Inweekly dec 14 2017

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winners losers 2017

Independent News | December 14, 2017 | Volume 18 | Number 49 | inweekly.net | 'Crybaby' model: Gregory Coady | Photo by Greg Riegler

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news 6, 7

Just everyday, it's a shitshow

cover story 11

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jennie McKeon, Jeremy Morrison, Shelby Nalepa, C.S. Satterwhite, Stephanie Sharp

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art

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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ROBERT STEPHENS, JR. Episcopal Day School announced Stephens has been unanimously selected by the Board of Trustees to serve as the next Head of School. Mr. Stephens will come to EDS from St. John's Episcopal School in Tampa, Florida where he has been Head of School since 2014. He is a proven leader with 25 years of experience in Episcopal and independent school education. Stephens also serves as president of the Florida Council of Independent Schools.

GERALD WINGATE At a special meeting of

the Pensacola City Council held on Nov. 28, 2017, the council elected the District 5 councilman as its President of the City Council and Sherri Myers, District 2, as Vice President.

Both are serving their second terms on the council. Wingate narrowly defended incumbent John Jerralds in 2012 by running on the coattails of Commissioner Lumon May. He was unopposed in 2016.

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The ornament is reportedly the best-received decoration in Jewelers Trade's 13 years of doing the Christmas ornaments.

losers

GULF COAST VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM At a recent town hall hosted by the Veterans Affairs, Pensacola area veterans shared the experiences with frequent turnover of doctors, repeated paperwork errors and long wait times. The News Journal reported that Dr. Christopher Saslo, interim director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, listened to the veterans and the VA is working to do better.

THE TANYARD Four years have passed since Mayor Ashton Hayward announced he received a grant to build a beautiful pond in the Tanyard to deal with its perennial flooding. It still hasn't opened. The city botched the historical marker honoring Corinne Jones and had to remove it. The neighborhood association voted against the construction of a fish hatchery at nearby Bruce Beach and was ignored by city hall and Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn.

How many more kicks in the teeth can these residents take from their government?

FLORIDA BOND REFINANCING Florida taxpayers could lose billions of dollars in future savings under the pending federal tax-reform legislation that would limit the ability of states and local governments to refinance bonds. Ben Watkins, Director of the State Division of Bond Finance, told the Florida Cabinet that both U.S. House and Senate tax bills contain a provision that would prohibit the "advance refunding" of tax-exempt bonds. The ability to refinance bonds helped Florida government reduce its overall debt by more than $4 billion through June 2016, according to Watkins.

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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

RETURN OF THE MULLETS Recently a friend brought me a yellowed Pensacola News Journal dated Feb. 28, 1971. The newspaper had a historical series written by Pensacola historian W. B. Skinner. He wrote about the political battles in Pensacola in the last decade of the 19th century, based on a history of Escambia County written by H. Clay Armstrong.

In 1885, Pensacola attorney Edward A. Perry, a Confederate general who served under Gen. Robert E. Lee, became the 14th governor of Florida, thanks to the support railroad tycoon W.D. Chipley. The pair was unhappy with the political situation in Pensacola as the city came out of the Reconstruction.

Gov. Perry pushed through the Florida Legislature bills that changed the city's charter and established Pensacola would be run by a commission appointed by him. Chipley was named to that body and served as the mayor of Pensacola from 1887-88.

To strengthen his control of Pensacola politics, Chipley formed a secret political society known as the Tammany Association.

The Tammanies ran the city.

A.E. Maxwell, his son E.C. Maxwell, Stephen R. Mallory II and W.E. Anderson formed the Mullets to oppose Chipley's political machine. The Mullets demanded the state legislature modify the charter so the people could elect their city officials. They were successful, and Anderson narrowly defeated the Tammany Association candi-

date, Pat McHugh, for mayor of Pensacola in 1893.

Two years later, the mayoral race was hotly contested between Anderson and McHugh.

Skinner wrote in his article that armed conflict seemed inevitable.

The Tammany Association prevailed.

McHugh won, and Chipley was elected to the Florida Senate. At the state capital, the Tammany-Mullet feud continued. In those days, the state legislature chose the U.S. Senators.

The two candidates nominated were from Pensacola, W.D. Chipley and Stephen Maxwell II. Maxwell prevailed and served until his death in 1907. Chipley, 57, died seven months after he lost the U.S. Senate seat.

Today, we have several markers to remember these political foes. The Perry House sits on the corner of N. Palafox and Wright streets and is part of the First United Methodist Church. Prior to the church buying the house, it served as the Scottish Rite Temple.

The Confederate monument in Lee Square bears a plaque honoring his wife, who raised funds for its erection. Chipley has an obelisk in Ferdinand Plaza. Mallory and Maxwell Streets run the width of the city.

Pensacola still has political factions, though they are less obvious than the Tammany Association and the Mullets. It will be interesting to see how they surface in the 2018 Pensacola mayoral election. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Pensacola still has political factions, though they are less obvious than the Tammany Association and the Mullets.

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LOCALS QUESTION $8 MILLION CENTER

By Duwayne Escobedo The Bayview Community Center will be built. End of discussion.

Or is it?

Blair Stephenson still has more to say. The Bayou Texar Foundation President and an East Hill Neighborhood Association member accuses the city of failing to consult Pensacola residents enough about the final plan.

About 70 people attended a May 30 public meeting to review a preliminary design. City officials said they would collect citizen input at two more public meetings, Stephenson claims.

Those meetings never happened.

Instead, Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson dumped the 75-page Bayview Community Center master plan on the Pensacola City Council by email on the eve of the final hearing for the FY 2018 budget on Sept. 24. Despite the late notice and the cost of construction jumping from $6 million to $8.25 million, the council approved construction.

Stephenson remains livid for many reasons today. And the outspoken community advocate is not alone.

A poll commissioned by Inweekly immediately after the city council vote for the project found 80 percent of city residents and 69 percent of District 4 residents, which includes Bayview Park, said the Hayward administration failed to give them sufficient notice to view the final plans and comment on them.

"This park belongs to the citizens, whose money will finance it, not the mayor or the council." Blair Stephenson "This park belongs to the citizens, whose money will finance it, not the mayor or the council," Stephenson told Inweekly. "It is obvious that this plan was put together out of the

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public eye and knowledge. This is clearly not a transparent way to conduct city business."

Stephenson has doggedly pursued the issue, even riling up her neighbors. She emailed those who attended the May 30 public forum, including Quint Studer.

The downtown developer and Pensacola Blue Wahoos co-owner replied to Stephenson by email, "Much of what was done is not consistent with good planning and financial stewardship."

Jean Wallace also responded and thanked Stephenson for sending information on the $8.2 million, 19,000-square-foot proposed project on Bayou Texar.

"I do not like the new design," Wallace wrote in her email. "Had hoped it would be similar to the real old one that was washed away in the 1926 hurricane. I think that is a lot of money to pay for a recreation type center. It would be interesting to find out if the place is making money or what the deficit is each year."

But District 4 city councilman Larry B. Johnson, who lives near Bayview Park, dismissed Stephenson and others speaking out against the city and community center master plan.

"How much access do we have to give them?" Johnson asked. "It's never enough. You can never make everyone happy."

Besides the May 30 meeting, Johnson pointed out that Mayor Hayward had a fivemember citizen advisory committee select the project architect, Caldwell Associates Architects. Johnson failed to mention that this been the standard procedure for several years.

On that committee were Kim Carmody, city Superintendent of Recreation; Steven Shelley, East Hill Building and Design General Contractor; Bill Healey, University of West Florida Director of Recreation and Sports Services; Juliette Moore, UWF Anthropology Department Office Manager; and Pablo Mirabal, an FMC Management Services Executive.

The new Bayview Community Center is scheduled to break ground in spring 2018 and open in 2019. The popular Bayview Park has served the Pensacola community for more

than 100 years. Its old community center was damaged by a sewage backup caused

by April 2014 flooding and demolished the following year.

The 2011 master plan called for relocating the center to give an open waterfront.

The plan ignored that recommendation and proposed building the new center in the same location as the previous one.

In a cover letter to the city, Caldwell Associates Architects argued that the $8.2 million price tag was not "luxurious." They maintained higher construction costs resulted in the increase since planning began two years ago. Additionally, the public input led to significant changes, such as making the event space smaller.

The proposed Bayview Community Center is approximately two-thirds the size of Sanders Beach Community Center. It includes three meeting rooms, an exercise room and two event spaces, which combined can accommodate up to 278 people.

Meanwhile, Sanders Beach includes a ballroom with a stage, a full kitchen and can handle up to 350 people. Bayview's event space is 3,432 square feet, while the Sanders Beach ballroom is nearly double that size at 6,110 square feet.

However, Stephenson said the location blocks the park's scenic views of Bayou Texar.

She wanted to see it further up the slope near the Bayview Senior Resource Center.

Others recommended it be moved back from the bayou to where the current children's playground and picnic shelters exist.

One of the biggest criticisms from Stephenson and other locals concerns the roughly 5,000 square foot boathouse for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Additionally, it will house the rowboats of the 40-member, non-profit Pensacola Rowing Club.

The rowing club has used the site since forming four years ago, says Ross Johnstone who serves as the interim director.

Currently, the organization rents two 40foot by 8-foot containers that house most of its $19,000 worth of rowboats. Some

boats are stored outside because they are too long to fit in the storage units.

In an agreement with the city, the Pensacola Rowing Club pays 20 percent of what it makes to city coffers. The club charges its members $100 a quarter or $325 a year. Three times a year, it offers a free rowing day to the community. Meanwhile, rowing club members can be found on the calm bayou waters about five or six times a week, Johnstone reports.

