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RISHY & QUINT STUDER The Studer Family of Companies announced that the Studers gave a $1,000 holiday gift to all full-time and part-time employees across their organizations, totaling over $150,000. The companies encompass the Bodacious retail and restaurant shops, Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Beloit Sky Carp baseball teams, Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel, Bubba's Sweet Spot and 5eleven Palafox. The couple moved to Pensacola in 1996 and have invested over $100 million in downtown Pensacola over 20 years, supporting initiatives like the Studer Family Children's Hospital, Bear Levin Studer YMCA and various educational and community institutions.
DENISE SOARES The University of West Florida announced Dr. Soares as the first dean of the newly formed UWF School of Education, effective January 6, 2025. This position will oversee the School of Education, which offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, plus certificate programs on UWF's Pensacola campus or online. Before accepting this position, Soares served as the assistant dean, director of graduate studies and interim director of the National Center for School-University Partnerships at the University of Mississippi. Previously, she held the roles of assistant chair and director in the School of Education at the University of Mississippi.
LEVIN RINKE REALTY The leading real estate firm in the greater Pensacola region made history as the first official real estate brokerage in the area to surpass $1 billion in sales in a single year. The firm has dominated the Escambia and Santa Rosa County real estate markets, holding almost 15% of the market share. Levin Rinke Realty is projected to surpass the next leading firm by more than $400 million in total sales volume for 2024. In the high-end market, the firm leads in sales for homes priced at $500,000 and higher by about $347 million. Levin Rinke Realty also commands nearly onethird of the luxury market share for homes sold for $1 million and higher—nearly $200 million more than the next competitor.
FLORIDA KIDCARE The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved expanding Florida's KidCare program, but state officials have temporarily halted implementation. The expansion would increase the income eligibility threshold for families seeking children's health insurance through the Children's Health Insurance Program. For a family of four, the household income cap would rise from $64,500 to $90,000. However, Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration has requested a 30-day extension to review the federal approval, citing the potential for reassessment under a future administration. The Florida Chamber of Commerce had supported the expansion. Chamber President Mark Wilson stated, "Expanding healthcare access strengthens families and advances our Florida 2030 Blueprint goals of reducing childhood poverty and improving statewide well-being."
FPC PENSACOLA
The Bureau of Prisons announced the deactivation of FPC Pensacola, a minimum-security prison at Saufley Field, an outlying field of Naval Air Station Pensacola. The facility's employees and approximately 500 inmates will be relocated to address staffing shortages and safety concerns. The Bureau of Prisons stated that the decision to deactivate FPC Pensacola was due to inadequate staffing and significant repair costs. The buildings, owned by the U.S. Navy, are scheduled for demolition due to their poor condition. This decision is part of a broader effort by the Bureau of Prisons to consolidate resources and address safety concerns.
STATE PRISON STAFFING
The Florida National Guard will be stationed at state prisons for at least six more months. Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order extending its deployment. He initially activated the National Guard for prison staffing in September 2022, citing staffing shortages as justification. However, staff shortages continue to be an issue. The new order said another extension is "necessary because ongoing staffing shortages, although much improved, continue to threaten the safety of officers, inmates and the public." It also stated, "The temporary assistance of the Florida National Guard has proven necessary for the care, custody and control of inmates."
Rishy & Quint Studer / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Blue Wahoos
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
THE FLORIDA WAY TAKEOVER
When he ran for president, Gov. Ron DeSantis touted "the Florida way" and tried to position himself as the catalyst for a new conservative national vision. His mantra was "Make America Florida."
At his 2023 State of the State address, during the weeks leading up to the announcement of his campaign, DeSantis said, "We defied the experts. We bucked the elites. We ignored the chatter. We did it our way, the Florida way, and the result is that we are the number one destination for our fellow Americans who are looking for a better life."
However, during the early primaries, he found that not every Republican wanted to be more Florida. Voters preferred another Floridian: Donald Trump. Despite his failed campaign, Gov. DeSantis may still get his wish. Trump's second administration has a Florida flavor.
Since Trump moved to Mar-a-Lago, Florida has become the epicenter of Republican politics, with a deep pool of talented leaders who have demonstrated steadfast support. The state's political landscape aligns well with Trump's agenda, making it a logical source for his administration's personnel.
Before all the votes were certified, Presidentelect Trump announced Susie Wiles of Jacksonville would be his chief of staff, the first woman to hold that position. Wiles has been a key figure in Florida's political scene for decades. She served as chief of staff to Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney. Wiles played a crucial role in Rick Scott's successful 2010 gubernatorial campaign and was instrumental in Trump's 2016 and 2024 campaigns.
Trump has nominated U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Miami for Secretary of State. If confirmed, he would be the first alumnus of the University of Miami School of Law and the first first-generation Cuban American to hold this prestigious role. Rubio is a former Florida House Speaker and has served 14 years in the U.S. Senate.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi of Temple Terrace the state's first female AG, has been nominated as Trump's U.S. Attorney General. Before being elected in 2010, Bondi spent 18 years as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County.
Florida Congressman Mike Waltz of St. Augustine has been selected as National Se -
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curity Advisor. The first Green Beret elected to Congress worked in the Bush administration as a defense policy director at the Pentagon and as a counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney. In Congress, Waltz served on several committees, including Armed Services, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence.
The president-elect's pick for Surgeon General is Fox News medical contributor Janette Nesheiwat, who grew up in Umatilla, Fla. and graduated from the University of South Florida. She is also the sister-in-law of Waltz.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator will be Dr. Mehmet Oz, who has a mansion in Palm Beach and a cattle farm in Okeechobee, Fla. Former Congressman Dave Weldon of Indialantic, Fla. has been nominated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director. Tampa native Paul Atkins served on the Securities and Exchange Commission under former president George W. Bush. He has been named SEC director.
John Phelan has been nominated to serve as the Secretary of the Navy. He is the cofounder and chairman of Rugger Management LLC, a private investment firm based in Palm Beach. If he wins Senate approval, he will be one of the few to hold this position without prior military or defense experience.
The Florida contingent could have been larger, but two Florida Republicans withdrew their names. Matt Gaetz served as our congressman until he was nominated for Attorney General.
A Trump ally, he led the effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker in 2023. Gaetz withdrew from consideration on Nov. 21, stating that his nomination was "unfairly becoming a distraction" from the critical work of the Trump/ Vance transition team. The distraction in question was a House Ethics report that has yet to be released. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister's nomination to be head of the Drug Enforcement Administration lasted only a few days. He withdrew, stating it was best to remain focused on his duties as sheriff.
And DeSantis might join the Trump administration as Secretary of Defense if Pete Hegseth withdraws, completing "the Florida way" takeover. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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FLUORIDE DEBATE NOT NEW FOR ECUA
city council, estimated that removing fluoride from the water would cost Pensacola residents $250,000 annually in dental care. His estimation did not sway the public. Bruno and fellow fluoride proponents Roger MacDonald and Vince Whibbs Sr. lost their
Momentum swung in favor of adding fluoride 33 years later. In 1998, the ECUA board voted 4-1 referendum. That decision upset a vocal minority. Eighteen opponents spoke against the proposal during that landmark board meeting, according to a 1998 article in the Pensacola News Journal.
