For the past 20 years, they've conducted studies and produced glossy reports every few years, but the needle hasn't moved much. Health outcomes haven't improved in 32501 with Baptist Hospital within walking distance. We need to think outside the box and bring city, county and state officials to the table to develop strategies and funding to do as Faulkner promised—better serve the needs of 32501.

The discussion must begin now before the move and any affordable housing deals are struck. {in} rick@inweekly.net

For the past 20 years, they've conducted studies and produced glossy reports every few years, but the needle hasn't moved much.

KICKING RECYCLING FROM THE CURB

members unanimously passed a motion to increase sanitation rates by 9.5%, eliminate the charge for a second garbage bin and offer an optional trash or recycling bin at no additional cost. A final vote on that rate increase will occur after public hearings in August.

Board member Dale Perkins made the motion as a counter to the staff recommendation of a 3.5% rate increase, plus a $3 a month recycling fee. Perkins said his proposal saves customers slightly more than $1 a month compared to the staff recommendation.

"What I was concerned about is if we did that, a lot of people would just cancel altogether, and you'd be eating your basic costs," Perkins said.

Fellow board member Larry Williams said if neither education nor enforcement is working and recycling is losing money for the water management service, he sees no point in continuing operation.

REIMAGINE RECYCLING

Perkins is optimistic recycling will eventually regain its foothold in the stock market and the rate increases will smooth over. China halting the import of plastics and other recyclable materials in 2018 decimated the market, he said. For decades, China imported almost half of the waste from other countries.

With contaminated recycling material at the root of the problem, the City of Pensacola is kicking Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) from its curbs.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves announced the city will halt mandatory curbside recycling by Oct. 1 in response to ECUA increasing its rates. The mayor opted for alternative options after ECUA informed the city of plans to double fees for items brought to the material recycling facility and tack on fees for loads containing non-recyclable trash.

"What that means to the citizens in Pensacola is we're going to be moving to twice-a-week garbage pickup," Reeves said. "So, you'll either be Monday and Thursday, or Tuesday and Friday, like it was many years ago."

The mayor said the city will not increase garbage pick-up rates for twice-a-week service, but the fee will potentially rise about $1 a month because of the state of labor and economy."

Mayor Reeves broke the news on WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen" and later announced it at his weekly presser on July 25. At the press conference, PNJ reporter Jim Little asked, "What is your response to somebody who sees the potential of losing curbside recycling as a loss of value?"

The mayor shook off the question. "We have wish cycling, which is when you put things into the recycling can that you hope could be recycled and they aren't."

RECYCLING HISTORY

Curbside recycling didn't start in the city without a fight. Pensacola didn't get it until June 2009 after Leadership Pensacola and the Pensacola Young Professionals prioritized recycling. Throughout the first decade of this century, ECUA and City of Pensacola staff pushed back against adding curbside recycling to their workloads.

In 2008, Leadership Pensacola launched Live Green Pensacola to educate the community on recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. Led by

cery bag and eco-paraphernalia. Inweekly helped promote the effort and lobbied for both the City and ECUA to start curbside recycling.

Morette told Inweekly, "Living green is a means of preserving the earth; seventy-five percent of what we throw away is recyclable."

The City of Pensacola launched a pilot program in East Hill in July 2008 and collected 54.9 tons—about 9.2 pounds per customer per week—to be recycled over 32 weeks. ECUA started a voluntary curbside program a year later, and 33,000 of its 72,000 residential customers signed up.

The ECUA's voluntary program happened after LeaP and PYP went before the board and asked for mandatory curbside recycling. Larry Walker, Elvin McCrovey and Logan Fink voted down the request, but the board did approve a voluntary program that started in January 2009. Fink would lose his board seat to Elizabeth Campbell by 269 votes in August 2008 because of his recycling stance. ECUA's voluntary program collected 140 tons of recyclables in its first three weeks.

Curbside recycling went city-wide in June 2009, thanks to Councilman Larry Johnson championing the effort. The city effort was a huge success immediately.

In 2010, the City of Pensacola and ECUA agreed to recycle glass, pizza boxes, bubble wrap and tin foil. Recycling became a part of the daily lives of city and county residents.

In 2016, ECUA opened its Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Perdido Landfill, which could handle 25 tons of recyclables per hour and promised to allow for more than a 95% recovery rate. Unfortunately, the MRF has had problems.

THE CONTAMINATION PROBLEM

ECUA reports contamination in about half of the city's loads and is raising rates after reportedly facing a $1.8 million shortfall due to non-recyclable materials being placed in recycling bins. At a July board meeting, ECUA board

The city will still potentially work with ECUA, Reeves said. He cited two options. The first is for ECUA to handle the accounts of the remaining residents who prefer to stick with the current recycling structure. The second option is to establish drop-off recycling locations. Reeves envisions staffed locations with employees checking to ensure the materials meet recycling criteria.

"It's not like there is at Summit, where we still have a lot of contamination, but where you would actually come to and there'd be an employee there that would be able to help get your stuff out of your car and make sure that it's all things that are recyclable," he said.

Reeves said the annual citizen survey will include a question asking residents if they are willing to pay extra on their sanitation bill for curbside recycling. The city will consider providing that service or contracting out services with ECUA if enough respondents answer in the affirmative.

ECUA is willing to work with Pensacola to continue services, Perkins said. He said ECUA will be more flexible with the city than outside entities. Perkins is a Pensacola resident who prefers the city and ECUA maintain their relationship, but he said, "The big problem is the contamination is just killing us. It's so expensive. We could cut services and cut employees' pay, but then we wouldn't have any employees."

Staffing shortage is a problem for ECUA. The waste management service shut down the recycling facility in May and reopened in mid-June because of a staffing shortage. That marked the third shutdown in two years for its recycling facility.

ECUA is raising rates on seven entities outside Escambia County from $15-$45 per ton for recyclables to a flat $60 per ton because of high contamination levels. The ECUA staff proposed a 4% rate increase for water and 6% for wastewater, but the board voted 5-0 to increase both by 5%. A final vote on that rate increase will occur in August.

Attempts to educate the public on what materials are recyclable has yet to pay dividends for the waste management service. Board member Kevin Stephens shot down the notion of furthering education efforts.

"I don't think additional education is going to work," he said at the board meeting.

"The situation will work itself out when the market turns," Perkins said. "Right now, recycling looks real ugly because of stock factors. China is a huge challenge, but the domestic market will start to adjust and get better."

China refusing to import recyclables leaves Reeves questioning where the materials placed in those bins ultimately end up. Is recycling occurring, or are plastics and other materials finding their way into landfills?

"It makes us feel good when we put something in the recycling can, and then we wave goodbye to it and hope it gets recycled, but it may or may not," Reeves said. "We're going to find a better way to do it. But the market's squeezing on recycling, no doubt about it. I'm sure it's impacting not only our decision here but of course ECUA, who's doing the best job they can to provide the service."

The cost to recycle and the percentage of contamination in the loads dominate the conversations, but what about the impact on the environment? Reeves acknowledged that some would consider the actions of the city to be unfriendly toward the environment, but he countered that the current process is failing Mother Nature, too.

"It's just time to reimagine what real effective recycling is," Reeves said. "Currently, some in our community are treating the recycling bin as a second garbage can, and that is making it ineffective. And with the cost rising dramatically starting Oct. 1, it just becomes unfeasible for us."

The mayor continued, "So, we're going to kind of get our feet under us. We're going to provide a better service than we did this past year in terms of twice-a-week pickup. And then we'll figure out the best way forward with being intentional about efficient recycling and how and what the picture looks like there."