Johnstone, who typed three pages of talking points to prepare for an interview at Bayview Park with Inweekly, denied any underhanded dealings with the city.

"I don't believe there is," Johnstone said. "We are totally transparent, and we want to be. We're absolutely honored to be included in this project.

He added, "We are here for the public.

I think Pensacola Rowing will be on the bayou for many years to come."

City councilman Johnson said he's excited to see the rowing club using Bayou Texar.

"Most people are happy and satisfied to see watersports there," Johnson said. "In 1989, hardly anybody was out there. I don't have a problem with (the rowing club) at all."

While Johnstone said he felt honored to be included in the center's design, many local critics question building a boat storage facility for a private club with taxpayer money. The construction roughly costs about $1 million of the total community center project.

Bobby Dawkins, an East Hill resident, wrote in an email to Stephenson that the separate building for the rowing club was one of his four main objections to the master plan.

"Although I am fully supportive of a Bayou Texar rowing club, does it have enough membership to pay a fair market rent for the space?"

Dawkins asked. "Otherwise, it is inappropriate for its existence to be subsidized by the city."

Stephenson vowed to continue her vociferous campaign against the city's Bayview Community Center master plan.

She said, "The whole thing is a big wadded up mess." {in}

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TRUMP RALLIES HIS TROOPS

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“Our focus was will they create good quality jobs or will they train the workforce that we need to fill those jobs,” he told Inweekly.

“If you look at these four that were selected, It took a good, long while for President I think each one of those projects answers Donald Trump to work his way around to those questions, training workforce or creating the painfully obvious premise of his Dec. jobs that good, highIfpaying jobs that we 8 rally inare Pensacola. you weren't listening need here in Escambia County.” for it, the remarks might easily be dismissed

By Jeremy Morrison

as one more rant in a stream-of-consciousWATER BOARD CLEARED On Dec.for it. ness tirade.

But everyone was listening "ThisAttorney guy's screaming 'Weannounced want Roy 1, State Bill Eddins Moore,'" said, responding to aofshout his officeTrump had completed its review a from the crowd.

"He's right." Law violation complaint alleging a Sunshine The president previously indicated by members of thehad board of directors of he would not be campaigning for Moore, Fairpoint Regional Water System, Inc. the Alabama senatorial candidate facing Chief Assistant State Attorney Greg multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.

Marcille determined that Fairpoint is not But here he was, stumping at the Pensacola subject to the Law, therefore Bay Center justSunshine a few days outand from that no violation occurred.

The regional water special election. system was a private, nonprofit Of course, Pensacola isn't inentity Alabama, formed in 1999

by Midway so perhaps a plausible caseWater could System, be made that local rally was entirely Inc., Trump's Holley-Navarre Water System, unrelatInc. and ed Moore's race.

After daughtertheto City of Gulf Breeze toall, be his a wholesale in-law Lara Trumpinhad described it a few provider of water Santa Rosa County. daysThe earlier in a Pensacola Speaks interview complaint alleged that board memas a Christmas rally. bers Matt Dannheisser, Bien May and Buzz But the president made no effort to hide Eddy met to discuss a multimillion dollar his rationale for visiting a locale so close to bank refinancing program for Fairpoint Alabama he could toss a mullet over the privately state line.and violated the Sunshine Law. Marcille found that Fairpoint "How many people here are fromhad thenot been state delegated a governmental function, great of Alabama?"

Trump called out to a key factor determining whether a private whoops andinhollers, before urging attendees to "get outisand vote for Roy Sunshine Moore." Law. He entity subject to the also reviewed whether if the City of Gulf Breeze’s membership of the utility made Frigid temperatures a halfhearted rain Fairpoint obligated to and comply. greeted Trump as he visited Pensacola.

AsindarkHe wrote, “The Attorney General ness fell, a98-47 long line of rally attendees waited Opinion concluded that a private in the weather to enter the Bay Center and a nonprofit corporation, whose members group of protesters clustered across Gregory included both public and private entities, Street shouting slogans and waving signs. was not subject to the Sunshine Law.” Similar to his local campaign stops, Trump's visit also attracted a small gaggle of vendors.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Onselling Dec. t11, They shivered under pop-up tents, Escambia County Legislative Delegation shirts and hats with catchy phrases: "Drain the will hold "Suck at public meeting at 5:30 p.m. to Swamp!"

It Liberals!" consider local bills, hear presentations from government entities, and take public testimony on proposals for the 2018 Legislative Session. The Escambia County Legislative Delegation consists of Sen. Doug Broxson, Rep. Clay Ingram and Rep. Frank White. The hearing is in Pensacola State College Jean and Paul Performance Studio, 1000 College Blvd. Any member of the public is welcomed to attend.

On Dec. 14, Escambia Board of County Commissioners regular meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox.

On Dec. 14, Pensacola City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Penwww.radiofreepensacola.com sacola City Hall, 222 W. Main St. {in}

2016 ELECTION WON'T GO AWAY

December 14, 2017

"Wherever he goes, we go," laughed vendor Angel Hill.

Hill points to a winter hat emblazoned with Trump's name. It's the night's biggest seller because of the weather.

"This is the election that won't go away," Hill said, motioning to the crowd. "He's just popular and they love him."

In the line to enter the Bay Center, Caleb Parcoe waited his turn at the security checkpoint. He worked on Trump's local campaign and wore a colonial, tri-tipped hat that offered a visual indication of his enthusiasm.

"I've actually never seen a sitting president with my own eyes before," Parcoe smiled.

Like many rally attendees, Parcoe expressed approval of Trump's tenure thus far. He's a fan of the travel ban and the president's Supreme Court pick.

And like other Trump supporters at the rally, Parcoe also summed up the prevailing view concerning the possibility that the candidate's campaign worked with Russia to impact the U.S. presidential election: "The Russia thing — you can ask any other conservative, that just is nothing. It's just been, no pun intended, trumped up."

"It's just been, no pun intended, trumped up." Caleb Parcoe Across the street, rally protesters took a decidedly different stance. They chanted and waved signs, addressing such subjects as "lying" and "hate," as well as "pedophilia" and the "GOP tax scam."

"He's ruining our country," said Beth Miller, standing at a barricade with her 'Morals Over Party' sign.

Miller, along with Vickie Dasenbrock, traveled to Pensacola from Illinois to protest Trump's campaign event. It wasn't their first rodeo. The pair hit a rally this past spring in Kentucky, and also attended the Women's March last January in Washington D.C.

"People have to get out and make their voices heard," Miller said.

The protesters were part of what has been termed "the Resistance." They said they are troubled with just about every aspect of Trump's presidency. Ultimately, they hope he's impeached.

"Just every day, it's a shitshow," sighed Dasenbrock.

RED MEAT

During his rally remarks, Trump noted the contingent of protesters out in the cold. Mocked them to howls of delight.

"They call themselves 'the Resistance,'" Trump said. "You ever see these signs, 'Resist, Resist, Resist.'"

The president hobbled around the stage, as if holding a protest sign, apparently imitating someone weak and whiny.

The Bay Center roared with approval.

"Oh, these resisters, they resist," Trump continued. "Hillary resisted, and you know what happened? She lost the election in a landslide.

But you know what they're really resisting?

They're resisting the will of the American people, that's what they're really resisting."

The Resistor-lines played well in the Bay Center. Red meat for a red crowd. And that can be said for most of the topics Trump traversed during his Pensacola rally.

Like any classic rock band, Trump knows what his fans want. They want a greatest-hits medley everyone can sign along with on the chorus.

They want to hear about the "rigged system" and the "very, very bad and evil people" in Washington D.C. They want to hear about "the drugs and the gangs" and the "MS-13 animals" and about how there's "a lot of sickness in a lot of our institutions."

They want to hear about "the horrible Paris Climate Accord" and how "everybody should stand for the National Anthem" and about "what the hell is going on in Chicago."

They want to hear about the "fake news."

They want to hear how great the Blue

Angles are: "By the way, can those people fly or what?"

They want to hear Trump say his "You're Fired!" catchphrase: "And I must tell you, I can't believe Arnold Schwarzenegger bombed so badly on "The Apprentice," my poor beautiful show."

And they want to hear about how Trump is making department stores say 'Merry Christmas': "They're using those words again. Did you notice?"

Trump played all these hits. And each one slayed.

But there was also a new number: the Roy Moore Waltz. Despite the name, it's harder to dance to and not near as catchy.

Still, Trump gave the new tune his all-in hopes of securing a U.S. Senate seat for a man that many in his own party — including Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby — have walked away from after reckoning that the flurry of accusations, that paint a portrait of a creeper in his thirties, trolling the Gadsden mall for teenagers in the 1970s or luring a 14-year-old to his house were likely true.

Still, he's a Republican. And every Senate seat is precious.

"We need someone in that seat who will vote for our Make America Great Again agenda!" Trump said.

In closing out his appearance in Pensacola, the president thanked the local crowd and urged them to "fight, fight, fight for the change you've been waiting for your entire life, the change you already see happening."

"Our revolution didn't end on Nov. 8, that was just the beginning," Trump said. "The greatest adventure still lies ahead." {in} Editor's note: The impact of the Pensacola rally on the results of the U.S. Senate race were unknown as of our publication deadline.

An Emerson College poll released Monday had Moore holding out with a nine-point lead, while a Fox News poll placed Democrat Doug Jones ahead of Moore by ten points. A third poll by Change Research had Roy Moore ahead by 6 points.