"poison" and threatened lawsuits. An administra-signed that night. Elizabeth Barber told the News Journal, "I can't serve for a board I don't respect."
up. For me, personally, I would want to follow up with doctors and dentists. I'd want to see the study. What exactly did the study say? I'd want doctors and dentists to weigh in."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sparked national debate when he called for an end to public health practice. Nominated to be the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services by President-elect Donald Trump, Kennedy cited controversial studies that fluoride in water poses a risk to developing brains and said the Trump administration will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water on inauguration day.
Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, the Florida surgeon general, sided with Kennedy. His office released a statement recommending against community fluoridation "due to the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure."
The ADA stated, "Seventy years of research, thousands of studies and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that water fluoridation is effective in preventing cavities and is safe for children and adults."
The CDC stated studies continuously show that widespread community water fluoridation is not associated with lower IQ scores in children, prevents cavities and saves money for families and the health care system. In 2015, the CDC stated fluoride is "one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century."
ECUA board member Dale Perkins voted for putting fluoride in drinking water in 1998, but he agrees with Campbell that re-examining the public health practice is a wise decision. He said Ladapo "probably has some valid concerns."
According to the Florida Department of Health, Escambia County is among 36 Florida counties with public water systems that actively fluoridate their water.
Supporters say fluoride in drinking water prevents cavities and saves money on dental care. Opponents argue that fluoride adversely affects brain development. The Environmental Protection Agency allows a maximum contaminant level of 4.0 parts per million and recommends 0.7 ppm. ECUA Executive Director Bruce Woody said that two out of 28 wells in the county register a barely detectable amount.
"Any fluoride in the water is what we added due to EPA and [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommendations," Woody said. "There would be modest savings by not doing it."
FLUORIDATION HISTORY
Heated debates over whether to add fluoride to drinking water in the county date back 60 years. The City of Pensacola added fluoride to drinking water in 1963, but that practice lasted only two years before the city council voted 6-4 to halt it. Supporters of the practice collected signatures for a referendum but fell short of the required number. Dr. V. Paul Bruno, a dentist who served on the
Richard A. Snyder conducted a field and laboratory study for ECUA on the impact of fluoridation of the municipal water supply. The professors researched the effects of fluoride on dental care and possible risks such as brain development, enzymes, osteoporosis, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Their study concluded that "the fluoridation of public water supply is a beneficial public health practice."
The debate over the public health practice stirred back up in 2010. Opponents formed the Escambia County United Against Fluoridation and let their voices be heard at ECUA meetings and through a now-defunct website and Facebook page. Their voices fell on deaf ears as the board ultimately decided to stay the course.
NEW PRESSURE
Past ECUA boards dealt with local pressure. This board faces pressure at the national and state levels to stop the practice.
"The next step at ECUA is to have staff figure out exactly what's going on with this report and address the situation as needed," ECUA Board Chair Vicki Campbell said. "We don't want a knee-jerk reaction. I'm sure we'll be addressing it. It's not the first time it's come
Ladapo cited safety concerns related to systemic fluoride exposure, including adverse effects in children, such as reduced IQ, cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He further cited increased neurobehavioral problems in children, sleep cycle disturbances caused by an accumulation of fluoride in the pineal gland, skeletal fluorosis, the potential risk of premature menarche in adolescent girls and potential suppression of the thyroid gland.
In September, a federal court in California ruled against the EPA and ordered officials to take action over concerns about potential health risks from currently recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water.
The Florida Dental Association released a statement shortly after the ruling in California. The statement said the ruling "provides no scientific basis or new findings that change the Florida Dental Association's view about community water fluoridation. The Florida Dental Association strongly supports community water fluoridation at optimal levels as an effective, safe and affordable method to prevent tooth decay across all age groups."
Health organizations at the national level side with the Florida Dental Association. The EPA, CDC and the American Dental Association all support maintaining a minimum level of fluoride in drinking water.
"One thing I'm never going to do is put the health of children at risk for my own political gain," Perkins said.
Lois Benson is in her 20th year on the ECUA board and firmly supports adding the proper dosage of fluoride to drinking water. She said fluoride occurs naturally in some waterways.
"It's not like we're creating this toxic chemical that has no presence in water," Benson said. "We're simply enhancing the groundwater and well water we have."
Benson said removing fluoride would be a detriment to children of low socioeconomic status who do not regularly see a dentist. She is confident that the majority of county residents support fluoride in their drinking water.
"I don't think the votes are there today to remove fluoride from the water," Benson said. "Of course, we could be forced by the state to remove it."
Campbell predicts ECUA will let the issue run its course as a political topic and focus on objective, scientific data. If the CDC and EPA change their recommendation level of 0.7 parts per million, then ECUA will respond accordingly.
"It is ultimately a policy decision of the ECUA board," she said. "I worry that making changes without the recommendations of federal health and regulatory agencies makes the decision more difficult to explain and discuss with the public." {in}
CHANGE COMING
The Escambia Children's Trust Program Committee met last week to discuss its largest budget item, Out-of-School Time (OST) programs, and whether to fund all of them for the final year of their three-year agreement.
The Trust has had issues tracking the wide variety of programs covered by the grants, which range from summer camps to afterschool reading programs to chorus and theater. Some are not helping the number of children identified in their proposals.
Executive Director Lindsey Cannon said, "They shot for a very high number, and I don't know that they were ever going to achieve that high; I'm just being honest."
However, these programs are receiving the full amount of their grants. Cannon asked the committee to consider renegotiating the contracts. "When we go forward, do we want to lock dollars up in a contract that we can't spend and they're not going to use? Or do we want to go back and have some negotiation through Year 3 that really will reduce the number of kids they serve and the cost per participant as well?"
Another issue is the inconsistency of the metrics used by the providers. Deborah Ray, the director of programs and performance, said, "When we have the metrics all aligned, it'll look different because now, even if you have them going for 45 days or more, it's hard to track if they're being successful because of the data that they selected to track. So once we have all that aligned, we'll be able to see those outcomes. YMCA Reads is easy because you're tracking reading, but some of them are very different regarding seeing if they are truly being successful."
Cannon said she has met with the board members of Gulf Coast Freedom Schools. The program has failed to meet its participation goals in Years 1 and 2.
"We wanted to do a change of scope because, remember, UWF was not involved with it, and we had to go back and forth with them to try to find out what they were actually measuring," she said, adding that the program's executive director had resigned.
"We met with five or six members of their board and had a very frank conversation with them because my assumption is when we're having a conversation with an executive director, they're bringing that to their board; that did not happen for them, and they were very upset. So, they are going to recuse themselves from a Year 3 contract and rehire and start over. We will not be funding them for Year 3."
As the committee reviewed the summaries of participants, dosages and funding for the OST grants, several committee members expressed concern that the programs needed to be fulfilling the commitments made in their original proposals.
Committee member Tori Woods questioned if the programs still fit the original criteria of being afterschool programs. She worried about the denied programs because the approved ones wrote better proposals.
"I always go back to what we asked for and the people that we denied," she said. "But what we are asking for and what we're holding other programs accountable for—they are not meeting standards … I have to go to church, and I have to go to my son's football games, and I have to go out in the community, and I have to look at people and tell them why I said no."