The City of Gulf Breeze is an interested outside party watching what unfolds with Pensacola. The town was a pioneer in curbside recycling, having started the program in the 1980s. Gulf Breeze City Manager Samantha Abell said its contamination rate is extremely low, and that provides comfort to its hauler and ECUA. Still, the market is dicey with the fallout from China halting imports.

"We're literally on an island because there are global factors including China at play," she said. "We're holding our breath and hoping we can continue to offer that service." {in}

THE VIEW FROM THE CHAIR

agement Services to see what it would cost the Legislature," he said. "Hopefully, we'll get the results before the 2024 Legislative Ses-

When he addressed the State Board of Education last month, Dr. Meadows brought up the state health insurance plan and the need for funds to retain and recruit faculty.

"Our employees get pirated away from us left and right, particularly the middle management people, because if they have a family and need health insurance, they get a $10,000 raise with the same salary when they go to the city, county or the university," Meadows said. "It is hard to compete, and so what we end up doing is training people, and then they leave. The health insurance would help stabilize the retention and quality of our

The college president wants the next budget to include more money for salaries. He explained, "Our faculty are training students that are going out with a beginning salary of anywhere from $45,000 to $100,000 with an associate or baccalaureate degree. Our faculty struggle to make $50,000 work-

Dr. Meadows added, "And so we're lucky to have the faculty, but we lose a lot back out into the industry because they come here and they teach a while, and they enjoy the teaching life, but they can't look across the fence and see their graduates making twice as much money as they are."

By Rick Outzen

Pensacola State College celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and president Dr. Ed Meadows is excited about the future of his college and the entire Florida College system as he assumes the chair of the Florida College System Council of Presidents.

"Florida College system had the best budget results in decades this past year," said Dr. Meadows. "And we achieved a 15.2% increase in the system budget, which amounted to over $200 million in the system budget. A hundred million of that went to the 28 institutions based on the new funding formula developed. We finally had some money to do some things that were beginning to really ache a little bit in terms of timeliness."

Last year, the Council of Presidents announced its Accelerate Florida theme with the goal of increasing the 28 colleges' workforce and educational credentials issued to students by at least 25%, exceeding 545,000 credentials by the end of 2024-25.

Dr. Meadows said, "We're continuing that theme this year because this year's budget will determine if we can actually have the funds to complete Accelerate Florida for our 2025 deadline."

Faculty and staff are critical to reaching that goal, and Dr. Meadows wants to improve health insurance and pay for college employees.

"The big elephant in the room for years has

been the fact that the secondary school systems, the tech colleges and universities are all in the state employee health insurance plan and we're not," he shared. "When we had the last constitutional convention, we lobbied and successfully incorporated the Florida College system into the Florida Constitution of the state, which further legitimized the Florida College system as a state entity."

He continued, "And so we began the discussions with the Legislature that out of fairness to the employees in our Florida College system and to be equitable, it was not fair for our employees to not be in the state health insurance plan, which is drastically less expensive on employees than what we currently have."

According to Dr. Meadows, the state health insurance plan costs employees less than $300 monthly for family coverage. Pensacola State College employees pay almost $1,200 monthly for family coverage.

"We just had a situation where one of our employee's daughters fell and broke her arm, and they had to put pins in it, but she wasn't covered under family coverage because she couldn't afford it," he said. "So we're really pushing state health insurance coverage this year."

The Florida College System almost got it done last year but fell short. Dr. Meadows remains optimistic thanks to Sen. Doug Broxson, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"Through Sen. Broxson's leadership, the Legislature funded a study with the Division of Man-

The Florida College System is ranked nationally in terms of its student retention and graduation rates. The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, awarded every two years, is the nation's signature recognition for America's community colleges. It honors colleges with outstanding achievement in five critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor's attainment, workforce success and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

"So many of our institutions qualify to be finalists for the Aspen Award; they limit us because we are the best in the nation, as are the universities," Meadows said.

If the current budget is any indication, lawmakers have a favorable view of the state's 28 colleges with their emphasis on teaching and producing qualified, well-trained workers.

"The current legislative body recognized and rewarded us with that $100 million to our base, plus another $100 million in non-program funds like dual enrollment and two-plus-two industry certifications," Meadows said. "If you should add it all up, it's about $214 million from the legislature—which in the 15 years I've been here, that is by far the best budget that the Florida College system has seen in over two decades."

He added, "We hoping to go into this year that we will continue to have to have a favorable view from the Legislature about what we're doing and how we're doing it." {in}

Photo Courtesy of Pensacola State College

TRUST TOWN HALLS The Escambia Children's Trust has hired the Pensacola-based idgroup to help it develop a strategic plan. Over the years, idgroup has developed strategic plans for FloridaWest, Escambia County Public Schools, Community Health Northwest Florida and many other organizations.

The Trust is a special district of government established by Escambia County voters in 2020. It supports educational, preventative, developmental, or rehabilitative services that further the wellbeing of all children in the county and has an annual budget of about $10 million.

To develop a plan that will guide its investment in local projects through 2026, the Trust wants to engage a broad cross-section of the community.

"The philosophy is that the Children's Trust belongs to the residents of Escambia County," said Tammy Greer, the Trust's executive director. "And we want to make sure that as we're trying to figure out what the next steps are, we have the public's input. It's pretty much just that simple; we want to hear from the community."

All residents are invited to join the conversation at the upcoming Town Hall sessions: 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Molino Library, 6450-A Hwy. 95A; 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug.9, at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St.; and 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, at the Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave.

For more information, please visit future.escambiachildrenstrust.org.

The co-responder team model for behavioral health crisis response is a police-based intervention that pairs trained police officers with mental health professionals to respond to incidents involving individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

The mayor explained, "It may not take two sworn officers to go to a situation that might be more of a need of that skillset than it is for two people that are armed—whether that's dealing with children or some kind of mental health situation, situations with homeless and homeless protection. I think the police officers will tell you that the vast majority of phone calls that come into the police department are not necessarily the requirement of having a gun on your hip."

Councilman Jennifer Brahier praised Mayor Reeves for exploring the co-responder model. She told Inweekly the morning after the presser, "The mayor is always thinking of what will best help situations. Anything that allows us to look at it differently, help people in a different way, and get to it before it's out of hand is incredibly thoughtful. And I'm grateful that he thinks that way."

MORE PARENTS FIGHT BAN Last month, five additional parents joined the federal lawsuit filed earlier this spring against the Escambia County School Board for the removals and restrictions of books from school libraries and classrooms (Inweekly, "Freedom to Read," 6/1/23).

The amended suit, led by the free expression organization PEN America, Penguin Random House and a diverse group of authors and parents of Escambia County students, seeks to ensure access to books on a wide range of topics with a wide range of viewpoints.

ing Pulitzer Prize-winning "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, the landmark graphic novel "Watchmen" by Alan Moore, and the horror novel "It" by Stephen King.

LIFTING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS Mayor D.C. Reeves is looking at height restrictions for projects in downtown Pensacola and whether the city should consider lifting the restrictions for projects that meet specific requirements.

"How do we selectively make sure that with a great project comes the reward of additional height—if you make it easier to bike and walk, if you have certain design or character elements that make it a valuable asset to the community," said the mayor. "Maybe that's something that the city can throw back, say if you could add an additional floor that helps the revenue model work where you do something nicer downstairs or meet a certain character standard. We're looking for things in our tool belt to encourage that."

sonable use of tasers; unlawfully discriminated against Black people and Native American people in its enforcement activities, including the use of force following stops; violated the rights of people engaged in protected speech; and along with the city, discriminated against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.