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Jack Brown / Courtesy Photo

BROWN GETS TWO The Escambia County Commission voted on Nov. 30 to give County Administrator Jack Brown two one-year extensions of his contract, which was due to expire Jan. 8, 2018. The vote came after a thirty-minute debate among the commissioners Commissioner Steven Barry expressed his frustration with Brown's effectiveness but not with his character or work ethic.

"I've had in essence the same discussion about the same issue, over and over again, for the last two or three years," he said. "While I believe everything I said about Jack and his character, I want to see more production. I want to see more loops closed."

"While I believe everything I said about Jack and his character, I want to see more production. I want to see more loops closed."

Steven Barry Barry had met with Brown before the commission meeting.

"My feedback to Jack this afternoon was I'm going to do everything that I can do to hold an administrator accountable for not just their own actions, but the product we get done," he said. "And I would like to see a greater accountability that Jack pushes down the hierarchy."

The District 5 commissioner said he would reluctantly support a one-year extension but not two.

Commissioner Underhill advocated for two years. He said, "We can definitely get better‌I also think there's almost nothing that I can imagine getting us there better 88

than our current county administrator, and a changeover to another one, within the next couple of years, I think would get us further away from that."

At the agenda review earlier, Commissioner Grover Robinson, whose term ends next year, had indicated he would support a one-year extension but had changed his mind and thought two years would be better for the county.

"I think there's an outward stability issue, going forward," he said. "Not just what happens, but also your employees and who you're attracting. I'm aware of what that means, and I'm certainly having a chance to take a look at it."

Barry said, "Is it a two-year that moves forward without a unanimous vote? Or is it a one-year extension that can move forward with a unanimous vote? That decision is up to y'all."

Commissioner Jeff Bergosh favored two years. "You give someone a two-year contract, and you're not always gonna hear what you want to hear," he said. "But, a one year contract is almost like a vote of no confidence, in my opinion."

Commissioner Lumon May tried to work out a compromise to get a unanimous vote for the two-year extension. The current contract had a severance provision of 25 percent of Brown's base salary and six months of health insurance.

He suggested, "If those two things were stripped out; 25 percent and he's not using healthcare, could you find a 5-0 vote?"

Brown said, "I'm fine with getting rid of the buyout. If you guys want to search for a new administrator, begin the search. Bring somebody else onboard. I'm not job scared.

I want to work with you guys, I want to work with the county; I don't want to be the center of controversy. I think the two-year provides more stability."

The board voted unanimously for two one-year contract extensions.

PERCEPTIONS OF PENSACOLA Even

though Pensacola is among one of the most pristine beaches along the Emerald Coast, neighbors Gulf Shores and Destin are still perceived as more ideal vacation spots.

Majority Opinion Research, a firm contracted by Visit Pensacola, provided the 2017 Market Perception Study results on Dec. 7 at Skopelos at New World.

The study was from 10 markets: Atlanta, New Orleans, Birmingham, Dallas, Washington, D.C., Chicago, St. Louis and two new cities Kansas City and Denver.

They interviewed 100 people in each market with incomes of $75,000 plus.

Gulf Shores stood out to have a more significant market share for visitors with families this past year with 24 percent compared to Pensacola's 13 percent.

"Obviously, we have a very family friendly atmosphere here," Jeff Shusterman said, "But it's always important to know that the majority of visitors are traveling with children over the course of a year."

The results showed that Gulf Shores and Destin had done a better job at converting people to become aware of them as a destination. Pensacola has done better than St. Augustine, and we're on parity with the other nearby destinations such as Panama City and Fort Walton, according to the study.

The top five most important factors for choosing a vacation spot are clean and well-maintained beaches, scenic beauty, a place where people can feel comfortable, relax and have a good time.

Gulf Shores and Destin had higher and more positive perceptions this year, even in categories such as being a place to relax.

Beyond the beach, the number one thing people want when vacationing is good dining out options, followed by kids' attractions, adventure tours, historical sites, parks and shopping.

The study results showed that 65 percent of people said that they are likely to visit Pensacola in the next year or two.

However, the survey also showed that if they're not likely to visit Pensacola, what needs to be done to make you want to go.

Information on activities other than the beach and more quality accommodations are at the top of the list.

"Destin is a beach. Pensacola is a city that has a great beach."

Jeff Shusterman "Destin is a beach. Pensacola is a city that has a great beach," Shusterman said.

"All of these different things are great opportunities to differentiate this destination and make it an even stronger competitor to all of our neighbors."

THOMAS VS. SPEARS, ROUND 3 In

September 2014, Superintendent Malcolm Thomas fired Escambia High School head football coach Willie Spears after listening to the pleas and requests of his school board and an overflow crowd of Escambia High students, teachers and parents, as well as ministers, civil rights leaders and representatives from the teachers' union.

Over the course of four hours, they asked the superintendent to use progressive discipline in how he dealt with Escambia High Football Coach Willie Spears and to keep the coach at the school.

After all, some argued that he showed such leniency in the past by allowing principals and teachers with DUIs, who had misused school funds to decorate their offices and other serious offenses stay on the job.

Their arguments didn't matter. Thomas told the crowd, many dressed in the blue and orange of Escambia High, that Spears wasn't being fired because of any recruiting violations. No, he was firing Spears for insubordination–something that he said he could not tolerate.

"If all this was about was recruiting violations, we would have found a way to fix that."

Malcolm Thomas "I love Willie Spears," said Thomas. "I don't love what you did Saturday, Aug.30."

On Aug. 30, 2014, Coach Spears played players under investigation after being told by his principal not to do so.

"If all this was about was recruiting violations, we would have found a way to fix that," said the superintendent. Thomas claimed that he had extended two opportunities for Spears to come to his office.

The coach, sitting in the front row. shook his head and said, "That's not true." The superintendent changed his story to "Well, Mr. Scott, was supposed to contact you."

The School Board voted 3-2 to uphold Thomas' decision.

After a brief stint as co-host of "The Daily Brew" on BLAB-TV, Spears took over as head football coach of Vernon High School, where he had a 14-8 record and one district title in two seasons.

Last year, he entered the Escambia County Superintendent's race against his former boss. WJHG of Panama City reported that Spears provided it with a copy of a letter he received back in April 2015 from the school system. The letter said a $5,000 fine against Spears was forgiven, the coach was to withdraw his grievance, and that neither party was at fault.

On March 30, 2016, Spears withdrew from the race when Claudia Williams entered the race. She had lost to Thomas in 2008 and 2012.

"My decision to run for Superintendent was not out of spite, malice or personal inweekly.net

gain," said Spears in a written statement.

"My strategy for winning the election was compromised when a Democratic candidate filed this past Friday. My decision to run was based on Malcolm Thomas running unopposed, that has changed."

Thomas defeated Williams, 96,16951,943 in the 2016 General Election. In 2017, George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala. hired Spears.

Last week, the News Journal learned the Education Practices Commission of Florida had issued its final determination in Spears' case—fining him $6,600, suspending his teaching license for a year, mandating probation for a further three years, ordering he complete an ethics course and limiting his scope of work to exclude coaching or overseeing extra-curricular activities.

The ruling came three years after the incident. Hmmm, a city of grudges?

ANDRADE RAISES CASH Republican

Alex Andrade announced his campaign coffers for the Florida House District 2 race has over $50,000 in the first month of the campaign with over 170 donations.

"We're excited and encouraged by the strong start to our campaign," Andrade said in a press announcement.

"I'm energized and humbled by the start to the campaign, and I'm looking forward to the months ahead." Alex Andrade He thanked his supporters. He added, "I'm energized and humbled by the start to the campaign, and I'm looking forward to the months ahead."

Andrade is running for the House seat currently held by Frank White, who is running for Florida Attorney General.

BURGESS ROAD SCREWED AGAIN-

Pensacola City Councilwoman Sherri Myers learned last week from Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson that the sidewalks budgeted for Burgess Road have been delayed until 2020.

For years, Myers has fought for sidewalks on Burgess Road to help children walk safely to the three schools in their area. In September, she finally got council approval to include $1.6 million for sidewalks and street drainage on the District 2 road in the FY 2018 budget.

To get the necessary votes, Myers had to also vote for the $8 million budget for the Bayview Community Center. The trade-off December 14, 2017

drew praise from Councilman Larry Johnson, who represents District 4 that will be served by the community center.

He said, "I would like to say also to Ms. Myers, she deserves all the credit. She's fought for this. I congratulate her on this happening."

"I would like to say also to Ms. Myers, she deserves all the credit. She's fought for this. I congratulate her on this happening." Larry Johnson But Johnson also threw in a dig a few minutes later: "I look forward to not hearing about Burgess Road for the next couple of years."

Sorry, Mr. Johnson, you may be hearing about Burgess Road again.

When the county met with city officials to discuss how the two governments could work together on the sidewalks and street drainage, the city notified the county that the work would have to be done after Pensacola Energy completed its work in the area, pushing the project to 2020.

Myers is upset that City Administrator Eric Olson didn't notify her of the delay. In an email, she asked him for a detailed explanation of the Burgess Road project. The city administrator rarely replies via emails to avoid creating a public record.

TRUMP RUNNING IN 2020 Lara Trump,

a senior advisor to Donald J. Trump for President Inc. and the President's daughter-in-law, spoke with Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen on "Pensacola Speaks" on News Talk 1370 WCOA last week.

When asked about the President's announcement about moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, she said, "I think this is something that the United States has wanted to do for quite some time. It really took a bold leader like my father-in-law to step forward and say, 'This is something that we're committed to doing, and we want to see it through.'"