Woods continued, "Some [approved providers] see people for three days, and they get $2,600 a kid. Another afterschool program would see the kids every day, and we told them no. And then this doesn't seem like afterschool based on the criteria that we asked for."
Other members wondered if it would be better for programs such as Pensacola Children's Chorus and Pensacola Little Theatre to be auxiliary additions to other afterschool programs as subcontractors.
Ray noted that several programs have strayed from their proposals. "We ask the same 50 questions every time we meet with these providers. This is what the request for proposal stated; this is what you proposed. I don't even know if people have looked at their proposal looking into Year 3. Those things aren't coinciding as far as looking at their dollars and
their services, and what their initial proposals are. But you learned a lot right now. I think we do need to have some adjustments before we go forward."
The program committee made no final recommendations on Year 3 funding but agreed to continue the discussions in January.
MAKING GOOD GREAT On the podcast "(we don't) color on the dog," Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons discussed his decision to not run for the First Congressional District seat vacated by Matt Gaetz. "The bottom line is, I don't know that there's a better job than the sheriff of Escambia County where I can make the biggest difference on a daily basis. I live here, I raise kids here, I want to stay here, and I want to do what's best for Escambia County."
While he wasn't passing judgment on other elected officials who filed to run, the sheriff stated he had an obligation to the voters who supported him. "I'm simply telling you how Chip Simmons feels. I haven't even started my second term yet. So, I just did not feel it was appropriate for me to jump ship, because I asked for votes, and I got reelected. I take that very seriously, and we have a job here to do, and I'm just enjoying it."
Sheriff Simmons plans to build on the improvements made in this first term. "We are more capable than we've ever been, whether it's manpower or technology," he said. "This merging technology with manpower and making full use of the cameras that we have and putting more cameras in our community to make us where we are—our capabilities are endless."
The sheriff added, "I look forward to working with the Board of County Commissioners to increase our manpower. We have people moving into Escambia County on a daily basis. I want to make sure we stay ahead of the game. I believe, and I'm biased, that public safety should be the No. 1 priority. I'm excited about what the future holds. I'm excited to see just how much better we can become."
ON THE SAME PODCAST Pensacola
Mayor
D.C. Reeves discussed his first two years in office. He bragged about the improvement of the city's fleet department: "Our fleet department, from an employee engagement standpoint, has had the single greatest turnaround—I don't even need to check—in the history of this handful of years where we've been doing the employee engagement surveys."
Mayor Reeves explained, "We actually have a lot of the same leadership in place, but we came in with Russell Sweatt, who's now over facilities and fleet. We've had this overarching position where Russell's done an amazing job about how to manage projects and manage people."
NEW LAW OFFICE
GrayRobinson is expanding into the Pensacola market with a new office and a team of board-certified attorneys from Beggs & Lane. The law firm represented Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender when Bruce
Childers tried to force his name to be placed on the ballot after Childers failed to complete the paperwork. Bender won the case.
The five new attorneys joining the firm include John H. Adams, Robert L. Jones, III, Joseph A. Passeretti, Carllee J. Godwin and Hannah Blount McDonough. Adams will serve as the managing shareholder of the Pensacola office located in downtown Pensacola at 601 S. Palafox St.
"This expansion into the Pensacola market marks a key milestone in our firm's growth strategy," said GrayRobinson President and CEO Dean Cannon. "We're not only adding five experienced attorneys, but we're also reinforcing our commitment to strategically delivering legal and lobbying services for our clients in all corners of the state. We're excited to welcome this team of talented attorneys under the guidance of John Adams and look forward to being a part of the Emerald Coast community."
WENTWORTH PAPERS
University of West Florida President Dr. Martha Saunders told Inweekly that the entire collection of T.T. Wentworth's papers has been cataloged and is available online at bit.ly/3Znvhk8.
Two days before a special session of the city council in July 2020, where a final vote on the Confederate statue was expected, historian Tom Garner sent a multi-page essay to the council. The essay, thick with footnotes, thoroughly detailed histories of racial violence in the region. The essay began simply enough: "It's time."
"For 129 years, Pensacola's Confederate monument has occupied a place of prominence and prestige on the crest of Palafox Hill overlooking downtown Pensacola. It's time now for it to come down," wrote Garner.
The proverbial "bombshell" in the letter was that Wentworth was more than a businessman, politician, collector and historian. He had another title, revealed by Garner: "T. T. Wentworth Jr. was also Exalted Cyclops, Escambia Klan number 57, Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan."
The story first broke on social media, followed by the release of Garner's letter on ricksblog.biz and later a more extensive article in the Pensacola News Journal. In November 2020, the University of West Florida Historic Trust Board voted to change T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum to the Pensacola Museum of History at the University of West Florida.
Dr. Saunders said a book about the collection is in the works. "Jamin Wells, our rockstar history professor, is working on a book around the entire collection, what was happening at the time and who was doing what. That promises to be a really, really important piece of research."
She explained the care that the university has taken in reviewing the collection. "We're in the knowledge industry. That's what we do. Any historical document has to be approached with all integrity. We try not to tell people what to think, but we do want them to have accurate
information and context because that is what scholars do."
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH Dr. Rodney Guttmann, a biology professor in UWF's Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, has been awarded his second major National Institute of Health R15 grant, marking a significant milestone in his ongoing research on early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
The three-year, $420,000 renewal grant awarded earlier this fall brings the total funding to $860,000 over six years, allowing Guttmann and students to continue cutting-edge research into blood-based biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. His research aims to identify specific biomarkers that signal the onset of the disease, potentially enabling earlier and more accurate diagnoses that could lead to better patient outcomes.
"This ongoing project reinforces the University of West Florida's commitment to advancing biomedical research and providing students with unique educational opportunities that prepare them for future careers in science and medicine," Guttmann said.
This grant supports hands-on research experiences for undergraduate students, offering them the opportunity to engage in worldclass scientific investigation in Guttmann's lab. The experience has launched students into prestigious doctoral programs and made them competitive in their careers.
Guttmann's ongoing work on blood-based biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease, a major focus for NIH and global researchers, addresses the urgent need to identify individuals at risk earlier in the disease process. Early detection is critical for the development of effective interventions and treatments to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer's.
For more information about the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, visit uwf.edu/hmcse.
FINALISTS Escambia County Public Schools released the names of the top five finalists for ECPS Teacher of the Year. The five finalists are Brooke Ferrarra (Beulah Elementary), Stacey Hammer (Ransom Middle), LeAnne Jenkins (Beulah Middle), Kristin Maum (J.M. Tate High School) and Kelly Reed (Global Learning Academy).
Superintendent Keith Leonard and additional ECPS personnel surprised the five finalists at their schools this morning, informing each of them of the good news and presenting each with a bouquet of flowers.
"We are proud to honor these outstanding educators," stated Leonard. "They are a great representation of all of our employees, and we would like to take time to thank them, as well as all of our employees, for all of the hard work and dedication they demonstrate for our students each and every day."
The overall ESCPS Teacher of the Year will be announced in late January and honored,
along with all district teachers of the year, at a special event.
IPF GRANTS International Paper's Pensacola Mill has awarded $57,000 in International Paper Foundation grants to 18 local organizations, demonstrating the company's commitment to education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet.
"Through these grants, we aim to drive positive change, investing not just in projects but in the overall well-being of our community," said Whitney Fike, regional communications manager. "These funds are crucial in supporting community-driven initiatives that tackle hunger, promote health and wellness, enhance children's education and provide disaster relief assistance."