OLF 8 OFFER CUT D.R. Horton lowered its offer for the Outlying Landing Field 8 (OLF-8) property from $42 million to $24.1 million. The homebuilder's original offer was for 540 acres near the Navy Federal Credit Union campus in Beulah. However, the Escambia County Commission retained 241 acres for economic development and job growth per its commitment to Triumph Gulf Coast.

D.R. Horton's plan includes 99 acres for commercial use, including restaurants, retail, offices, medical and town center and 170 acres for 1,133 residential units, including 360 townhomes and 336 apartments.

CO-RESPONDER MODEL At Mayor D.C. Reeves' weekly presser on July 25, Pensacola Police Chief Eric Randall discussed how his officers and city staff walked the Pensacola neighborhoods included in Sheriff Chip Simmons' Operation Brownsville.

"The purpose behind the neighborhood walks was to get government out into the community because there's a lot of times when people in the community don't feel comfortable coming down to talk at city hall or talking to a group of people," said the chief.

"A lot of the things that we learned was quality of life stuff, like streetlights, trash and things of that nature," he said. "We were able to connect the neighborhood, and we look to continue to do that in other aspects from not only just the police department but other city departments."

Mayor Reeves expounded on Chief Randall's comments. He said, "One thing you'll see in the proposed budget is starting to work on a co-responder model, getting one of those piloted and stood up. We appreciate the chief and everyone working towards that and bringing on someone in a social worker role that we've seen be successful in other communities."

Scott Satterwhite's son is a high school student in the Escambia County Public Schools. He explained why he asked to join the lawsuit.

"My son should have the right to check out any book he feels like," the father said. "I'm bothered by other people making that decision for him—what books he can check out and what books he cannot.

He added, " As a veteran, I took an oath to defend the Constitution, and the First Amendment is number one on the Constitution for a reason. I feel this is just a continuation of my feelings towards democracy."

Satterwhite said he believes removing books is more ideological than anything else. He said, "I think it has very little to do with the welfare of my child. They speak as if they're, uh, concerned about my child's welfare of my child, but no one asked me. If this is about a parent's rights, I feel as a parent that I have the right to allow my kid to read any dang book he wants to read."

Since the lawsuit was filed in May, the Escambia School District has continued its policies of removing books from school libraries. In that time, an additional 21 book titles have been challenged, and 17 have been restricted, includ-

ALEXANDER RETIRES Minneapolis Com -

munity Safety Commissioner Dr. Cedric Alexander announced his retirement. Alexander helped former Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson deal with the aftermath of the police shooting of Tymar Crawford. He facilitated a citizen advisory that made recommendations on improving policing in the City.

Alexander was hired a year ago to head the Minneapolis Office of Community Safety, which included the fire and police departments, 911, the Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Violence Prevention. He came into office two years after a Minneapolis Police Department police officer killed George Floyd when he knelled on Floyd's neck for over nine minutes.

In a written statement about Alexander's retirement, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said, "Commissioner Alexander's career has been defined by a commitment to public safety and public service. When Minneapolis needed strong leadership and a clear vision, he answered the call. I am grateful for his dedication to our city and his excellent work to curb violent crime and make a comprehensive safety system a reality."

Alexander was hired while the Minneapolis Police and the city were under investigation by the Department of Justice. DOJ issued its report this past June, which found the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the City of Minneapolis engage in a pattern or practice of conduct in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law."

The DOJ found MPD used excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unrea-

Last December, Triumph Gulf Coast approved funding up to $14.2 million to build a road and other infrastructure for a commerce park at OLF 8, with Escambia County fronting the first $3 million of the $14.2 million. The county must own the land on which the infrastructure is built. Triumph will reimburse the county the $3 million once construction begins for the first job-creating tenant. The county is committed to delivering at least 338 jobs to avoid a clawback clause.

Commissioner Jeff Bergosh is confident the county will attract companies to the site. He told Inweekly, "There is a tremendous, tremendous need for large parcels for distribution and manufacturing near the Alabama border on the Interstate, and that's where OLF 8 is going to be key."

He added, "We're going to be able to place some businesses there very quickly. Folks are going to be blown away by how quickly we do it."

BLOWING PAST PREDICTION When the Pensacola International Airport developed its master plan in 2016, airport officials anticipated reaching about 1.4 million enplanements by 2035.

"We're going to hit that this year," said Deputy Airport Director Ken Ibold. "The growth of Pensacola as a community has a lot to do with that, and people in other parts of the country have discovered Pensacola as a place to vacation or to do business."

Ibold said the airport is in "uncharted territory" as it estimates future demand. He said, "We are trying our best to stay ahead of the curve."

NEW BAR OFFICERS The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association (ESRBA) recently held its annual installation banquet for the 2023-2024 ESRBA Executive Council and Young Lawyers Division (YLD) officers and members. The association also recognized several members for their service to the profession and community.

"I think it has very little to do with the welfare of my child."

Scott Satterwhite

"The philosophy is that the Children's Trust belongs to the residents of Escambia County." Tammy Greer

Newly installed ESRBA Executive Council officers and council members are Christine Kelly, president; Joe Passeretti, vice president; Rebecca Gilliland, secretary; Stephen Luongo, treasurer; Aaron McCurdy, immediate past president, and members Kristina Cook, Patrick Jennings, Joe Kirkland, Alexis Mays, Michelle Nguyen, Shelby Savage, Jessica Scholl, Andrew Spencer, Rachel Thomas, Angela Trawick, Aaron Watson and YLD representative Brooke DiSalvo.

The 2023 Judge Ross M. Goodman Civility and Professionalism Award was presented to Robert N. Heath, Jr. Established in 2021, the award is bestowed to an ESRBA member whose dedication to civility, professionalism and ethics exemplifies the character as well as a commitment to the profession and the administration of justice of Judge Ross Goodman, the inaugural recipient.

The 2023 Michael A. Doubek Community Service Award was presented to Antonio Bruni. The award is given to a member or group of EscambiaSanta Rosa Bar Association members in recognition of volunteer service to the community.

Newly installed YLD officers and board members are Brooke DiSalvo, president; Alex Messmore, vice president; Will Hahn, treasurer; Ander Shimek, secretary; Michelle Nguyen, immediate past president, and directors Cassandra Buer, J. Mitchell de Kozan, Carllee Godwin, Haley Hadden, Kreg Jones, Madison Leonard, Sara Martin, Gabe Mueller, Brandon Shelley, Craig Wood and Mikaela Ziko.

Alexandra "Cookie" Echsner-Rasmussen was recognized as the recipient of the 2023 Young Lawyers Division William S. Meador Award. The award is given each year to a young attorney who distinguishes themselves by their commitment to our community through charitable and civil service.  The award was established in 2005 to honor the legacy left by William Meador of practicing law with integrity, sincerity and courtesy while recognizing his commitment of giving back to the community.

The membership at the banquet elected the 2023-2024 Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation officers and directors. Newly elected officers are D. Steve Traylor, Jr., president; Jodi Dubose, vice president; and Cameron Gore, secretary/treasurer. New and returning directors are Jeremy Branning, Shekka Drayton, Stephen Echsner, Heather Lindsay, Patrick Martin, Aaron McCurdy, Adrianna Spain, Warren Todd, Kasey Watson, John "Buz" Windham, Mikaela Ziko and ESRBA President Christine Kelly.

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association is a nonprofit voluntary organization for attorneys and judges in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in Florida. The Association has approximately 600 members. Its mission is to provide outstanding service to its members, assist them in serving the profession and the community, make the association indispensable to the bench and bar and preserve and promote the twocounty area as a unique place to practice law in a culture of camaraderie, collegiality, competence and mutual trust. For more information, visit www.esrba.com.