She said that the President was excited about the prospect of having a tax reform ready for his signature before the end of the year.

"I think he feels very optimistic about things," she said. "I think he feels very good going into the holiday season that he's going to have a great gift to give the American people."

Is her father-in-law running for a second term in 2020?

Ms. Trump said. "I think he has very high hopes for this country, and for things he wants to see happen in this country. He definitely wants to run for a second term." {in} 9

Thank you

Ascendant Partnership & Pensacola Remote Area Medical Clinic Would like to acknowledge with great gratitude our sponsors, host committee, and all of the volunteers with whose support we were able to provide a community benefit of over $400,000 in health care and other patient services.

During our two-day free medical clinic, over 700 members of the community received dental, medical and vision care.

JoAnn Vanfleteren Christy Manderson Christy Laggan Alphonse Marsh

Jane R. Litvak Greg Strader Mattie Broxton Maria Martin

Grover Robinson Jill Robinson Mary Jean Frank Mollye Vigodsky

Please help us thank our sponsors:

Apple Market Baptist Healthcare Community Coffee The DK Group Promotionals Escambia County Commissioners Robinson and Bergosh

ROTARY CLUB

PENSACOLA

PENSACOLA

HIGH SCHOOL

Escambia Community Clinics Florida Blue Florida Health Escambia County FSU College of Medicine Humana Medicaid Humana Medicare

Krispy Kreme Navy Federal Pensacola Christian College Pensacola State College Pensacola United Firefighters Association Regions Bank

Royal Cup Coffee Sam’s Club UF College of Medicine University of West Florida Whataburger

THIS AD IS SPONSORED BY THE STUDER FAMILY 010 1

inweekly.net

winners losers 2017

&

By Rick Outzen

'Crybaby' model: Gregory Coady / Photo by Greg Riegler

winners DR. USHA AND MAHADEB KUNDU

FRED LEVIN

The University of West Florida announced a gift in excess of $5 million from Dr. Usha and Mahadeb Kundu to rename the UWF College of Health the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. The gift will support academic excellence for students, including opportunities for active, engaged and experiential learning. Dr. Kundu grew up in rural Bihar, India, and immigrated to the United States to complete her residency. She opened her current private practice in Pensacola in 1983.

Brigham and Women's Hospital honored the Pensacola attorney for the establishment of the Fredric G. Levin Distinguished Chair in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer Research, thanks to his gift of $2 million. As part of Levin's contribution, the chief of thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women's will come to Pensacola annually to conduct a conference for Pensacola area physicians and administrators. The Pensacola trial lawyer also invested $550,000 in the University of West Florida to establish the Reubin O'D. Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies, in honor of his former law partner, and donated $200,000 to Gulf Coast Kid's House to be invested in the GCKH Future Fund, a permanent endowment for the organization.

December 14, 2017

11

winners BUBBA WATSON The Professional golfer and co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos donated $1.6 million to The Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart. Watson will serve as an ambassador for the Children's Hospital. To recognize the support and ongoing relationship with Watson, Sacred Heart will name the entrance road to the new Children's Hospital as Bubba Watson Drive.

In August, Watson also donated another $500,000 to The Studer Family Children's Hospital as a result of winning the MetLife MatchUp, an online voting contest for the best recovery shot of the season. Watson's shot in the opening round of The Greenbrier Classic 2017 received the most votes, earning a million dollars for charities. The other $500,000 portion of the prize went to support junior golf.

CAT COUNTRY 98.7 Pensacola's locally owned country radio station and 2017 Best of the Coast winner has been named 2017 Radio Station of the Year by the Country Music Association (CMA). The award is the first CMA Station of the Year award for Cat Country 98.7.

JONATHAN CLARK The Blues Angel Music Foundation announced the awarding of its inaugural Music Educator of the Year prize to Jonathan Clark.

Clark is a team leader and strings instructor at several schools in the Escambia County School District. He is the founder of the Fifth Grade Strings Program that teaches more than 400 students per week. He is also the director of the Emerald Coast Honors Orchestra, a performance-based string orchestra comprised of local students.

SUSAN DAVIS The Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) named Susan Davis, CEO of Sacred Heart Health System in Pensacola, as a recipient of the 2017 Sister Concilia Moran Award. Named for the first post-Vatican II superior of the Sisters of Mercy of the Union, the Sister Mary Concilia Moran Award celebrates the memory of a woman who was a leader both in religious life and as a hospital administrator and health system executive.

JUSTIN GATLIN The 35-year-old Pensacola sprinter beat the world's fastest human and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Usain Bolt, in the 100-meter dash final at the IAAF World Championships in London. Gatlin won the race in a season-best time of 9.92 seconds.

JASON HUTCHINSON The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has named Officer Jason Hutchinson of Santa Rosa County its 2017 Officer of the Year. He rescued a firsttime hunter lost at night in the Escambia River swamp, caught people illegally night hunting, discovered a hidden alligator, snapping turtle and even apprehended one of this area's most wanted methamphetamine distributors.

IRIS Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS) was selected a winner at the 2017 Microsoft Health Innovation Awards.

Microsoft established the awards to honor annually its computing clients and health organizations that best demonstrate industry leadership in incorporating technology to achieve innovation. IRIS also successfully closed a round of Series B financing. The funds raised will support the IRIS's development the next generation of products that detect eye disease and improve the monitoring and care of patients in diabetic populations.

BOB KIMBALL The University of West Florida has announced a $1 million gift from Dr. Bob Kimball, UWF professor of marketing and economics, to create the Bill and Ellie Kimball Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship Award in memory of his parents. The gift will fund $2,000 merit-based scholarships for 40 UWF sophomores each year, beginning in 2017. The contribution marks Kimball's third substantial donation to the institution, totaling $3 million.

MIKE LANWEHR AND SALLY ROSENDAHL The co-founders of Ciclovia Open Streets Pensacola had a successful inaugural event in downtown Pensacola.

Hundreds took advantage of the beautiful springtime weather and enjoyed the fivemile area. Retailers reported robust sales the weekend of the event.

TYLER MAHLE The Pensacola Blue Wahoo player pitched the Southern League's first perfect game in 47 years on Saturday, May 22

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against rival Mobile BayBears. The perfect game was also the first in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos' history.

NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION For the seventh time, and sixth consecutive year, Navy Federal was named to Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list. Fortune noted that 95 percent of Navy Federal employees say they feel good about the ways Navy Federal contributes to the community, and 92 percent of team members feel a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

STEPHANIE NOWLIN The Florida Animal Control Association named the Escambia County Animal Control Sergeant its 2017 Animal Control Officer of the Year.

Sgt. Nowlin was honored for her outstanding achievements in fighting animal cruelty and for modernizing the way that her agency conducts investigations.

She serves as a field-training officer, livestock officer and helps develop policies and protocols for investigating complaints of animal cruelty.

PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The facility reached a new all-time high serving 1,668,897 passengers during FY 2017, beating its previous high of 1,660,545 passengers in 2017.

PHS INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM The IB program at Pensacola High School had a dozen National Merit Finalists: Carla Dias, Nada Eldawy, Sarah Escobedo, Madeline Hawkins, Allen Litvak, Audrey Mahon, Cody Wolfe, Katherine McCall, Lisa Liebens, Anna Neville, Madison Michles and Kelly Wu.

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE The Community College Futures Assembly awarded Pensacola State College the prestigious 2017 Bellwether Award in the Instructional Programs and Services category for its virtual tutoring program.

The award focuses on cutting-edge, trendsetting programs that other colleges might find worthy of replicating. The last time a Florida college won this award was in 2006.

PENSACOLA WOMEN'S MARCH An estimated crowd of over 2,000 people braved rain and tornado warnings to march in downtown Pensacola a day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.

The event was part of a global movement that saw millions of people take to the streets in cities across the nation and overseas in support of women's rights.

ROBYN PHILIPS AND VICTORIA PHILLIPS CRNÂŽ, a brand of The Channel Company, named AppRiver's Senior Channel Sales Advisor Robyn Philips and Channel Sales Account Manager Victoria Phillips to its prestigious 2017 Women of the Channel list. Each was recognized for her outstanding leadership, vision and unique role in driving channel growth and innovation.

TROY RAFFERTY The Levin Papantonio attorney won two significant verdicts against AbbVie, Inc. for users of the pharmaceutical company's AndroGel, a testosterone replacement therapy. The first was $150 million for Jesse Mitchell of Oregon, and the second was $140 million for Jeffrey Konrad, of Memphis, Tenn. Earlier in the year, Rafferty and his wife Ashley created a college scholarship fund to be administered by the Southern Sports Youth Association.

The couple pledged to donate $50,000 a year to the students in Escambia County.

The first two $25,000 scholarships were awarded last week.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA Three years after the university was ranked near the bottom, the Florida Board of Governors announced that the University of West Florida ranked in the top three of the top-performing public universities in the state and would receive more than $20 million in new funding for the 2017-18 academic year. UWF earned a top spot in the rankings alongside the University of Florida and the University of South Florida.

In 2014, UWF was ranked No. 11, receiving 21 points out of the then-50-point scale.