The press release stated, "International Paper is excited to partner with the 18 organizations chosen for this year's grants. Together, we're aiming to build a better, healthier and more sustainable future for all."
Grants were determined after careful review by a committee of local team members. Subsequently, the International Paper Foundation's grants committee reviewed the recommendations, which must then be confirmed and ratified by the foundation's board of trustees.
Started in 1952, the International Paper Foundation annually provides millions in grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in the communities where International Paper employees live and work. Funding priority is given to programs related to its signature causes: education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet. For more information, visit ipgiving.com.
DOWNTOWN PARKING The City of Pensacola launched its holiday trolley service to connect the north and south ends of downtown, where the city has ample free parking, on Black Friday. The service had 73 riders on Friday night and 108 on Saturday night. For more information, visit parkpensacola.com.
NISSIM UPDATE Steve Nissim has joined WSRE PBS at Pensacola State College as senior television producer/host and Connect Studio director. The public television station's new Connect Studio will be used for local productions initially focused on education and sports programming.
Nissim is an award-winning TV broadcast journalist who spent nearly three decades as a sports anchor and reporter in several Southeast markets. He won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Sports Reporting while at the ABC affiliate WEAR-TV in Pensacola, and he has covered topics such as the fentanyl crisis and the Holocaust while previously contracting with WSRE PBS to produce and host local programs. He also served as the chief storyteller for the Studer Community Institute, sharing the local nonprofit's work through videos, articles, blogs and speaking engagements. {in}
Holidays & the Stage: No Better Duo
By: Savannah Evanoff
Many associate the holiday season with giftgiving and receiving, an abundance of food and over-the-top decorations. Sometimes it's easy to forget one of the most beautiful traditions that can also be shared with family and friends—holiday arts productions.
But Inweekly will never let you forget the arts.
With Pensacola's expansive arts scene, there are numerous holiday productions to choose from. Below we've featured Pensacola Little Theatre's (PLT) "A Christmas Story" and Ballet Pensacola's "The Nutcracker," as well as a calendar of other holiday arts events.
CHERISHED MEMORIES
Benjamin Haupt remembers being a kid performing as Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" at PLT: quick changes in crazy costumes, an involved rehearsal process and being chauffeured to and from rehearsals by one of the most important people in his life then and now—his mom.
Today, Haupt is the primary caretaker for his mother Debbie, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. And while directing the same show 17 years later, it's their memories that inspire his version.
"It was a huge time in my life where I started to develop my really close relationship with my mom," Haupt said. "Now, looking at the show, that's the relationship that is most important to me in the show is the relationship between Ralphie and his mom, and I kind of connect that back to me being Ralphie and me developing the relationship with my real mom during that time."
Haupt played Ralphie in PLT's production of the holiday classic in 2007. Kathy Holsworth, the current artistic director, was his director for that show. As a college freshman, he assistant directed "A Christmas Story" the last time PLT presented it in 2012.
"When they were talking about the ideas for holiday shows, and someone said, 'Well, what if we do 'A Christmas Story' again?' I said, 'Well, if we do, it's mine. I call it. I want that show.' It means a lot to me. So kind of a full circle moment for sure."
Haupt said it's nostalgic working with the new Ralphie, Toryn McCollum.
"He showed up to the audition and just was full of character," Haupt said. "He was unafraid to absolutely go for it—no holds barred whatsoever—just totally in character. For me, just watching him develop this character and figure out who Ralphie is for Toryn is awesome. It's not my Ralphie; it is not how I played Ralphie. But that's the great thing is that I didn't cast me as Ralphie … I'm not looking to recreate the movie or recreate my version. I want to find someone who is willing to create their own version so that we can put a story on together."
The primary difference between the movie version and stage production is the narrator, Haupt explained. Older Ralph is seen in the story itself, playing side characters like the delivery driver and Christmas tree lot salesman.
"All of your favorite moments are there— from the leg lamps to the bunny suit to the fragee-lay box to the 'Oh fudge!' and the Lifebuoy soap. We just get to create our own world within the theater," Haupt said. "It's a classic story, and families will love it. The relationships and the storyline of people struggling and finding the joy in the holiday season through whatever is going on in life is timeless, and it's why it still works. Because the show takes place in 1939, but it's 2024 and the show still works and still makes sense for modern audiences."
What Haupt loves most in "A Christmas Story" is the relationships—not only between Ralphie and his mother, but also Ralphie and his father,
friends, first crush in the show and little brother, as well as the relationship between the parents. Those are what he plans to highlight in his rendition of the show, he said.
"The show actually ends not with Ralphie, but with the parents sitting on the couch and the kids are asleep and Christmas is over, and that final sigh of relief from the parents of, 'We're going through this depression and life is absolutely insane, but at the end of the day, we have each other. We have our family, and those important relationships are what matter,'" Haupt said. "Ralphie has a vivid imagination throughout the show; lots of dream sequences, and those dream sequences are just real to a lot of people who go through hard times. It's their dreams and their imagination."
For Haupt, theater is where he can escape from reality and put his imagination on the stage, he said. He's been involved with PLT since his first show "Bye Bye Birdie" in 2007, and he jumped right back in when he moved back to Pensacola in 2018.
"I consider PLT my church; it's the place I say I feel closest to God," Haupt said. "Just what I learned about God being loving, caring, accepting, kind and giving, and that is the people you find at PLT. That is the family I've made at PLT. They just embrace everybody for who they are; similarities and differences don't matter. Just come as you are and be who you are, and let's have fun and play together and that's kind of the whole thing. We get to tell stories and make people's lives better and happier. It is truly community theater."
EDGY, COMICAL BALLET
Last year, some went without their "Nutcracker" fix after Ballet Pensacola's productions sold out; this year, they added an extra show Sunday night to make up for it.
Artistic Director Stéphano Candreva sees
it as a sign of growth, recalling once professionally dancing 31 performances of the ballet in Atlanta—a brutal run, he said. This season's local "Nutcracker" production will feature a cast of 100 dancers, including Ballet Pensacola Professional Company members and students from the Ballet Pensacola Academy.
It will likely be popular again, as "Sleeping Beauty" was the most sold show they've ever held in the spring, Candreva said; their production of "The Nutcracker" in Seaside was suspected to have its highest attendance, too.
And if you did score tickets to "The Nutcracker" last year, just know this time will be quite different. It will feature choreography and storytelling by Candreva, who started at Ballet Pensacola last January.
"There is a lot of new dancing, more opportunity for the kids," Candreva said. "I added new roles, like I added baby mice, six or seven. They're so cute; they're adorable. Just having the memories of them rehearsing, how cute they were working with me, and how hard they worked."
Also new this year are guest vocalists from the Pensacola Children's Chorus.
"They're gonna be singing in the snow scene," Candreva said. "So I think that can add a little magical touch of live music with performance."
In addition to the main show, Ballet Pensacola is also adding two special events to their "The Nutcracker" programming, both happening on Saturday, Dec. 21. The first is an all-ages brunch called "Land of Sweets" and the second is an adults-only affair called "Solstice Soirée."
Candreva's choreography is not classical unless he has to maintain tradition, he said. In this case, he had creative freedom.