FLORIDA'S GREAT NORTHWEST LEAD -

ERS Applications are now available for Class II of Leadership Northwest Florida, a regional collaboration program offered by Florida's Great Northwest.

Leadership Northwest Florida is offered for professionals in all industry sectors desiring to grow their knowledgebase, network and skillset

within Florida's Great Northwest footprint. The program aims to create informed, dedicated leaders who understand the complex and competitive environment of economic transformation.

"This experience will ultimately result in the long-term influence of the leadership graduates for the betterment of Northwest Florida," said Jennifer Grove, Florida's Great Northwest Foundation chair. "Through this program, our goal is to cultivate leaders, help them understand the foundation of economic development and understand why regional collaboration is so important."

The program focuses on regional collaboration through community, content and connection. It is designed to inform participants on a holistic view of the conditions, challenges and opportunities shared throughout Northwest

Florida, focusing on Business Vitality, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Infrastructure, Talent and Quality of Life.

Applications are now being accepted for Class II of this program. The submission deadline is Sept. 6. For more information, contact Kasey Killebrew with Florida's Great Northwest at (334) 790-4557 or kkillebrew@fgnw.org.

BUZZ HISTORY Five years ago: Florida Agriculture Commissioner and GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam made a campaign stop at Scenic 90 Café. Though trailing Rep. Ron DeSantis in the polls, Putnam told Inweekly his campaign's ground game would win him the Republican nomination.

Ten years ago: School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told the daily newspaper that chang-

es must be made. According to the Florida Department of Education, the district had some of the lowest-graded schools in the state. Warrington Middle was ranked 568 of 578 middle schools.

Fifteen years ago: Sheriff Ron McNesby amassed a huge campaign war chest, more than $187,000. From April 1-July 18, the sheriff spent $40,936, nearly four times more than his Republican challenger David Morgan. His most unusual expenditure was $107 to Roto-Rooter, presumably because of a plumbing issue with his campaign headquarters.

Twenty years ago: After 22 years at Brownsville Assembly of God, Rev. John Kilpatrick announced he was stepping down as senior pastor. Kilpatrick and Evangelist Steve Hill led one of the largest revivals in American history at the West Pensacola church. {in}

THE LABOR OF FUN

With "Hotsy-Totsy-Vrooom-O-Rama"

Artists and longtime creative collaborators, Joseph Herring and Amy Ruddick, are on a mission to infuse fun into art museums. Their latest exhibition, now on display at Pensacola Museum of Art through mid-September, is a departure from the traditional hush of museums, giving rise to an absurd and vivacious celebration of color, sound, movement and childlike curiosity.

Inspired by the aesthetic and cultural spectacle of the circus, "Hotsy-Totsy-VrooomO-Rama" invites guests to peer behind the Big Top, marveling at the tape holding the tent together and the carnies smoking cigarettes while the magical allure of the circus unfolds.

Herring and Ruddick first met at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., where their backgrounds in architecture, graphic and environmental design and film and video inspired them to create House Pencil Green, an interdisciplinary studio and artist collective. Part design troupe and part performance art company, House Pencil Green combines prerecorded and live-produced video elements with built and modified objects, environments and live performance.

"Circuses were my earliest art experience," Herring explained. "I felt sheer joy encounter-

creators Joseph Herring and Amy

By Dakota Parks

ing one of the cheapest aesthetic objects in the country. Those colorful carnival prizes were my earliest memories of coveting what is essentially vernacular pop art."

Both Herring and Ruddick draw inspiration from the circus aesthetic and the suspension of disbelief necessary to maintain its magic. "Hotsy-Totsy-Vrooom-O-Rama," is an ever-evolving creation, continuously building upon their broader exploration of the interconnections between the "art of the carny" and "carnivalesque tendencies of the artist."

This constantly developing installation transforms over time, presenting a unique experience each time it's viewed, as it's influenced by the social and architectural context of the latest venue. Visitors are encouraged to return during the course of the exhibition's run at the museum to witness its progress and evolution, observing the magical metamorphosis unfold before their eyes.

"What I love about carnivals is that they create this suspension of disbelief, so that no one sees all the cracks and stuff falling apart; everybody buys into it," Ruddick said. "But there is always the possibility of seeing something seedy behind the scenes. I think we channel that environment with our materials—lots of cardboard,

duct tape and construction paper, which makes art more accessible to people. Art doesn't have to be this quiet tiptoe around the gallery. You can laugh and have fun interacting with it."

This labor of fun is at the heart of their work. Together, Herring and Ruddick create immersive environments with scale shifts, from miniature dioramas to massive blow-up props, and carefully designed subtle surprises that allow each guest to have slightly different experiences— young and old alike.

"We love art museums and children's museums, and ultimately we want people to feel that same joy we have when we go to museums," Herring said. "We've tried to install that joy in children at a young age at art museums all around the world. Our work functions on multiple levels, so that the contemporary art-interested adult can get as much from it as the children running around pressing buttons that make fart noises."

One way the exhibition is geared toward instilling joy and an interest in art at an early age is by involving children directly in the creation of the artwork.

As you walk through "Hotsy-Totsy-VrooomO-Rama," there are interactive whoopie cushions whistling and farting, a massive fur and wigcovered stage built for performance art and a

Ruddick

demolition derby arena complete with a massive cardboard-constructed roller skate. There are also photographs plastered to the floor, so you're stepping on both carnival trash and Ruddick's own face, layered underneath the trash.

In he third room of the exhibit, built to evoke carnival games and barking carnies, there is a slide with dozens of ice cream trucks decorated by children in the Pensacola Museum of Art's Summer Art Camp.

"At the start of the summer camp, we came in and spoke to the different groups of children to explain the exhibit to them and their role in it," Herring said. "The kids were presented with these playing cards to decorate that are then attached to these ice cream trucks and put on display in the exhibit. During camp, we also have ice-cream truck races with them. They're not only collaborating with us, but they're showing artists, so they can come and see their own work on display in the museum and watch the exhibit change and evolve over the course of the summer."

In doing so, the exhibition is constantly evolving as more groups of children complete the summer camp, adding their art and interactions. Guests that visited at the start will be met with a different exhibit by the end of the show.

Exhibition Photos by Richard Rodriguez, Exhibition Designer at Pensacola Museum of Art

"I think it's a little nerve wracking for the curators of the museum, because we are constantly changing our plans as we get new hair-brained ideas and see people interacting with the exhibit" Ruddick said. "Sometimes the museum staff doesn't realize we've come in and moved or changed something, so they'll try to move it back. We just respond to the space and have a constant evolution. Sometimes that means moving things mid-show, so kids don't put on the roller skates in the exhibit or create their own demolition derby with the artwork."

Evolution and Collaboration

House Pencil Green was born more than 20 years ago in Echo Park of Los Angeles, in the shadow of Charlie Chaplain's house and the cornerstone of the film industry. Herring and Ruddick pay homage to this history through their collaborative process and within their art installations.

"We quickly adopted the Hollywood model, where there are directors supported by all kinds of artists, cinematographers, production designers, fabricators and actors all collaborating to make a film," Herring said. "That model was very prevalent where we met in college, and it's how we're able to tackle such big installations with the creative collaboration of our friends and colleagues."

While Herring and Ruddick are the masterminds behind House Pencil Green, there have been more than 50 artistic collaborators throughout the years, with notable figures including Jarrod Goldman, a production artist, and Christian Steffanini, a performance artist—as well as many friends, colleagues and museum staff.