C.A. WEIS ELEMENTARY The Community Partnership School advanced from an F rating to a C rating in just one year. Last year, Weis was one of 11 elementary schools in Escambia County rated a D or lower. The first of its kind in the Panhandle, the school is a long-term commitment among Children's Home Society of Florida, the University of West Florida and Escambia Community Clinics and Escambia County School District to help students overcome significant barriers to learning, from access to health care to economic instability. inweekly.net

losers PORT OF PENSACOLA Three years ago, Mayor Ashton Hayward touted the facility as an economic generator for the region. The dream of DeepFlex and its 200 high-paying jobs have evaporated. The port's top four revenue streams—wharfage, dockage, storage and property rental—missed their FY 2017 budget projections by $726,324. It's once top tenant, OffShore Inland, missed its balloon payment on past due fees in September and was granted an extension on its payment plan. Councilman Brian Spencer reported that the port office at the gate only has three full-time employees in it. Its marketing budget for FY 2018 has been cut by $29,000. The hottest prospect for the Port is the proposed Northwest Center for Dynamic Ocean Technologies to be put in Warehouse 4, but the facility will pay no rent. Mayor Hayward keeps dropping hints about a "hybrid" port but offers few specifics. Meanwhile, the buzz is his buddies are drawing up plans for condominiums on the site. You can expect the Port of Pensacola to be an issue in the 2018 mayoral election.

HAYWARD AND THE LAW Mayor Ashton Hayward topped his record for outside legal fees in FY 2017 with $1, 469,685. His previous high was $1, 451,388 in FY 2014. The FY 2017 fees would have been even greater if the mayor hadn't pushed over $45,000 in September invoices into the next fiscal year. The mayor lost his appeal in the lawsuit over his 2013 allegation that the Seville Harbor Inc. and Merrill Land were in default in the lease of Pitt Slip. The Florida Supreme Court refused to hear his final appeal. He also lost the federal lawsuit concerning the Bayview Park Cross. He settled his appeal of the Local Option Gas Tax allocation that gave the city less tax revenue than the county proposed in July 2016, his lawsuit against the Emerald Coast Utility Authority over wells at the airport, and a lawsuit brought against the city by the ACLU over its anti-panhandling ordinances. Next up, the lawsuits of former Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover who he fired last year. The odds are the mayor will either settle or lose the cases.

DAVID ALEXANDER The Pensacola Police Chief campaigned to keep his job after his DROP (Deferred Retirement Option Program) date. He and his supporters argued that CFO Dick Barker and others in City Hall had been allowed to stay on the city's payroll after completing DROP. Mayor Ashton Hayward wasn't interested. He refused to detour from his original succession plan that had Assistant Police Chief Tommi Lyter become the new chief this May. The December 14, 2017

pension plans for the police and general employees are different, and Hayward had no desire to amend the police DROP rules.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found that the department and its health care contractors had for years refused to treat infected inmates with antiviral medications, known as "direct-acting antiviral" drugs, because of the cost. Between 7,000 and 20,000 of the state's 98,000 prisoners are believed to be infected with Hepatitis C, but only 13 have been treated with the antiviral drugs since 2013. Walker scolded the agency for being "deliberately indifferent" to the medical needs of inmates, a violation of their constitutional rights.

ESCAMBIA CODE ENFORCEMENT In 2006, former County Administrator George Touart calculated the hard cost for code violations was $1,100 per case by dividing code enforcement's overhead by the number of cases that year. For the next decade, $1,100 was charged to each case until the commissioners began asking questions.

The review found that a 2008 Florida Supreme Court ruling may have determined Touart's formula was no longer legal. In November, Escambia County unanimously voted to cut checks for $550 each to 647 people who have been overcharged since 2008, for a total cost of $355,850.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY'S HEALTH The Florida Department of Health ranked Escambia County 55th among the state's 67 counties when it comes to health outcomes. When it comes to premature death, which is the years of potential life lost before age 75, Florida's rate is 6,800 per 100,000 population, while the national average is 5,200. Escambia County's premature death rate is 9,200 per 100,000.

Meanwhile, Forbes ranked Escambia County as the heaviest toxic disposer in Florida, with about 34 million pounds of toxic materials released in 2016. The study listed the 50 counties across the United States responsible for discharging the most hazardous chemicals. Escambia County ranked 11th, while no other Florida county made the list. Coincidence?

FHP TICKET QUOTAS This year, the second-highest ranking officer in the Florida Highway Patrol resigned after acknowledging he wrote an email in May encouraging troopers to write at least two tickets per hour. Thomas' resignation came after Maj. Mark Welch, a troop commander who oversees eight counties near Tallahassee, stepped down for sending a July 28 memo to troopers that also had been seen as a mandate for a

ticket quota. Also, Chief Mark Brown, the North Florida operations regional commander, was suspended three days without pay. Ticket quotas are illegal under Florida law.

FLORIBAMA SHORE The latest MTV reality show rips off the iconic Perdido Key bar, Flora-Bama Lounge and Oyster Bar. For 53 years, the Flora-Bama has survived hurricanes, recessions and an oil spill and provided live music, cold drinks and even a mullet toss. We agree with the bar owners that there is only one Flora-Bama and it isn't in Panama City Beach on MTV.

HALLMARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The City of Pensacola lost another piece of its history with demolition of the elementary school built in 1928. The Escambia County School Board closed Hallmark in 2011. The school was sold two years later for $1 million to 349 LLC, which consisted of Fred Levin, Fred Vigodsky and the mayor's business partner Matt Pair. The mayor's wife was once part of the limitedliability corporation but was bought out, along with Pair, when the News Journal reported on her relationship with the entity. 349 LLC flipped the school property to Dallas-based homebuilder D.R. Horton for $1.65 million. The historic school will be replaced with 76 townhomes.

HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE In September 2015, City Councilman Brian Spencer sponsored a human rights ordinance that would have afforded Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LBGT) individuals the same civil rights protections as other legally recognized minorities within the city of Pensacola. The council discussed the proposal for five hours in a workshop. Since then, the ordinance has disappeared

DEREK OWENS The City of Pensacola Public Works Director is in charge of city infrastructure and the citizens aren't impressed with his efforts.

The recent poll by The Political Matrix found only about one in five voters were satisfied with stormwater improvements, a third with city sidewalks, and 40 percent with city streets. The Government Street Stormwater project has missed so many deadlines that city officials no longer give updates. The contractor, who also built the award-winning Admiral Mason pond under the supervision of Owens'

predecessor, became so frustrated working with Owens and the seventh floor of city hall that they probably won't bid on any more city projects. Complaints over the city's resurfacing programs also have started to crop up.

PENSACOLA POLICE DEPARTMENT The Pensacola Police Department was created on July 18, 1821, by Governor Andrew Jackson, making it the oldest official police department in the state of Florida. Unfortunately, the department has lost its accreditation due to its officers dealing with the evaluators unprofessionally. When the loss was first reported in April, city officials said they would try to work it out over the summer. Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation website does not list the Pensacola Police Department as accredited.

SEX IN STATE CAPITAL State Senator Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) was removed as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee after six women alleged he inappropriately touched them without their consent or uttered demeaning remarks about their bodies. Latvala has denied ever sexually harassing anyone. Senate President Joe Negron ordered a probe into the allegations. The Florida Democrats had their share of controversy.

Stephen Bittel stepped down as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party after being accused of leering at female aides and consultants and generating such a generally creepy atmosphere that some women didn't want to be alone with him. The resignation came after Jeff Clemens, who was to be the next leader of the Florida Senate Democrats, gave up his legislative seat after admitting he had an extramarital affair with a lobbyist.

TAU KAPPA EPSILON Greek organizations are under fire at universities around the country. At the University of West Florida, the Tau-Psi chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity was suspended for a minimum five-year period following the conclusion of an investigation into hazing as well as risk-management and alcohol-related misconduct. The activities occurred at an unregistered, off-campus bid day party hosted by the organization and included hazing, underage drinking, risk management violations, drinking games, common source containers and coerced consumption of alcohol. {in} 13

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF DECEMBER 14-20

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

To Market, To Market

By Shelby Nalepa

Soft Earth Ceramics by Emalee Hudson

Looking for some gift inspiration? Skip the mall this weekend and check out two unique shopping experiences that support locally handmade goods. Dozens of area artisans will come together for the Holiday Makers Market at Cowork @nnex on Friday night and the Little Spruce Market, which will be held at the Museum of Commerce Saturday.

"We have an amazing array of local makers," said Little Spruce Market organizer Liz Allen. "We are strictly no direct sales, only local makers and owners of highquality product. Our mission is to promote self-sustainability within our locale, whilst promoting our vintage heritage."

A variety of goods will be for sale at the market—from handmade soaps and ceramics to prints, hand-blown glass and jewelry. Coffee and desserts will also be available.

"Our mission is to have visitors and vendors alike to be part of and feel the enchantment of Christmas within the historic downtown Pensacola, as well as to support local and promote the creative ability within everyone," Allen said.

Vendors include Truth Soap Co., Soft Earth Ceramics, Yesternow, Drowsy Poet Coffee, Chrisoula's Cheesecake Shoppe and Cafe, Charlotte Mason Printing Company, Dolce & Gelato, Euphoria Desserts, Alcohol Inks by Rachel Eidson, Oceans Own Gems, J Moody Glass, Atlas Glass, Beachy Keen, Straight Up Cake, Wild Magnolia Kombucha from Fairhope, Ladyganics from Panama December 14, 2017

City and Encore Old Piano from Milton.

"We believe handmade is happiness, and that handmade and local gifts are more meaningful than mass produced, one size fits all, type of profit game," she said. "There is a different type of energy that comes from a gift given from a place you know, almost as though you know it was lovingly made by the dreamer themselves."

To match the nostalgic Christmas shopping experience, Allen said packages will be available for purchase for parents who want to give their children some time with Santa and receive a crafty gift. Little Spruce will also have puppies and kittens for adoption on site from Pensacola Humane Society and a wish list tree for Pensacola Children's Society.