"I like to choreograph a little bit on the edge, so adding movement—quality of movement—to traditional steps," Candreva said. "Adding more
arms, adding more artistry over the dancing, other than just doing steps over and over and over. It seems that people who have been coming to watch have been noticing a big difference in the dancers in the past few years and how they have been dancing since 'Sleeping Beauty.' So, seems like the community is liking it."
The dancers enjoy it, too. Candreva said he brings experience from working with many different choreographers.
"When I explain to them what that style comes from, or how they can think a little bit more different about the movement, and not so much about like, 'Oh, it's technique, technique, technique,'" Candreva said. "No, it's more about the feeling, more about the artistry that you can bring to that step itself. Then it makes the process easier for them, and they enjoy it. The growth is clearly there. You can see a big growth in their technique and artistry over this year."
Candreva's favorite part to create was the flower scene, which will feature new costumes. It was a demanding process because it involved professionals and students.
"Two different levels seemed very challenging in the beginning, but I think because they're very open-minded to my choreography and the way I work, it became very nice," Candreva said. "I think the audience will really enjoy it. And the battle scene, I enjoyed it too, because I added those little baby mice. I think they add a big part of the comedy on that scene."
People liked how Candreva incorporated comedy in "Cinderella," he said.
"I think that has a lot to do with my personality, because I like to be funny—I don't know if I like to be funny or my accent makes me funnier," Candreva said. "So that's what makes me put funny things in the ballet. In 'The Nutcracker,' I'm doing the same thing in the party scene, in the battle scene, making the mice be funnier, not just being on the stage because they're on the stage. No, they're actually doing something. I always tell them, 'Create a story, a character inside of your head, to the point that you really believe that you're that kind of mice.'"
Candreva believes the audience will love seeing Flavia Morante as Sugar Plum Fairy and Zion Harris as Cavalier, as well as Juan Arango as the Nutcracker Prince and Savannah Crabtree as Clara.
"Juan and Savannah, they're actually married," Candreva said. "They dance together on Sunday night, the role of Sugar Plum and Cavalier, so that's pretty cool because they're a couple in real life, and then they have that chance to share that on the stage with the audience."
Things have been going wonderfully for Candreva since joining Ballet Pensacola—other than 2024 passing by in the blink of an eye. One of the things he's most proud of is their involvement in Gallery Night; they're performing at the community event six months out of the year.
"That performance in the community has been really nice because a lot of people, from what I see in the community, always wanted to go to watch a ballet, but some of them don't have the budget to buy a ticket," Candreva said. "So I feel like it's a good way to introduce them to art since with Gallery Night, they can just walk in and watch. They don't need to pay anything. It's a way for them to get involved."
"My vision for the company is to do more for the community, to be more noticed inside of the community. I can see a big change of Ballet Pensacola … The dancers have been working very
hard—really trusting the ideas I bring in. And it's hard work, because some of these performances are last-minute performances. I talked to the dancers; I explained the importance of these performances for the community. They're not in theaters; sometimes they're on concrete." {in}
PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE'S "A CHRISTMAS STORY"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 1314 and Dec. 19-21; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 and 22
WHERE: The Clark Family Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. COST: $15-$40
DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com
BALLET
PENSACOLA'S "THE NUTCRACKER"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20; 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and Sunday, Dec. 22
WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. COST: Starting at $50
DETAILS: balletpensacola.org
PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS' "CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST"
WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. COST: $15
DETAILS: wuwf.org
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA'S "CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR!"
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31
WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. COST: $25-$98
DETAILS: pensacolasymphony.com
Arts & Entertainment
Preserving Atlanta's Punk Past with Ivette Spradlin
By Dakota Parks
Punk isn't just music; it's a way of life, a DIY community and an incubator for radical creativity. Artist, photographer, professor and filmmaker Ivette Spradlin has spent much of her career documenting subcultures—from punks and skateboarders to Cuban exiles and female-identifying artists. Growing up immersed in Atlanta's punk scene, she began capturing the creative zeitgeist around her.
Now, Spradlin revisits those formative years with her latest project, "Wild Wild West End," a three-part film series that chronicles the lives of hundreds of punks, artists and dreamers who lived in Atlanta's West End warehouses during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Thanks to a Florida Humanities Grant, the 309 Punk Project will host two public events examining punk culture, art and history. The first event, "Art and Counterculture: A Talk with Erica Lyle," will take place on Friday, Dec. 13, followed by a screening of Spradlin's first film in the series on Saturday, Dec. 14, accompanied by an exhibition of art and photographs tied to the documentary.
Ahead of her screening, Spradlin reflects on how the rebellious, tight-knit punk community that once thrived in Atlanta's CandlerSmith Warehouses left an indelible mark on her life, igniting her passion for documenting DIY communities and curating the stories that shape them.
INWEEKLY: You started the @punkhouseatlanta Instagram after returning to Atlanta 15 years later, feeling a little nostalgic and eager to reconnect with old friends. How did it
evolve into this digital archive of Southern DIY punk culture?
SPRADLIN: My good friend, Crystal Bradley, told me about @punkhouseaoakland and similar city pages. After I started @punkhouseatlanta, John Rash from the Southern Punk Archive at the University of Mississippi reached out. We talked about adding my photos to their archive and doing oral history interviews. In 2015, I was the videographer on an oral history project by Yvonne McBride about the Jazz Era and The Hill District in Pittsburgh. I would say Yvonne's project was the inspiration, talking with John Rash and hearing about the Southern Punk Archive was the motivation, and the @punkhouseatlanta page made it a reality. Once I saw the interest in that page and how it helped reconnect people to old friends from that scene, it just took off.
INWEEKLY: You've spent a lot of time documenting the West End Warehouses through photography, an artist book, oral histories, the Instagram page and now a film. What inspired you to capture the lives and stories of the former tenants?
SPRADLIN: In '99, I started photographing the punk scene at the warehouses—skaters, graffiti artists, tenants, men who went there to drink and unhoused people who slept there. That led to an artist book in 2000 about the warehouses. By that time, a lot of people started moving out of the warehouses, and I also moved away from Atlanta. I revisited those early projects with the oral history project on the warehouses in 2021 and now the film series. I was fascinated by these communal DIY spaces being built from nothing.
INWEEKLY: Your film is being shown at 309 Punk Project, another organization preserving punk history. Why is historical preservation and curating these stories so important to you?
SPRADLIN: I've known about 309 Punk House since 2000, mostly because of the band This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb. When I started 'The Wild Wild West End Oral History' in 2021, people actually asked if it was connected to 309's book. That same year, I also learned about the Atlanta Punk Archive at Emory University and efforts by Henry Owings and Chad Radford to preserve Atlanta and Athens' music scenes. It was exciting seeing all of these projects.
What connects my work to 309 Punk Project is our focus on DIY culture as a lifestyle beyond the music. I am aware that some think the preservation of this history feels antithetical to the idea of punk or punk ethics. But that world shaped so many of us, changing how we think
and approach life and our work. It may be the very reason we became historians or artists or archivists. That DIY spirit drives us.
INWEEKLY: What are some of the challenges you've faced in documenting punk and DIY subculture?