Continuing the tradition, this exhibition highlights multiple collaborations spanning diverse artistic mediums, including silent videos that feature local artists in carnivalesque costumes. Throughout "Hotsy-Totsy-VrooomO-Rama" those videos sprawl across the walls, carefully timed like an invitation to linger—on one screen, a bowling ball rolls toward you then freezes, while on another screen, bowling-pin-shaped characters are knocked down, all while a roller skate races around the entire room, forcing your attention on multiple screens at a time.

Unlike a typically silent exhibition, there are sounds cued and pumped in to fill the quiet in the museum and remind guests they are amid the circus. Throughout their career, Herring

HOTSY-TOTSY-VROOOM-O-RAMA

and Ruddick have integrated sound and video within their installations to show guests how the art is made—allowing you to peer behind the curtains while Ruddick assembles a diorama from recycled junk, or while characters of the carnival unload themselves outside the museum you're currently standing in, pouring out of a U-Haul like it's a clown car.

"It's like an absurd children's television set," Ruddick said. "We have reoccurring characters, like the surly figure, Mr. Sprinkles, and elements from previous work interweaved in the exhibit, mixing old and new ideas together. The old Hollywood style, silent videos on display are our way of carrying our past with us—a nod back to the beginning with our first art studio across the street from Charlie Chaplin's house."

As Herring and Ruddick explained, the labor of fun is an ongoing theme in their work that draws on the idea of a curator of a fun—someone tasked with the behind the scenes of fun, like a carny, amusement ride operator or bartender. This motif was inspired by Édouard Manet, who would paint elaborate scenes of nightclubs in Paris with acrobats in the background, floating beside massive chandeliers, but the focus of the painting would be on the bartender—the person serving up the fun. Mr. Sprinkles and House Pencil Green's elaborate cast of characters are these laborers of fun.

In this way, the work of House Pencil Green is a constant evolution. Elements within the exhibition, like the personified wigs with eyeballs and the painted roller skates beckon back to previous exhibitions like "Hair City Fair," while performances draw on characters that follow the troupe from town to town, like a circus act.

"A big inspiration for us is Calder's Circus," Herring said. "Throughout his entire career, Alexander Calder worked on this puppet circus, putting on performances with these tiny sculptures and constantly changing it. The circus grew and evolved throughout his career, and that kind of constant evolution interests us. Every time we exhibit, I want to push my own notions of what art can be. And I hope that people come in and have visceral responses, because that's what it's about." {in}

WHAT: An evolving exhibition featuring the work of Joseph Herring and Amy Ruddick

WHEN: On display through Sunday, Sept. 17

WHERE: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St.

DETAILS: pensacolamuseum.org, house-pencil-green.com

CONCEPT CARNIVAL FEATURING PECULIAR POP-UP PERFORMANCES

The culmination of "Hotsy-Totsy-Vrooom-O-Rama" is a series of performance art shows with House Pencil Green on the final four consecutive Thursdays of the exhibition. Each performance is 6-7 p.m. at Pensacola Museum of Art:

•Thursday, Aug. 24

•Thursday, Aug. 31

•Thursday, Sept. 7

•Thursday, Sept. 14

The closing reception for "Hotsy-Totsy-VroOom-O-Rama" is 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15.

Joseph Herring and Amy Ruddick / Photo by Dakota Parks

Be a Light for Others

When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries.

When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not! You help them change their batteries.

Some need AA: attention and affection; some need AAA: attention, affection, and acceptance; some need C: compassion; and some need D: direction.

And if they still don’t seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light.

— Poem by Rachel Dansby Freeman

THIS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY QUINT & RISHY STUDER.

Arts & Entertainment

art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

No Pressure with [glsnr]

By Savannah Evanoff

out of bed," Kennedy said. "I hadn't been sleeping well and many mornings were met with like an 'Oh great, here we go, another day of slogging through this bullshit.'"

His friends and family were understandably concerned, he said. But time passed and he started to feel better.

"But from the vantage point of feeling alive again, I was looking back at the last couple months, and I just saw all the frustration and exasperation as opposed to that melancholy feeling that I was originally trying to express with it," Kennedy said. "So I approached the concept from that place of just being fed up with the whole thing, and 'Paxil' erupted out of us."

"Paxil" is the more upbeat and hardcore of their two songs, Peck said. On his Instagram @ whitexclaw, you can see a video of Peck doing what they call the "'Paxil' stomp."

If [glsnr] were a cohort of superheroes rather than a shoegaze slash post-hardcore band, they'd probably be called something like "the nice guys."

They get that comment a lot—seriously, said Micah Peck.

"You've got Jeremy (Brooks, bass), who's, God, like 6'4, built like a train, but he's like a big teddy bear," Peck said. "And then you've got myself (guitar) and Tony (Kirk, drums), we have RBF—resting bitch face—but then once we start talking, they're like, 'Oh, this guy's nice.' Then you have Drew (Kennedy, vocals), who you just look at him and you're like, 'That guy is a nice guy.'" [glsnr] plays board games together and participates in Wednesday karaoke nights at The Handlebar after band practice, because they're as much friends as bandmates—and that's at least

one small part of why the Pensacola band works.

Peck and Kirk were former roommates, who had pushed their music hobby to the side around the same time. When they decided to pick it back up again, they merged with others they knew from the Pensacola music scene.

The members met mid-June at The Well to discuss the idea.

"We kind of formed the band without even making any music," Peck said. "We went and got a storage unit and everything before even playing music together. We were just like, 'You know what, we're just gonna make it happen.'"

They have two songs now, "Paxil" and "Bloat." Kennedy started writing the lyrics to "Paxil" on the tail end of a two-month depressive episode, he said.

"My days had all been bleeding together into what felt like an endless loop of getting in and

"I do it every single time we play the song, and I do it the exact same way," Peck said. "But that's our hardest song, and I personally enjoy playing that the most because I get to move around the most—and I'm not getting any younger, so it's getting a little harder every time."

"Bloat" is their more artistic song, Peck said. He, who has zero affiliation with the lyrics, thought it was about a landfill. Not exactly, but Kennedy explained how it originated with a cool "tappy thing" Peck was doing.

"The haunting, theatrical type melody fit perfectly with it," Kennedy said. "I had scribbled 'How long are you going to keep holding my head under the water' in a notebook some months prior when I was feeling particularly stifled by the confines of life and how wildly the choices we make can affect our future. I took that concept of the drowning allegory and ran with it,

leaning into that feeling of being left behind and just wanting to get back to what feels natural."

"We definitely wanted 'Bloat' to be a longer song," Peck said. "When we play it live, it's 7 or 8 minutes long. It has a very definitive build in it, cuts right in the middle of a song and then it crescendos basically into a very big song."

[glsnr] plans to get back in the studio soon, Peck said.

Their one-word band name in the eye-catching Helvetica font surrounded by brackets is not only on-brand for the genre, but also fitting for their future hot dog: the glizzy-ner (also the name of their group chat). They once had a signature burger at The Sauce Boss food truck.

Their band is largely about fun, Peck explained. He's 35, married and just bought a house—the pipe dream of making it big as a musician is long gone, he said.

But people seem to like their band; [glsnr] "took off" after playing a show with ego death to a younger fan base at Easy Going Gallery, Peck said.

"There's no pressure; we're here to have a good time, and I really think people see that, like that comes out in our playing," Peck said. "There's also another guy locally, his name is Pagu, and he was like, 'When you guys are all playing, it doesn't seem like a chore to you guys. You guys could be playing to two people or 200, and you're gonna have a blast.'" {in}

[GLSNR] AT THE HANDLEBAR

WHAT: [glsnr] performs with All Under Heaven and Leaving Time

WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15

WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. COST: $10

DETAILS: @glsnrband, thehandlebar850.com

[glsnr] /Photo by Andrew Velasco

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

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. A 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.