Allen said that the idea to do the market came from a desire to open a store focused on selling local artisan goods while offering a creative space for moms. Allen founded the group Passion Moms of Pensacola when she first moved to the area five years ago, which also contributed to the idea of starting a market and sharing different skills and crafts. Allen and her husband Mclain also make their own furniture using reclaimed or locally sourced wood.

"We are bringing wood signs that my husband put together from wood reclaimed from renovating our house, which I stain, paint and stencil," Allen said.

The newly officially opened Cowork @nnex and Leader Art Consultants (LAC) will also be hosting a holiday edition of their monthly @rt at the @nnex series featuring local artists and makers. More art-focused, the Holiday Makers Market will be the largest curated indoor popup market during the December Gallery Night.

"Shoppers can find modern, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts and meet and buy directly from the artists," said Alexis Leader, director of LAC. "With over 30 vendors, visitors can browse hand-blown glass, ceramics, paintings, stationary and holiday items."

Featured vendors include Joe Hobbs Glass, Laura Bogan Photography, Soft Earth Ceram-

Hudson currently makes ceramics in her ics, Charlotte Mason Printing Company, Jarrod home studio with two kilns, two wheels and a Goldman, Ben Bogan Designs and Leslie M. few other pieces of heavy equipment.

Ward Art & Design. Samples of freshly baked "My process has been evolving steadily gingerbread cookies by Bluejay's Bakery and since I started ceramics," Hudson said. "I try seasonal craft beverages from Big Jerk Soda to have a strict production schedule while Co. will also be available. also leaving myself time to experiment and Leader said that visitors are encouraged to bring a donation of a classroom art supply explore new ideas and glazing techniques.

The process of making pottery itself takes for the Pensacola Museum of Art education time and involves multiple production steps department. Suggested donations include including prepping, throwing, firing, glazing, color pencils, crayons, markers, paint and and then firing again which can take days to drawing paper. weeks to complete. In the end, it's all worth Emalee Hudson, owner of Soft Earth it when you open the kiln to fresh new pieces Ceramics, will be at both Little Spruce and that will be going to happy homes." {in} Holiday Makers Markets with her modern, sleek ceramics.

"I have always been a believer in simplicity and I like to portray that in the pieces I make," Hudson said. "A lot of my style comes from the cultures I grew up WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 with. Being both Swedish and American, WHERE: Cowork @nnex, 13 S. Palafox I try and incorporate the two different COST: Free; Shoppers are encouraged to influences into my pottery. The Scandibring a donation of a classroom art supply navian side shows through with a clean for the PMA education department and deliberate aesthetic where function DETAILS: leaderfineart.com/exhibitions meets form, while the rustic look of the clay and glazes I use go hand in hand with growing up here in the south."

Hudson started working with clay WHEN: 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in elementary school but got seriWHERE: Museum of Commerce, 201 E. ous with her craft while in college at Zaragoza St. Pensacola State.

COST: Free; “Dashing Tickets” that "My very first piece was a pinch fast-track you into the market are pot all the students made their mom's available on request for Mother's Day," she said. "I was DETAILS: pensacolamarket.com in high school at Gulf Breeze when I took a shot at throwing on the wheel.

It's where I really felt a pull towards ceramics. But it wasn't until I took a class at PSC that I knew I had caught the clay bug. My idea for Soft Earth If you don't finish all your shopping this Ceramics started shortly after in 2014, weekend, fitness studio Wild Lemon will be in that same PSC pottery room." hosting a Last Minute Market Saturday, Dec. Hudson, who primarily sells her 23. That means all you procrastinator's out ceramics on an Etsy shop, said that it there can shop in style with vendors includwill be a different experience selling in ing Between Boutique, Keep Away From Cats person compared to online.

Jewelry and White Gold Boutique.

"I like the opportunity that selling

HOLIDAY MAKERS MARKET

LITTLE SPRUCE MARKET

Better Late Than Never

in person gives the consumer to interact with my pieces and myself," she said. "While my Etsy and social media is an accurate representation of who I am and the pieces I sell, it doesn't get much more personal than someone in front of me holding the pieces I put my heart into."

LAST MINUTE MARKET

WHEN: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 WHERE: Wild Lemon, 3000 N. 12th Ave. DETAILS: facebook.com/beawildlemon

15

NewYear’s Eve ≥CELEBRATION≤

FIVE-COURSE FOOD AND WINE DINNER WITH TWO SEATINGS AT 6 AND 9 P.M. Reserve your table for our New Year’s Eve five-course dinner with paired wines. We’ll be offering two seatings in the main dining room at 6 and 9 p.m. $100 per person with complimentary favors included.

(Excludes tax and gratuity)

Call (850) 433-9450 to reserve your table for the wine dinner—view the complete menu online. We will also offer walk-in service all evening throughout the complex, serving from our dinner menu.

(850) 470-0003 · 600 SOUTH BARRACKS ST. · FISHHOUSEPENSACOLA.COM 616 1

inweekly.net

art

By Shelby Nalepa

Collective Creativity

Glob Artist Collective / Courtesy Photo

A new artist collective will be having a group pop-up exhibition at the Pensacola Museum of Art featuring work from 33 different artists. The exhibit, called Philic/ Phobic, is from Glob Artist Collective, which exhibition organizer Matt Pham said is an ever-changing mass of Pensacola-based or Pensacola-bred artists.

"The artists' needs range anywhere from finding new spaces to show work, connecting with fellow artists in the interest of critique and collaboration, or simply to not feel so isolated in the bubble of personal process," Pham said.

Using previously un-activated spaces in the museum for this show, Philic/Phobic will open Dec. 12 and be on view until the end of the year. The opening reception for the exhibition is Saturday night, featuring Atlanta-based experimental psych band Chew.

"Pensacola is a rich tapestry of talented and prolific artists," Pham said. "The threads of that tapestry can sometimes be disparate

and jaded. Glob is an attempt to tighten up that fabric and add to the thread count."

After five years in the University of West Florida art department, Pham said that he felt a strong desire to help local artists continue to grow post-academia.

"Glob Artist Collective is a recent response not only to needs, but to notions that collectives require some sort of tangibility or physical constancy in order to be effective and productive," Pham said.

"The real connective tissue of a collective is intangible—the relationships that artists have with each other and the effects those relationships have on their community. It is critical to build those foundations first."

Pham said that having a home base or independent gallery space is on the shortlist of goals, but that more so than anything the collective serves to connect artists with each other.

"The collective exists as a vehicle for a transient and ever-shifting body of artists

"What initially began as Matt and I being to organize group shows, connect with frustrated with the contemporary art scene in other artists and offer constructive critique Pensacola, quickly grew into a concept which of each other's work," Pham said. carries the potential to spark an all new wave The theme of the pop-up, Pham said, of creativity and understanding in local art as a explores private desires, "philic," and worst whole," Garcia said. fears, "phobic," and the juxtaposition that He said that Glob is an art collective sometimes blurs the line between the two. without being an art collective.

"Exhibiting artists were asked to con"It is an ever-present, ever expanding and front the esoteric nature of deep-seated receding artistic life force created in an atfears and intrusive sexual thoughts, and to tempt to curate that which until now has been explore their relationship to each other by a fragmented landscape of Pensacola's most ping-ponging back and forth along the gratalented visual artists," Garcia said. "Writhing dation of anxiety and arousal," Pham said. beautifully in what was once the underbelly "The theme is intentionally universal in an of Pensacola's art scene, now on the surface attempt to expose the most human parts Glob will change the way people in this city of the artists by inciting raw, visceral works identify with local art." that cull from very accessible psychologiPham said that pop-up shows like cal soil. Base instinct seems like a good Philic/Phobic offer the collective a chance place to start when you're working from the for experimentation, and welcomes other ground up." artists to be a part of the collaboration.

Exhibiting artist Poppy Garcia's piece "There's no exclusivity here," Pham said.

"Nightmare in Regalia" incorporates aspects "From the emerging artist to the established, of his new work alongside his older styles and techniques. He said that the idea of failure and the academic to the anti-intellectual, or the privileged to the disenfranchised, if success played into the piece tremendously. someone wants to become a part of 'it,' they "This creates a most uncomfortable already are. The needs of artists change all image for me as an artist while hopefully the time; space, opportunities, community, supplying a narrative of discovery and fayou name it. We're here to adapt to those miliarity for the viewers," Garcia said. "The needs and to fulfill them collaboratively. painting in and of itself is an accident repurGlob, whatever it may or may not be based posed into a work of art. While attempting a painting technique I use regularly something on people's projections, will always be in an amorphous state of becoming. We welcome went wrong and the paint began to peel, that uncertainty." {in} much to my horror I was distraught. Instead of destroying it and starting over, I decided to continue and work past what I thought was a failed process. Upon further examination I realized this was a whole new technique, a whole WHAT: Opening reception and performance new success."

by Emily Barksdale and CHEW With a desire to reinvent the WHEN: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; Exhibit way people in Pensacola identify open now-31 with local art while breaking the WHERE: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. stereotypes of artist collectives, Jefferson St. Garcia is eager for the connection DETAILS: pensacolamuseum.org Glob will provide.

PHILIC/PHOBIC

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com December 14, 2017

17

calendar cials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DATE NIGHT DANCING 6:30-8 p.m. $15.

Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in group classes that keep partners together. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com THE PURE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE 7 p.m. $20-$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/ singlefincafe of Montreal / Photo by Ben Rouse

THURSDAY 12.14

AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Aragon Wine

Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com MIKE PAPANTONIO BOOK SINGING 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jeweler's Trade Shop, 26 S. Palafox SELECT LATIN DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY

6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com OF MONTREAL 7 p.m. $20. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com AUDUBON SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING 7-9 p.m. Free. Pensacola State College, Bldg. 21, Rm. 2142, 1000 College Blvd.