SPRADLIN: One main critiques of this act of preservation is the idea of romanticizing the past or being too seduced by nostalgia that you ignore all the hurt, the wrongs or the horrible tragedies that inevitably came from clumsily trying to create something new within a community. It's tricky. We have to acknowledge that there were racist skinheads in these spaces and people who got really hurt and even stabbed. There were people I was definitely afraid of. So, that's why I have an open policy to remove or take down photos. I don't want to showcase someone who was violent or an abuser, but we can't forget those things happened. It's why I say I'm more of a collector and curator than an archivist. I was always more interested in how photography could unite or reconnect communities.
INWEEKLY: In 'The Biggest Dreams,' we see tenants sharing how they built spaces out of cardboard, old carpeting and recycled materials, creating a community out of nothing in this warehouse district. What do you think is so compelling about this spirit of self-reliance and creative ingenuity, especially for contemporary audiences who may not have experienced that era firsthand?
SPRADLIN: It's hard to imagine life preInternet or smartphones—even for me, though I lived through it. Understanding life before certain technologies is helpful to understanding the social and cultural evolution we are a part of, where we sit on the continuum.
What these former tenants created at the warehouses was unique and historically significant. It was the late 90s/early 2000s. There was maybe one computer per warehouse. Only one land line phone in each warehouse of eight to 15 roommates. The tenants constructed their own rooms, skate ramps and recording and artist studios. They ran their own plumbing and electrical lines. They hosted music festivals, a circus and many wild, large, theatrical parties. They screenprinted shirts and bags, wrote and distributed zines, sold records and had band practice—all with unlocked doors and people roaming freely in and out. The warehouses were carefree and fun, a little dangerous, and many friendships were formed that continue today.
INWEEKLY: You don't shy away from showing the unglamorous side of these punk
spaces. What was your experience like visiting and documenting them?
SPRADLIN: Even back then, I knew I didn't want to live like that—I've always been very clean, maybe even neurotic about it and I value my sleep too much. I always went home early and didn't stay for the big parties. But I was fascinated, sometimes envious of it. Like, I wish I could train hop, but I knew I'd be worrying about having to pee every hour. We all have our limitations. When I went on a tour in 2002 photographing punk houses across the U.S. and Canada, I carried a bottle of bleach with me, sometimes sneaking it in to scrub the showers before I could use them. I was always a part-timer, a visitor, a spectator. I couldn't live that way, but I deeply respected their lifestyle.
INWEEKLY: This film is the first in a threepart series. What can people expect from the next two films?
SPRADLIN: There are three tragic events that shaped the series. The first part, 'The Biggest Dreams,' is about the building—the physical space and the community— then something horrible happens. Someone's life is changed forever, physically, emotionally and socially. Dreams become precarious things. The next film focuses on the shows and parties that happened there, and the final film leads up to a mass eviction.
INWEEKLY: Looking ahead, what are your goals for Punkhouse Atlanta, the film series and your other projects?
SPRADLIN: I have big goals with the Punkhouse Atlanta website. I want it to be a curated and searchable version of the Instagram page, with collections of photos, videos, zines, old mixtapes, oral histories and recordings. I don't really see it as an archive, maybe a stopping place before it goes on to a real archive. I see the website more as an art project about what it means to build community, to reconnect, to go back, to create and how we leave a legacy. {in}
"THE BIGGEST DREAMS" SCREENING AT 309
WHAT: A film screening, exhibition and discussion with Ivette Spradlin
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14
WHERE: 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave.
COST: Free
DETAILS: 309punkproject.org, punkhouseatlanta.com
Ivette Spradlin / Courtesy Photo
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
SHELTER ANIMAL CHRISTMAS TOY
DRIVE Join Wolfgang Pensacola and local businesses in bringing joy to adoptable pets by dropping off treats, toys and supplies to be donated. Locations include Intermission, Perfect Plain, Pensacola Bay Brewery, Wisteria Tavern and Play Pensacola. For more information, visit wolfgangparkandbrews.com.
EMPTY THE SHELTERS: HOLIDAY HOPE
EVENT
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is excited to partner with the BISSELL Pet Foundation for the "Empty the Shelters: Holiday Hope" adoption event starting Monday, Dec. 2 until Tuesday, Dec. 17. During this time, adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be free. Puppies will be available for $50 and kittens will be available for $25. A $15 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. View all adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on 24petconnect.com.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN
ADOPTION
Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as
sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
ART AND COUNTERCULTURE: A TALK WITH ERICA LYLE Writer, musician and artist Erica Lyle will join humanities scholar Scott Satterwhite for a discussion about the role of art in 21st century punk counterculture. Event is 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at 309 Punk House, 309 N. Sixth Ave.
PERENNIAL ANNIVERSARY AND TAYLOR SWIFT POP-UP Celebrate with Taylor Swift music, themed drinks and outfits from all of the different eras 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at The Garden, 501 S. Palafox St.
A CHRISTMAS STORY A Treehouse Theatre
Production with showtimes 7 p.m. Fridays, Dec. 13 and 20, Saturdays, Dec. 14 and 21, and Thursday, Dec. 19; plus 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 15 and 22. At Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and info available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION The annual Studer Community Institute Gingerbread Competition is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Enter the competition for $50 or $200 as a team. Information at studeri.org/events/gingerbread-house-competition.
86TH ANNUAL CAMELLIA FLOWER
SHOW AND PLANT SALE Over 1,000 camellia blooms compete for "best in show" 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Event is located at WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Studio, 1000 College Blvd.
PENSACOLA CHRISTMAS PARADE The annual Christmas Parade is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 including 100 entries. The parade starts on Garden Street and continues down Palafox in downtown Pensacola. The Christmas Parade Dash precedes the parade.
CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Saenger
Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
JOE HOBBS GLASS ART "HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA" SALE Shop one-of-akind pieces from glass artist Joe Hobbs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at First City Art Center, 1060 Guillemard St. There will be glass demos throughout the day.
THE BIGGEST DREAMS: FILM SCREENING, EXHIBITION AND DISCUSSION Event is 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at 309 Punk House, 309 N. Sixth Ave. with a screening of "Wild Wild West End: The Biggest Dreams." An exhibition of art and photos related to the documentary project will also be on view. During this event, the filmmaker, Ivette Spradlin, will sit down for a conversation with local humanities scholar Dr. Jamin Wells to consider themes highlighted in the project, including the human capacity for creativity, self-expression and collective action.
SANTA PAWS AND WINTER WONDERLAND MARKET Get your pet pics and some holiday shopping done 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave.
CRAFT & VINTAGE HOLIDAY MARKET
Event is located at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. Details at facebook. com/oddcolony.
GERMAN WINTER MARKET Shop artisan crafts and goods with German-inspired food and drinks starting 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.
AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING AT OYSTER BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL Christina Wilson will sign copies of her book "Believe: A Memoir in Stories" 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Oyster Bay Boutique, 400 Bayfront Parkway.
OPERA AFTER DARK CHRISTMAS
CABARET Enjoy festive songs from Jonathan Beyer and Amanda Crider 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. Tickets are $40 and available at pensacolaopera.com.
GALLERY NIGHT: UGLY SWEATER
WEATHER Wear your "ugly" holiday sweater and head downtown for Gallery Night 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 on South Palafox. Details at gallerynightpensacola.org.