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 and sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL PLT presents the musical based on the hit movie starring Reese Witherspoon. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. A Thursday show is 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3. Tickets are $21-$38 with

discounts for seniors, military and students. Thursday shows are half price. PLT is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolalittletheatre. com for details.

PENSACOLA OPERA RUMMAGE SALE The Pensacola Opera is hosting a sale of props, set pieces, vintage items, donated items and more. Proceeds at the rummage sale benefit the opera. The sale starts 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Visit pensacolaopera.com for details.

INFERNO BURLESQUE Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25-$500 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

COMEDY CLASSICS SUMMER SERIES AT SAENGER THEATRE This summer, Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, is featuring comedy classics. On Saturday, Aug. 5, the selected movie is "Weird Science." Movie starts at 7 p.m. Cost is $5. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.

IMPROVABLE CAUSE The next Improvable Cause show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

BEYOND VAN GOGH "Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" is an interactive experience where guests witness more than 300 iconic masterpieces, including such instantly recognizable classics as "The Starry Night,"

"Sunflowers" and "Café Terrace at Night," as well as many revealing self-portraits. "Beyond Van Gogh" is Aug. 5-Sept. 9 at Pensacola Interstate Fair, Building. 6, 6655 Mobile Highway. Prices start at $39.99 for adults and $23.99 for children (ages 5-15), plus ticketing fees. Tickets are on sale at vangoghpensacola.com.

BORED TEACHERS COMEDY TOUR The funniest teacher-comedians take to the Saenger stage 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Saenger is located at 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $35-$55 and available at pensacolasaenger.com.

PALAFOX MARKET SOUTH AT PLAZA FERDINAND Palafox Market South will include a blend of familiar Palafox Market vendors, along with a new mix of local farmers, artists and craftsmen and women, who will fill up Plaza Ferdinand on the corner of Palafox and Government streets. Shoppers can navigate between the new market and the always-humming original located on north Palafox at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday. For more information about Palafox Market, visit palafoxmarket.com. For information concerning other downtown events, please visit downtownpensacola.com

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #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. Show -

time 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 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 of Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live mu-

sical performances, kids crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN

Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more join 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.

NEW EXHIBITIONS AT ARTEL GALLERY

Three new exhibitions are on view at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, through Aug. 25. In the main gallery is "Playlist," a showcase of music fused with art; in the vault is "Davmo," and in the award alcove is works from abstract artist Lynn Huber. The gallery is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit artelgallery. org for details.

AL ARMIN Check out the work of Al Armin at Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. Visit facebook. com/openbooksbookstore for more information.

THE LAST SURREALIST Featuring Art by davmo, "The Last Surrealist," is on view through Friday, Aug. 25 inside the Suzanne Robbert Vault at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox.

CHLOE BAILY ART Easy Going Gallery celebrates a new exhibit from artist Chloe Baily — "Kaleidoscopic Topic" at 701 N. V St. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery.

HOTSY-TOTSY-VROOOM-O-RAMA House

Pencil Green is the interdisciplinary studio of Joseph Herring and Amy Ruddick. Their exhibition at Pensacola Museum of Art, "Hotsy-Totsy-Vrooom-O-Rama," is part of a body of work in which the pair explore connections between the "art of the carny" and the "carnivalesque tendencies of the artist." The exhibit is on view through Sept. 17 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

DEPTH OF FIELD Depth of Field showcases photography from the Pensacola Museum of Art's permanent collection, alongside objects from the UWF Historic Trust Archives. Artworks on display explore the history, science and alchemical nature of the medium. On view are works by pioneers in the field such as Alfred Stieglitz, Elliott Erwitt, Edward J. Steichen, Walker Evans and Vivian Maier, as well as notable contemporary artists including Valerie George, Richard McCabe, Sheila Pinkel and Gesche Würfel. Exhibit is located at 407 S. Jefferson St., and on view through Oct. 22. Visit pensacolamusuem.org for details.

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 during the American Revolution to wanting

their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The U.S. 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. This exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of History through December. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS The next Atlas Beverage Class is 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3 with Ghost Train Brewery from Birmingham, Alabama. The classes are at Atlas, 600 Barracks St. Tickets are $30 per person. Spots are limited. Call (850) 287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.

JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE FRIDAY

LUNCH SERVICE Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox, is now open for lunch service 11 a.m.2 p.m Fridays. starting Aug. 4. Chef Irv Miller has created a new lunch menu, which includes selections of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, featured plates and hand-selected steaks. Visit jacksonssteakhouse.com to see a full menu.

WATERMELON DAY O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road, will hold a watermelon eating contest for National Watermelon Day 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. The event will feature a watermelon eating contest. The person who finishes their slice fastest will win. The event will also feature a watermelon toss. The person who throws their watermelon the longest distance will win. The event is open to people 21 and older.

CORN DOGS & CORN LOGS MI SU food truck will have corn dogs for sale, Odd Colony will have three fresh corn lagers on tap, plus a corn hole tournament with free entry. Event starts 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 6. Corn hole registration is 12:30 p.m. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY AT PERFECT PLAIN Teachers can enjoy 15% off at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. on Sunday, Aug. 6. Bring school supplies for Hope Horizons. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for a list of needed items.

GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANT WEEK

The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, Jackson's Steakhouse, Five Sisters Blues Café and Angelena's Ristorante Italiano will once again team up to present Summer Restaurant Week on Aug. 7-13. Chefs from each restaurant will prepare a three-course, fixed-price dinner menu utilizing the best in local and seasonal ingredients, showcasing their culinary expertise. The cost is $33 per person, per restaurant. Visit greatsouthernrestaurnts.com for menus and details.

Together Pensacola is a group of concerned citizens who come together to brainstorm and discuss ways to help build connections and strengthen relationships between and among people in the Pensacola Bay area. To learn more, visit togetherpensacola.com.

Elementary School Winners:

First Place, Ryleigh Scully, Molino Park Elementary

Second Place, Evie Woodruff, Scenic Heights Elementary

Third Place, Madylin Madril, Molino Park Elementary

Middle School Winners:

First Place, Olivia Capell, Brown-Barge Middle

Second Place, Gabrielle Smith, Brown-Barge Middle

“SUCCEEDING

TOGETHER” BY RYLEIGH SCULLY

How we can succeed together happens when we work together, for instance, at cheering practice, school, and just in our own house. All of these three things work better when we work together. Helen Keller said mostly that when we work together, things go way faster and get done better.

When I am at cheering practice, we have to do a routine, but we cannot do it alone. We must have four people just for a stunt. Just for our pyramid, we need everyone on the team; no one can be left out, or nothing will work.

When I’m at school, we have to do lots of projects, and we can choose to be in a team or work by ourselves. I would always choose a team 100 times out of 100 times. It goes a lot faster so we can move on, and it will look so much better. Working together isn’t just that it will look better or go faster; you bond with your team or group without even knowing it.

Even when I’m at home, I work together with my family; I work with my brother when we have to pick up our toys at night. It goes a lot faster, but sometimes he still has a meltdown. Another way we can succeed together is how our family acted when we got our new dog. He started coming into our house, and so now my mom, my dad, and I take turns vacuuming the house because my mom said that she cannot do it by herself.