MOVIE NIGHT: STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS 7 p.m. The Vineyard at 12th Avenue,

1010 N. 12th Ave. Ste. 111. facebook.com/ pensacolavineyardbistrowinebar

FRIDAY 12.15

PILATES MAT 1:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GALLERY NIGHT 4-8 p.m. After party is from 8 p.m. to midnight. Drink specials, live music, and art. S. Palafox. gallerynightpensacola.org WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. HAPPY HOUR COOK OUTS 5 p.m. Drink spe-

Arts & Culture

≥Events

PMA GALLERY TOURS 2:30 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays. Free with museum admission. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

PHILIC/PHOBIC OPENING RECEPTION 5-7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

818 1

≥Current Exhibits

FEAR AND FOLLY: THE VISIONARY PRINTS OF FRANCISCO GOYA AND FREDERICO CASTELLON On view

through Dec. 31.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

PHILIC/PHOBIC

On view through Dec. 31. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org REBELS WITH A CAUSE: AMERICAN IMPRESSIONIST WOMEN On view

ICE FLYERS VS. EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS 7:05 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola

Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

SATURDAY 12.16

Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques.

Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com OCEAN HOUR CLEAN UP 9 a.m. Wayside Park and Graffiti Bridge. Bring your own buckets and gloves. oceanhourfl.com LEAPS 10 a.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org JACKSONIAN GUARD 12 p.m. Colors ceremony at Plaza Ferdinand.

JUNIOR HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION 12-4 p.m. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. pensacolahumane.org DANCE PARTY 8-midnight. Partner dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com

FINE LINES OF FASHION On view Dec.

5 through Jan. 6 Fashion illustrations

by Julie McGrath.

Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. artelgallery.org EYE CANDY On view through Jan. 5. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org PSC ART FACULTY AND STAFF EXHIBIT

On view through Jan. 12. Pensacola State College, 1000

SUNDAY 12.17

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs

Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant.

GROUP MEDITATION 9-10:30 a.m. Free.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: SHENANIGANS 4-5 p.m. Free. 1010 N.

12th Ave. setsco.org/first-city-shakespeare TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 4 p.m. Free.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

MONDAY 12.18

PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Edu-

SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

through Dec. 31.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

AF THE NAYSAYER 9 p.m. chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/chizukopensacola

College Blvd. pensacolastate.edu CROSSING BOUNDARIES: ART AND THE FUTURE OF ENERGY On view

through Jan. 14.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org CONTAINED PLAY

On view through Feb. Artists from the University of West Florida Advanced Sculpture: Public Art course—Katie Carff, John Davis and Michael Stewart—created this accumulation of orbs and light as part

cational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners

meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com END OF THE LINE COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $25.

Pumpkin seed crusted herbed tempeh with wild mushroom sauce. End of the Line Cafe, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS 6:30-8 p.m. $10.

Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and more. Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com SONGWRITERS AND POETS OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m.

Goat Lips, 2811 Copter Road. goatlips.com HIP-HOP DANCE LESSONS 8-9 p.m. $10.

Learn hip-hop moves from professional instructor. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

TUESDAY 12.19

COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m.

SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $12 per person.

V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com

of their coursework.

Main Street Façade Sculpture Garden at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org DOCUFLORIDA On view through Feb. 4.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org PHILATELY & FRIENDSHIP: THE ART OF ACE On

view through Feb. 27. Exhibition of 50 illustrated envelopes created by members of Art Cover Exchange.

T.T. Wentworth,

Jr. Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org PENSACOLA CULTURAL CENTER ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: NINA FRITZ

Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St

≥Workshops & Classes

POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at First City Art

FUNKY YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org O'RILEY'S PINT RUNNERS 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Jan. 30. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com POETRY OPEN MIC 6-8 p.m. Constant Coffee and Tea, 615 Scenic Highway. facebook. com/pensacolapoetry COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. $10.

Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com WEST FLORIDA LITERARY FEDERATION OPEN MIC 7 p.m. Free. Pensacola Cultural Center,

400 S. Jefferson St.

UWF LAMBDA COALITION MEETING 7 p.m.

Building 36, room 191. University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway.

COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com HEALING CLINIC AND MEDITATION 7:15-8:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

WEDNESDAY 12.20

PILATES & PINOT 6-7 p.m. $12. Pure Pilates Downtown, 426 S Palafox. purepilatespensacola.com WATERBOYZ SLOW SKATE 6-7 p.m. Every Wednesday. Skate starts and ends at Waterboyz, 380 N. 9th Ave. waterboyz.com YOGA FLOW 6-7 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SWING DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY 6:30-10 p.m. $5-$10. Professional west coast swing instruction for all levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com MEDITATION 7:15-8:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org PUB TRIVIA 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Jan. 2018. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox. orileyspub.com FREE DANCE LESSONS 8-8:30 p.m. Free beginner west coast swing dance lesson. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL Every Mon-

day from 6-8:30 p.m. at First City Art Center. Classes are $40. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

CLAY HAND BUILDING Six-week

workshops are held Tuesdays from 6-9

p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

CLAY SCULPTURE

Six-week workshops held Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at First City Art Center. Cost is $157.25 for members and $185 for non-members. For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

for more listings visit inweekly.net inweekly.net

@VOLUMEONESALON December 14, 2017

19

THE NUTCRACKER It's the quintessential holiday tradition.

Ballet Pensacola brings back its annual performance of "The Nutcracker." Show starts at 7 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $25.

For more information, visit balletpensacola.com.

Ed Gerhard / Courtesy Photo

THURSDAY 12.14

KITTY GET A JOB CHRISTMAS PARTY Local sketch comedy group, Kitty Get a Job will be hosting a Christmas party and screening their latest sketch. You can also sign up for an eggnog chugging contest, all proceeds will benefit a local charity. The party begins at 7 p.m. at chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. facebook.com/kittygetajob

SANTA PAWS Celebrate the holidays with your favorite four-legged friend. From 5 to 8 p.m.. Get your holiday pet photo with Santa Claus while enjoying some brew. Donations will go to Pensacola Humane Society.

Gulf Coast Brewery, 500 E. Heinberg St.

SATURDAY 12.16

WONDERLAND OF LIGHTS View elaborate holiday light displays, visit Santa and enjoy holiday treats. It's open 6-9 p.m. daily through Dec. 30 (except Dec. 11-12) and open to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. $20 per vehicle and up.

Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. thewonderlandoflights.com

JACKSON'S PRESENTS: DECK THE HALLS Enjoy a delicious lunch while listening to Pensacola Opera perform Christmas classics such as "Silent Night" or "Away in a Manger." Seatings are for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

To reserve a table, call 469-9898. greatsouthernrestaurants.com

FRIDAY 12.15

SANTA'S PHOTO PARTY Hop on Santa's sleigh outside Artel Gallery and get your annual holiday photo. 5-9 p.m. Free.

223 S. Palafox. pensacolawinterfest.org REINDEER GAMES Watch Winterfest performers, play in the snow, enjoy holiday snacks and play reindeer games. 5-9 p.m. Free.

223 S. Palafox. pensacolawinterfest.org WINTERFEST PERFORMANCE TOURS Climb on the Winterfest trolley and get immersed in Christmas stories re-told live in action. Tours run from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $16-$35 for adults and $9-$19 for kids.

For more information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org HOLIDAY LANTERN TOURS See Historic Pensacola in a new light. The Holiday Lantern Tours will include tours of the Lavalle House, the Dorr House and the Lear/Rocheblave House. Each house will be decorated for the holidays and participants will learn about holiday traditions of the past.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children.

Tours start at the Tivoli House, located at 205 E. Zaragoza St. at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

020 2

CHRISTMAS CAROLERS Stop by Blue Morning Gallery and listen to Christmas Carolers while checking out local art.

Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery.com

'THE POLAR EXPRESS' PAJAMA PARTY Kids are encouraged to wear their pjs for a special screening of "The Polar Express" every weekend through Dec. 17. Tickets are $7 each. Infants one and under are free. Each child will receive a free cup of hot cocoa and a cookie. Be sure to check out the Flight Deck Gift Store for a special treat while supplies last. Movie starts at 3 p.m.

National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd. navalaviationmuseum.org ZOO LIGHTS See the Gulf Breeze Zoo get in the spirit with beautiful holiday displays throughout the zoo. The display are up through Dec. 30 with nightly viewings from 5-9 p.m.

Santa will be visiting Dec. 17, 21 and 23 from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and children, $5 for zoo members.

Gulf Breeze Zoo, 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway. gulfbreezezoo.org SANTA'S PHOTO PARTY Hop on Santa's sleigh outside Artel Gallery and get your annual holiday photo.

5-9 p.m. Free.

223 S. Palafox. pensacolawinterfest.org REINDEER GAMES Watch Winterfest performers, play in

the snow, enjoy holiday snacks and play reindeer games. 5-9 p.m. Free.

223 S. Palafox. pensacolawinterfest.org WINTERFEST PERFORMANCE TOURS Climb on the Winterfest trolley and get immersed in Christmas stories re-told live in action. Tours run from 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $16-$35 for adults and $9-$19 for kids.