BALLET PENSACOLA PRESENTS 'THE NUTCRACKER' Ballet Pensacola's holiday tradition of "The Nutcracker" features five performances: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or the Saenger box office.
WINTER WAX VINYL AND ART FAIR Event is 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
ECLECTIC FIDELITIES Artwork and performances celebrating women in the arts is on view through Dec. 13 at Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Building 15, 1000 College Blvd. Artist lectures and workshops are in November. Find details at foofoofest.com/2024-events/eclecticfidelities-presented-by-pensacola-state-college.
KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.
SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting
a&e happenings
equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
SAINT NICK'S PUBLIC HOUSE Visit Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St., in December for an immersive holiday experience with decorations and holiday-themed cocktails including Jack Frost Martini, Apple Pie Hot Toddy, Spiced Cranberry Paloma and more.
EVERYTHING CHEESE Cooking class is 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are $60 per person and available at pensacolacooks.com.
FLIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St., will host a
special Christmas flight event 6-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. Enjoy custom flights, exclusive craft beers, and signature cigars. Custom flights are $60. Details at sirrichardslounge.com.
SANTA PAWS & PINTS Visit Gary's Brewery and Biergarten for pup pics with Santa 12-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 located at 208 Newman Ave.
CCB CRAFTS & DRAFTS CHRISTMAS
EDITION Enjoy creativity, craft beer and Christmas cheer 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road.
GRUNCH! Innisfree Hotels hosts the annual Grinch-themed brunch which includes face painting, meet-and-greet with the Grinch, specialty drinks and more. Seating options are 9:30-10:15 a.m. and 12-12:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Hilton Pensacola Beach, 12 Via De Luna Dr. Cost is $55 for adults, $25 for ages 5-11 and free for children under 4. Prices are subject to tax and 20% gratuity. Interested guests can call 343-6791 for reservations.
BALLET PENSACOLA PRE-SHOW BRUNCH AND DINNER EVENTS Ballet Pensacola will offer two pre-show opportunities for Nutcracker performances. On Saturday, Dec. 21 you can enjoy Land of the Sweets festive brunch from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Solstice Soirée from 5-6:30 p.m. which includes a sushi spread and champagne tower. Both events take place at The Loft at the Mercantile, 2 Intendencia St.
WINTER SOLSTICE SOIRÉE Join Craft Bakery for a solstice-themed event from 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tickets are $45 will include a drink upon arrival, charcuterie, a 10-inch wire wreath with greenery and assorted decorating items, plus a rosé and macaron toast at the end of the evening. For more details visit craftgourmetbakery.com.
TROLLEY BAR TOUR Five Flags Trolley Co. hosts this hop-on/hop-off tour of the favorite bars in downtown Pensacola. Dates are through Dec. 31. For tickets and information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org/pub-and-party-trolley-indowntown-pensacola.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern. com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs
and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
75 CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are ac-
a&e happenings
cepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS
Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT
AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9-11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge. com for details.
TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN
Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER
HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.
LIVE MUSIC
BOP TO THE TOP DJ set with Disney Channel tunes 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
CANDLELIGHT: CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON STRINGS Live music in a multi-sensory environment with two performances 6:15 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Tickets and information at feverup.com.
PRETTY TIED UP: GUNS AND ROSES
TRIBUTE SHOW Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
BLACK FLAG Show is 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
5TH ANNUAL HAPPY HOLIN-DAYS Annual holiday concert from Make-A-Wish alum Holin Saucer. Event is 6-9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 at Encounter Church, 825 W. Nine Mile Road.
JINGLE JAZZ Jazz Pensacola holiday event
6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16 at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $25. Details at jazzpensacola.com.
WHITE TIE ROCK ENSEMBLE:
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Show is 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets available at pensacolabaycenter.com.
LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS Enjoy live music at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Glen Parker Band plays 6-10 p.m. Saturdays and Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF DECEMBER 12
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): If you were walking down the street and spied a coin lying on the sidewalk, would you bend down to pick it up? If you're like most people, you wouldn't. It's too much trouble to exert yourself for an object of such little value. But I advise you to adopt a different attitude during the coming weeks. Just for now, that stray coin might be something like an Umayyad gold dinar minted in the year 723 and worth over $7 million. Please also apply this counsel metaphorically, Aries. In other words, be alert for things of unexpected worth that would require you to expand your expectations or stretch your capacities.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The Taurus writer Randall Jarrell compared poets to people who regularly stand in a meadow during a thunderstorm. If they are struck by the lightning of inspiration five or six times in the course of their careers, they are good poets. If they are hit a dozen times, they are great poets. A similar principle applies in many fields of endeavor. To be excellent at what you do, you must regularly go to where the energy is most electric. You've also got to keep working diligently on your skills so that when inspiration comes calling, you have a highly developed ability to capture it in a useful form. I'm bringing this up now, Taurus, because I suspect the coming weeks will bring you a slew of lightning bolts.
By Rob Brezsny
miracles. In accordance with your astrological potentials, I invite you to be like those characters in the coming months. You are primed to be both robustly pragmatic and primed for fairy-tale-style adventures.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In December 1903, the Wright Brothers flew a motorized vehicle through the sky for the first time in human history. It was a very modest achievement, really. On the first try, Orville Wright was in the air for just 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. On the fourth attempt that day, Wilbur was aloft for 59 seconds and 852 feet. I believe you're at a comparable stage in the evolution of your own innovation. Don't minimize your incipient accomplishment. Keep the faith. It may take a while, but your efforts will ultimately lead to a meaningful advancement. (PS: Nine months later, the Wrights flew their vehicle for over five minutes and traveled 2.75 miles.)
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): During the rest of 2024, life's generosity will stream your way more than usual. You will be on the receiving end of extra magnanimity from people, too. Even the spiritual realms might have extra goodies to bestow on you. How should you respond? My suggestion is to share the inflowing wealth with cheerful creativity. Boost your own generosity and magnanimity. Just assume that the more you give, the more you will get and the more you will have. (PS: Do you know that Emily Dickinson poem with the line "Why Floods be served to us—in Bowls"? I suggest you obtain some big bowls.)
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): "Amazing Grace" is a popular hymn recorded by many pop stars, including Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson. Created in 1773, it tells the story of a person who concludes that he has lived an awful life and now wants to repent for his sins and be a better human. The composer, John Newton, was a slave trader who had a religious epiphany during a storm that threatened to sink his ship in the Atlantic Ocean. God told him to reform his evil ways, and he did. I presume that none of you reading this horoscope has ever been as horrible a person as Newton. And yet you and I, like most people, are in regular need of conversion experiences that awaken us to higher truths and more expansive perspectives. I predict you will have at least three of those transformative illuminations in the coming months. One is available now, if you want it.
on your quest for new metaphorical fuel, Sagittarius. In the coming months, you will be wise to search for resources that provide you with the most efficient and potent energy.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The world's longest tunnel is over 35 miles long. It's the Gotthard Base Tunnel in the Swiss Alps. I'm guessing the metaphorical tunnel you've been crawling your way through lately, Capricorn, may feel that extensive. But it's really not. And here's even better news: Your plodding travels will be finished sooner than you imagine. I expect that the light at the end of the tunnel will be visible any day now. Now here's the best news: Your slow journey through the semi-darkness will ultimately yield rich benefits no later than your birthday.