This is how we can succeed together: all of these things that I do in my life go a lot faster, are done a lot better, and create bonding without the people involved even knowing it. These things are done just by working together. I believe Helen Keller’s words. I don’t know how people can live without working together. This is how I succeed together in my own life. How do you succeed together in your own life?

“SUCCEEDING TOGETHER” BY OLIVIA CAPELL

Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much. There are a lot of things I have done with the help of my peers around me. For example, I was going to try out for track, but I was really nervous about it until my friends reminded me that it’s better to try than not to do it at all. Something that I could do with the help of my peers is to do things I get nervous about. If I were not to write this essay, I think the main reason why would be my not feeling encouraged. Now that I feel encouraged, here I am writing this essay.

Some things I could accomplish with the help of my peers are my life goals. I have three life goals that are (1) to become a dentist, (2) to become a teacher, and (3) to become a President. I could accomplish those goals with the help of my peers. I normally get nervous about attempting to reach my goals, but with the help of my friends, peers, and amazing teachers, I really do believe that with the help of my peers, I can do it. I can reach my goals. If I were to just do my life goals when I’m older, I don’t know if I would even go through with it.

I think another thing that I wouldn’t be able to do alone is following through with my goals. I used to play trumpet and clarinet. I am now on the flute. If my parents wouldn’t have told me to keep on trying until I find the right instrument, I probably wouldn’t be playing the flute right now.

I believe that everyone should help others do something that they can’t do alone. If we all work together, we can all reach our goals and succeed at them. I know that I would appreciate it a lot if someone helped me reach my goal. I do appreciate now all the encouragement that I was given to write this essay. I’m so thankful for my peers telling me they would be proud of me even if I don’t do well.

To me “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.” This quote means being able to reach your goals with help. Helen Keller has written numerous books and articles. Helen Keller was deaf and blind, which means it was challenging for her to learn. She did learn everything she needed to know. That inspires me a lot today to do things whether I think I can do it or not. Helen Keller’s story inspires so many people today.

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will

WEEK OF AUGUST 3

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Emotions are not inconvenient distractions from reason and logic. They are key to the rigorous functioning of our rational minds. Neurologist Antonio Damasio proved this conclusively in his book "Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain." The French philosopher's famous formula—"I think, therefore I am"—offers an inadequate suggestion about how our intelligence works best. This is always true, but it will be especially crucial for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. Here's your mantra, courtesy of another French philosopher, Blaise Pascal: "The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know."

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The famous Taurus TV star Jay Leno once did a good deed for me. I was driving my Honda Accord on a freeway in Los Angeles when he drove up beside me in his classic Lamborghini. Using hand signals, he conveyed to me the fact that my trunk was open, and stuff was flying out. I waved in a gesture of thanks and pulled over onto the shoulder. I found that two books and a sweater were missing, but my laptop and briefcase remained. Hooray for Jay! In that spirit, Taurus, and in accordance with current astrological omens, I invite you to go out of your way to help and support strangers and friends alike. I believe it will lead to unexpected benefits.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "Did you learn how to think or how to believe?" When my friend Amelie was 9, her father teased her with this query upon her return home from a day at school. It was a pivotal moment in her life. She began to develop an eagerness to question all she was told and taught. She cultivated a rebellious curiosity that kept her in a chronic state of delighted fascination. Being bored became virtually impossible. The whole world was her classroom. Can you guess her sign? Gemini! I invite you to make her your role model in the coming weeks.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In the coming weeks, I advise you not to wear garments like a transparent Gianfranco Ferre black mesh shirt with a faux-tiger fur vest and a coral-snake jacket that shimmers with bright harlequin hues. Why? Because you will have most success by being down-to-earth, straightforward and in service to

By Rob Brezsny

the fundamentals. I'm not implying you should be demure and reserved, however. On the contrary: I hope you will be bold and vivid as you present yourself with simple grace and lucid authenticity.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In 1811, Leo scientist Amedeo Avogadro (1776–1856) formulated a previously unknown principle about the properties of molecules. Unfortunately, his revolutionary idea wasn't acknowledged and implemented until 1911, 100 years later. Today his well-proven theory is called Avogadro's law. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, Leo, you will experience your equivalent of his 1911 event in the coming months. You will receive your proper due. Your potential contributions will no longer be mere potential. Congratulations in advance.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Israeli poet Yona Wallach mourned the fact that her soul felt far too big for her, as if she were always wearing the clothes of a giant on her small body. I suspect you may be experiencing a comparable feeling right now, Virgo. If so, what can you do about it? The solution is not to shrink your soul. Instead, I hope you will expand your sense of who you are so your soul fits better. How might you do that? Here's a suggestion to get you started: Spend time summoning memories from your past. Watch the story of your life unfurl like a movie.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Nineteenth-century Libran physician James Salisbury had strong ideas about the proper ingredients of a healthy diet. Vegetables were toxic, he believed. He created Salisbury steak, a dish made of ground beef and onions, and advised everyone to eat it three times a day. Best to wash it down with copious amounts of hot water and coffee, he said. I bring his kooky ideas to your attention in hopes of inspiring you to purge all bunkum and nonsense from your life—not just in relation to health issues, but everything. It's a favorable time to find out what's genuinely good and true for you. Do the necessary research and investigation.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "I'm amazed that anyone gets along!" marvels self-help author Sark. She says it's astonishing love ever works at all, given our "idiosyncrasies, unconscious projections, re-stimulations from the past and the relationship history of our partners." I share her wonderment. On the other hand, I am optimistic about your chances to cultivate interesting intimacy during the coming months. From an astrological perspective, you are primed to be extra wise and lucky about togetherness. If you send out a big welcome for the lessons of affection, collaboration and synergy, those lessons will come in abundance.

us from the fact that certain of our other choices are more limited. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I invite you to ruminate about how you can expand your array of more important choices.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): My best friend in college was an Aquarius, as is my favorite cousin. Two ex-girlfriends are Aquarians, and so was my dad. The talented singer with whom I sang duets for years was an Aquarius. So I have intimate knowledge of the Aquarian nature. And in honor of your unbirthday—the time halfway between your last birthday and your next—I will tell you what I love most about you. No human is totally comfortable with change, but you are more so than others. To my delight, you are inclined to ignore the rule books and think differently. Is anyone better than you at coordinating your energies with a group's? I don't think so. And you're eager to see the big picture, which means you're less likely to get distracted by minor imperfections and transitory frustrations. Finally, you have a knack for seeing patterns that others find hard to discern. I adore you!

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Please don't make any of the following statements in the next three weeks: 1. "I took a shower with my clothes on." 2. "I prefer to work on solving a trivial little problem rather than an interesting dilemma that means a lot to me." 3. "I regard melancholy as a noble emotion that inspires my best work." On the other hand, Sagittarius, I invite you to make declarations like the following: 1. "I will not run away from the prospect of greater intimacy—even if it's scary to get closer to a person I care for." 2. "I will have fun exploring the possibilities of achieving more liberty and justice for myself." 3. "I will seek to learn interesting new truths about life from people who are unlike me."