For more information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org HOLIDAY YOUTH EXTRAVAGANZA District 3 Commissioner Lumon May invites the public to get in the holiday spirit with live performances from local singers, dancers, rappers, musicians and more.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center, located at 3200 W. De Soto St. HOLIDAY LANTERN TOURS See Historic Pensacola in a new light. The Holiday Lantern Tours will include tours of the Lavalle House, the Dorr House and the Lear/Rocheblave House. Each house will be decorated for the holidays and participants will learn about holiday traditions of the past. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children. Tours start at the Tivoli House, located at 205 E. Zaragoza St. at 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m.

For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

THE NUTCRACKER It's the quintessential holiday tradition.

Ballet Pensacola brings back its annual performance of "The Nutcracker." Show starts at 7 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $25.

For more information, visit balletpensacola.com.

HARRY POTTER YULE BALL Celebrate the season with as Vinyl Music Hall is transformed into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the annual event. The magic begins at 7 p.m. This event is for muggles and wizards 18 and older. Tickets are $20.

Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

SUNDAY 12.17

BRUNCH WITH SANTA Santa is visiting Seville for brunch and he'll be checking to see who's naughty or nice. Enjoy traditional brunch favorites and a Bloody Mary bar and specials on champagne. Brunch will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For reservations, call 434-6211.

Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com THE NUTCRACKER It's the quintessential holiday tradition.

Ballet Pensacola brings back its annual

performance of "The Nutcracker." Show starts at 1:30 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $25.

For more information, visit balletpensacola.com.

'TIS THE SEASON TO SING ALONG Join the Choral Society of Pensacola in a Christmas sing-a-long of all your favorite holiday tunes. Admission is free with a nonperishable donation to Manna Food Pantry.

Rex Theatre, 5 p.m.

18 N. Palafox. choralsocietyofpensacola.org COMMUNITY CAROLING Grab a candle and song sheets and start caroling with friends and family in the East Hill Neighborhood.

The caroling starts at 5 p.m. at The Vineyard, located at 1010 N 12th Ave, Ste. 111.

MONDAY 12.18

HOLIDAY ICE SKATING Get into the spirit with a few spins around the ice. From Dec. 18 through Dec. 28, the ice rink at the Pensacola Bay Center will be playing holiday music and feature festive decorations. Hourly sessions run from 2 to 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10.

Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com ED GERHARD IN CONCERT WUWF presents Grammy-Award winning soloist Ed Gerhard as he performs a set of seasonal music on 6 and 12-string guitars.

Show starts at 7 p.m. at Old Christ Church, 405 S. Adams St. Tickets are $10.

For more information, visit wuwf.org.

TUESDAY 12.19

CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPS Learn everything from Victorian wrapping paper to card making and ornaments in these workshops from Pensacola Museum of Art. Classes are from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2:304:30 p.m. Dec. 19-22. Tickets are $5 and free for PMA members.

Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org 'IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE' SCREENING 'Tis the season for heartwarming movies.

Watch the 1946 classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life" inside the downtown Rex Theatre, located at 18 N. Palafox. Tickets go on sale at 6 p.m., movie starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.

For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com

WEDNESDAY 12.20

SISTER'S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM Fans of "C.S.I." and Christmas will enjoy this mystery show, which tells the story of the first Christmas. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox.

Tickets start at $29.

For more information, visit pensacolasaenger.com. inweekly.net

RadioLive

December 14, 2017

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DIFFERENCE MAKERS DEP’S NORTHWEST DISTRICT PRESENTS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARDS The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northwest District recognized four local organizations for outstanding achievements in environmental stewardship and community partnership. The city of Tallahassee’s Underground Utilities and Public Infrastructure Department, Emerald Coast Utilities Authority and Naval Air Station Pensacola were recognized for outstanding environmental stewardship, while Walton County was recognized for outstanding community partnership.

“On behalf of DEP and the state of Florida, I am proud to recognize these organizations for their accomplishments and environmental stewardship,” said Shawn Hamilton, director of DEP’s Northwest District. “With such outstanding community partners working alongside us, going above and beyond what is required of them, we can better accomplish our goal of safeguarding Florida’s natural resources.”

The environmental stewardship awards program recognizes businesses, professional and community organizations, and local governments within DEP’s Northwest District for proactive, innovative and exceptional achievements to prevent or reduce impacts on the environment beyond measures required by permit or rule. To be considered for recognition, participants must demonstrate significant and measurable achievements that provide a direct benefit to our environment.

Emerald Coast Utilities Authority’s achievements include: •Operating three water reclamation facilities, all of which are permitted as advanced wastewater treatment facilities, which incorporate reuse of reclaimed water.

•Designing and implementing a composting program, which reduces operating costs for wastewater and yard waste programs.

•Developing a voluntary singe stream curbside recycling program in 2009, and growing participation to 68 percent of the sanitation customer base in Escambia County.

Naval Air Station Pensacola’s achievements include: •Spearheading the International Coastal Cleanup for the 32nd consecutive year. More than 60 volunteers helped clean over 5 miles of beaches and shorelines on the base, removing 1,450 pounds of trash.

•Serving as the Certified Prescribed Burn Manager for both NAS Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field, and conducting additional burns in support of Big Lagoon State Park.

•Achieving the high standards required to earn the clean and resilient marina designation for two recreational boating facilities located on the base.

Sponsored by The Studer Family 222 2

inweekly.net

news of the weird BRIGHT IDEA Cai, a 28-year-old man in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, had plenty of time to consider traffic patterns as he waited for the lights to change during his daily commute. So much, in fact, that he decided to take matters into his own hands on Sept. 27 and paint new traffic arrows on the roadway.

A traffic camera captured the whole project as Cai carefully added a straight arrow to the existing left-turn and U-turn arrows. "I saw the straight lane was always packed with cars, while the turning left lane has a lot of space," Cai told police. "So I thought changing the signs would make my commute smoother." The BBC reports that police fined Cai the equivalent of about $151, and crews removed the new straight arrow from the road.

HAIR TRIGGER Timothy Colton, 28, is cooling off in the Clark County (Nevada) Detention Center after being charged with arson and the attempted murder of his 66-year-old mother, who has limited mobility. The Nov. 27 altercation apparently started over a laundry dispute, but North Las Vegas police said Colton became aggressive and threatened to kill his mother and burn the house down. Fox News reports that Colton set fire to the front door and then ran away to hide under a car in a nearby parking lot, where officers found him. Police said he was "kicking the back seat door and hitting his head on the plastic partition between the front and rear seats" in the patrol car during his arrest. He was being held on $100,000 bail.

WHEN YA GOTTA GO ... Nemy Bautista of Sacramento, California, will not be posting a five-star review to Amazon this holiday season following not one but two alarming experiences. On Nov. 28, Bautista returned home to find a pile of what he thought was dog poo at the end of his driveway. But after reviewing his security camera footage, he discovered the poop perp was in fact a contract delivery driver for Amazon, driving a U-Haul truck. Bautista watched as the female driver squatted by the side of the truck, partially concealed by the open door, and left her mark. Bautista called Amazon to complain, and a supervisor arrived hours later to bag up the evidence. The next day, Bautista got another package from Amazon, but the delivery person "tossed the package ... instead of walking up the driveway," Bautista told FOX40. He said the package contained a "fragile porcelain figurine," but it didn't break. Maybe the delivery person was afraid of stepping in something?

ON THE NAUGHTY LIST A man in Australia couldn't wait for Santa to deliver his Christmas wish: a 5 1/2-foot-tall "Dorothy model" sex doll. So, according to the Victoria Police Kingston Crime Investigation Unit, he broke into an adult entertainment store in Moorabbin on Dec. 4 by cutting through

by the Editors at Andrews McMeel

a fence with bolt cutters and smashing his way through the door. After quickly loading Dorothy into the back of his van, he took off. Security cameras caught the event, but the thief was disguised with stockings and a balaclava pulled over his head.

•A mall Santa working the weekend shift in late November got more than he bargained for at Dufferin Mall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, when an unnamed woman unloaded a sleigh-full of obscenities on him, saying, "Do you have a sleigh? No? ... You're not magic! You're not even real! I heard about it when I was a young kid!" A bystander with a cellphone captured the tirade on video, reported the New York Post, and true to his spirit, St. Nick kept his composure and tried not to engage with the elf-hater. A mall spokesperson said the woman left without further incident.

THE PASSING PARADE Faye Preston of Hull, Yorkshire, England, loves her neighborhood — even the homeless folks who gently ask for change, or, in Preston's case, make love in her driveway. She stepped out one night in November to smoke a cigarette and saw a couple under a blanket in her drive, and decided to let them be. But when she went out the next morning, "They were having actual sex on my driveway. The movement going on under the cover was unmistakable," Preston wrote in the Hull Daily Mail. Still, she was worried about running over them, so she called police, who eventually removed them. "If I was homeless, I'd come here too," Preston wrote. "Where else can you go for a posh meal, followed by cocktails in a swanky bar and finish the night stepping over some frisky homeless people fornicating on your driveway?"

A MESSAGE FROM GOD? An 18th-century statue of the crucified Jesus that was removed for restoration from the church of St. Agueda in Burgo de Osma, Spain, held a surprise in a most unusual spot. As historians removed from Jesus's backside a section of the carving meant to look like a cloth, they discovered two handwritten letters dated 1777 and signed by Joaquin Minguez, then-chaplain of the cathedral.

Minguez details life in the community, including harvest reports and diseases, and tells about the sculpture's artist, Manuel Bal. Historian Efren Arroyo told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo it appears Minguez intended his letters to be a sort of time capsule. The original letters were sent to the Archbishop of Burgos for archiving, but copies were returned to Jesus's hindquarters to honor Minguez's intent. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2017 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com December 14, 2017

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Independent News | December 14, 2017 | inweekly.net