AQUARIUS
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): My upcoming novels epitomize the literary genre known as magical realism. In many ways, the stories exhibit reverence for the details of our gritty destinies in the material world. But they are also replete with wondrous events like talking animals, helpful spirits and nightly dreams that provide radical healing. The characters are both practical and dreamy, earthy and wildly imaginative, well-grounded and alert for
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): The term "cognitive dissonance" refers to the agitation we feel while trying to hold conflicting ideas or values in our minds. For example, let's say you love the music of a particular singersongwriter, but they have opinions that offend you or they engage in behavior that repels you. Or maybe you share many positions with a certain political candidate, but they also have a few policies you dislike. Cognitive dissonance doesn't have to be a bad or debilitating thing. In fact, the ability to harbor conflicting ideas with poise and equanimity is a sign of high intelligence. I suspect this will be one of your superpowers in the coming weeks.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "Thinking outside the box" is an American idiom. It means escaping habitual parameters and traditional formulas so as to imagine fresh perspectives and novel approaches. While it's an excellent practice, there is also a good alternative. We can sometimes accomplish marvels by staying inside the box and reshaping it from the inside. Another way to imagine this is to work within the system to transform the system—to accept some of the standard perspectives but play and experiment with others. For example, in my horoscope column, I partially adhere to the customs of the well-established genre, but also take radical liberties with it. I recommend this approach for you in 2025.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): I don't recommend burning wood to heat your home. Such fires generate noxious emissions harmful to human health. But hypothetically speaking, if you had no other way to get warm, I prefer burning ash and beech wood rather than, say, pine and cedar. The former two trees yield far more heat than the latter two, so you need less of them. Let's apply this principle as we meditate
(JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Would you like to avoid wilting and fading away in January, Aquarius? If so, I recommend that during the coming weeks, you give your best and brightest gifts and express your wildest and most beautiful truths. In the new year, you will need some downtime to recharge and revitalize. But it will be a pleasantly relaxing interlude—not a wan, withered detour—if in the immediate future you unleash your unique genius in its full splendor.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): My treasured Piscean advisor, Letisha, believes it's a shame so many of us try to motivate ourselves through abusive self-criticism. Are you guilty of that sin? I have done it myself on many occasions. Sadly, it rarely works as a motivational ploy. More often, it demoralizes and deflates. The good news, Pisces, is that you now have extra power and savvy to diminish your reliance on this ineffectual tactic. To launch the transformation, I hope you will engage in a focused campaign of inspiring yourself through self-praise and self-love.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What will you revive, rejuvenate and renovate in 2025? {in}
AWESOME! No doubt inspired by "WKRP in Cincinnati," Esther Keim of Anchorage, Alaska, this year completed her third Alaska Turkey Bomb, the Associated Press reported. When Keim was growing up in rural Alaska, a family friend would drop turkeys to her family and others from a plane, along with newspapers and chewing gum. She started her tradition with a small plane she rebuilt with her father, and this year she dropped 32 frozen turkeys to people living beyond roads. Dave and Christina Luce live a 90-minute snowmobile ride from the nearest town. "I'm 80 years old now, so we make fewer and fewer trips," Dave said. Keim has "been a real good friend." She hopes to start a nonprofit organization to solicit donations and reach more people, with more than turkeys. "There's so many kids out in the villages," she said. "It would be cool to maybe add a stuffed animal or something they can hold."
FAMILY VALUES An unnamed mother in Cheshire, England, was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for "extreme neglect" after her 3-year-old daughter of hers was found to have been living in a drawer under a bed, the BBC reported. The mother hid the child from her siblings and even from a boyfriend, who discovered her in 2023 after hearing her cry when the mom was away. The court said she was severely malnourished, looking more like a 7-month-old baby, and had a cleft palate, matted hair and other deformities. The mother told police she had not realized she was pregnant and was "really scared" when she gave birth, calling the child "not part of the family." Judge Steven Everett said he could not "remember a case as bad as this in my 46 years."
•Three generations of a family in Palm Coast, Florida, celebrated Black Friday by shoplifting $400 worth of cosmetics and alcohol from a Target store, the Miami Herald reported. A 76-year-old woman, her 54-year-old daughter and a juvenile granddaughter were arrested after a Target loss specialist saw the juvenile putting items in her backpack, police said. The two adults were charged with theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor; the girl was turned over to her father.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME Firefighters battled a blaze for more than 16 hours in Weston, Connecticut, on Thanksgiving, WFSB-TV reported, after flames erupted as someone tried to fry a turkey. The fire, which started in the garage of a $4 million mansion, quickly spread to the rest of the house, and six other fire departments joined in the effort to fight the fire. None of the residents or neighbors were hurt, but the home was deemed "uninhabitable."
BRIGHT IDEAS If you're fortunate enough to live in California, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas or Florida over the next couple of weeks, you can have your photo snapped while driving through Taco Bell, KTLA-TV reported. "Every day in our drive-thrus, we see moments that are so uniquely 'our fans,'" said Chief Marketing Officer Taylor Montgomery. Select locations will be transformed into photo
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
booths, with some of the photos ending up on a Taco Bell commercial during the third quarter of the Super Bowl. Participating fans will need to have the TB app and scan a QR code at the drivethru. Photos will be sent to the account holder's email address. Smile!
•In Lone Tree, Colorado, on Nov. 23, police officer Jacob Tarr was busy arresting a suspect in a theft when the perp took off on foot, KY3-TV reported. Thinking fast, Tarr commandeered a kid's bike to continue the chase, police said. "The suspect might've had a scooter, but Officer Tarr had determination, and a kid's bike," the police shared on social media. The suspect, who had three outstanding warrants, was eventually nabbed and charged with felony theft.
BUT WHY?
Tyler Wade Gibson, 35, and his wife, Bailey Alexus Gibson, 32, were charged with child abuse on Nov. 27 in Columbia, Missouri, after Tyler tried to perform a circumcision at home on their infant son, Law and Crime reported. The parents took the child to Lake Regional Hospital after being alarmed by the amount of blood; Bailey told police she was "very hesitant" about her husband doing the procedure but helped him do it. Social services went to the home on Nov. 29 and removed five children. The Gibsons are scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 28.
ANIMAL ANTICS They say all fashion trends eventually come back around. Science Alert reported on Dec. 3 that orcas off the West Coast of North America have started wearing salmon as hats—again. The fad was first noticed in 1987 in Puget Sound, when orcas started balancing dead fish on their noses. Scientists believe they may be storing the food for later or "showing off," or it may just feel good. Humpback whales, for example, have been known to wear hats of seaweed. "Honestly, your guess is as good as mine," said Deborah Giles, science and research director at Wild Orca. With further study, "we may be able to gather enough information to show that, for instance, one carried a fish hat for 30 minutes or so, and then he ate it."
LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Maybe don't record your crimes in your journal—that's the lesson just learned by Vanessa Guerra, 30, of Mankato, Minnesota. The Smoking Gun reported that on the same day that a 2004 Ford Freestar van was stolen, Guerra wrote in her diary: "Totally stole a car today! Something I never thought of doing." She sold the van to an auto salvage company for $2,000. As investigators closed in on Guerra as the thief, she told them she didn't know the van was stolen—but they were "able to locate a journal belonging to Guerra" that included her admission. She was charged with two felonies. {in}