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Champions of the capitalist faith celebrate the fact that we consumers have more than 100,000 brand names we can purchase. They say it's proof of our marvelous freedom of choice. Here's how I respond to their cheerleading: Yeah, I guess we should be glad we have the privilege of deciding which of 50 kinds of shampoo is best for us. But I also want to suggest that the profusion of these relatively inconsequential options may distract

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Is the first sip always the best? Do you inevitably draw the most vivid enjoyment from the initial swig of coffee or beer? Similarly, are the first few bites of food the most delectable, and after that your taste buds get diminishing returns? Maybe these descriptions are often accurate, but I believe they will be less so for you in the coming weeks. There's a good chance that flavors will be best later in the drink or the meal. And that is a good metaphor for other activities, as well. The further you go into every experience, the greater the pleasure and satisfaction will be—and the more interesting the learning.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Make up a fantastic story about your future self, then go make it happen. {in}

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Brezsny

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Zookeepers at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio were taken aback on July 20 when Sully, an 8-year-old western lowland gorilla whom they had assumed to be male, gave birth. Sully has lived at the zoo since 2019, United Press International reported. "It's hard to tell the sex of younger gorillas," the zoo said in a statement. "They don't have prominent sex organs." They said Sully had been healthy and did not need any procedures or medical care that would have clued them in to her gender. "Sully is taking good care of (the baby)," zookeepers said, adding that eventually they'll do a DNA test to find out which of three males is the father.

SAW THAT COMING ... or not. At 11:55 p.m. on July 22, a speeding boat with eight people aboard left the water at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and crashed into a home along the bank. KMIZ-TV reported that Adam Ramirez, 47, was driving the boat when the accident happened. After the boat hit the home, it overturned and ejected all eight passengers, who were taken to a hospital, six of them in serious condition. Two people in the home at the time were uninjured. Ramirez was charged with boating while intoxicated. Travis Coleman with Tow Boat US Lake of the Ozarks said crashes on the lake are common, and alcohol and darkness can play a large role.

NATURE GONE WILD A bird rarely seen in the Northern Hemisphere dropped into Pebble Beach, California, on July 21, KSBW-TV reported. The Nazca Booby, which at this time of year is usually living and breeding in the Galapagos Islands, was delivered to the SPCA of Monterey County; officials there said it was emaciated, cold and injured. Beth Brookhouser said the bird had to be kept in an incubator and fed through a tube while it recovered. It had wounds on its back that appeared to be from fishing hooks. Once the bird has healed, the SPCA hopes to reintroduce it to the wild.

BRIGHT IDEA Hong Kong's health minister, professor Lo Chung-mau, is urging public shaming as a remedy to unlawful tobacco use, Sky News reported. "Cigarettes can harm the health of all of us," Lo told a meeting of the Legislative Council's health service panel on July 14. "When members of the public see people smoking in nonsmoking areas ... we can stare at the smokers. Everyone on the premises can stare at that person." He believes this behavior would help create a nonsmoking culture in the city. He also said authorities would use surveillance footage to crack down on smokers flouting the rules.

THE PASSING PARADE Barbie mania has taken the world by storm—including in Brazil, where Burger King is selling a sandwich with a bright pink sauce that looks like "chewed bubblegum" and has a "smoky" flavor, according to Burger King. CNBC reported on July 13 that the BK Bar-

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

bie Combo comes with a cheeseburger, a pink vanilla-flavored milkshake, a doughnut sprinkled with pink frosting and an order of Ken's potatoes (also known as fries). The combo is not expected to be offered in the United States.

NEWS YOU CAN USE Trader Joe's announced on July 21 that it is recalling two types of cookies that may have rocks in them, National Public Radio reported. The Almond Windmill Cookies and Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond cookies have been removed from the grocery chain's stores and destroyed, the company said, but those who had previously bought them can return them for a refund. "Please do not eat them," they urged customers. The company didn't specify how the rocks came to be in the cookies.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF AIR TRAVEL In late July, a woman on a Spirit Airlines plane hit her limit, the New York Post reported. "The plane is stopped ... I cannot hold the pee!" she shouted in a video as she pulled down her pants and squatted in a corner to relieve herself. "I need to (urinate), two hours ... you close the (bathroom) doors," she said, telling a crew member she should "blame yourself." The video was posted on July 20, but it is unclear where the incident took place.

NOPE You might not have it on your calendar, but Aug. 5 is National Mustard Day! Rather than celebrating with a hot dog or a burger smothered in the yellow condiment, the French's company wants you to try Mustard Skittles, NBC New York reported on July 25. "Skittles is always looking to inspire moments of everyday happiness and deliver unexpected ways for fans to experience the brand," said Ro Cheng, marketing director at Mars. The new flavor "combines their tangy mustard flavor with our iconic chewy texture to deliver this unique summer treat." Adventurous mustardlovers can try to win a bag of the candy through an online sweepstakes.

AWESOME! On July 22 at Tracouet, Switzerland, 100 alphorn players gathered for the 22nd International Alphorn Festival, Yahoo! News reported. (You know alphorns: Think Ricola commercials.) The competitors are judged on interpretation, musicality, accuracy and rhythm, said festival founder Antoine Devenes. "It's easy to play but difficult to play it well," said Marcel Henchoz, 85, one of the participants. He was joined by players from France, Germany, America and Canada. The youngest competitor was 11 years old. Adolf Zobrist, 58, from Brienz, Switzerland, took the title for the fourth time. "It's my hobby and it's my passion. I've been playing since I was 12," Zobrist said. "It's the sound of the mountains." {in}

Together Pensacola is a group of concerned citizens who come together to brainstorm and discuss ways to help build connections and strengthen relationships between and among people in the Pensacola Bay area. The group focuses on what unites us rather than on our differences and what separates us. Its goal is to promote and introduce ideas and activities to implement this brand of community building. To learn more, visit togetherpensacola.com.

High School Winners:

First Place, Ashlyn Greeson, Tate High School

Second Place, Margaret Shaffer, Tate High School

“DISASTER BRINGS US CLOSER” BY ASHLYN GREESON

Something that always seems to amaze me is how quickly our community comes together after facing natural disasters. Living in Pensacola, Florida, I have met my fair share of hurricanes, rainstorms, and tornadoes. Time and time again, people’s lives are ripped away in an instant, thanks to monstrous Florida storms. But as soon as the storm passes (literally), neighborhoods put away their differences to help one another out for the time being. Chainsaws are borrowed to cut fallen trees, extra water bottles are passed from hand to hand, rides are offered to those without gas, and doors are opened for families without shelter. None of this would be possible without the community that surrounds us.

As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Disaster relief is the perfect example of people coming together to accomplish something that one could not do alone. Personally, I have been affected by hurricane destruction.

On September 16th of 2020, Escambia County, Florida, went into a panic. What had started as a beautiful, sunny week quickly turned into upheaval and commotion. The storm that had been brewing in the Gulf of Mexico made an abrupt turn and began to travel toward the Panhandle. That night, Hurricane Sally made landfall and began her continued destruction of my hometown. I vividly remember checking my phone after a restless night spent in my family’s hallway, only to see unthinkable sights on social media. A barge destroyed our brand new bridge, boats were miles upon the shore, jellyfish lined the streets, and trees blocked every single road I could name. But, despite the destruction, everyone exited their homes eager to help get the community back to somewhat normalcy.

As we cleaned up the mess created around us, I noticed the unthinkable. My neighbors, who would typically argue and bicker over silly things, had set aside their pasts and spoke with kind words while assisting one another. Additionally, many families were stuck in their flooded houses. Because the community is a beach town, those fortunate enough not to suffer much damage hopped in their boats to bring these flooded families to safety. If it weren’t for others in the community willingly reaching out and helping those affected, we might still be suffering from the unfortunate event called Hurricane Sally.

Although we may think that we are capable of taking care of ourselves after disaster strikes, the people around us join together to help speed up the process. Without putting aside discrepancies, our community would have difficulty coming back from things such as hurricanes. However, if we all work together, what may have previously seemed like a big task is now able to be conquered efficiently.

Ad sponsored by Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O’Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A

Together Pensacola sponsored an essay contest for elementary, middle and high school students. The theme was “Succeeding Together.”