winners & losers winners losers
MERIDETH ROBERSON Escambia County Animal Welfare rescued a kitten named "Pipes" from a drainage pipe near the Juvenile Detention Center. Lead Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson responded using innovative rescue techniques, including playing mother cat sounds to locate the kitten. When traps failed, Sgt. Roberson crawled approximately 50 yards through the drainage pipe, ultimately catching the kitten after it became trapped at the tunnel's end. The rescue was a collaborative effort involving Sheriff's Office deputies who provided a ladder and communication support. The slightly underweight but otherwise healthy kitten was examined by a veterinarian and will be available for adoption soon.
Escambia County Animal Welfare Director John Robinson praised Sgt. Roberson's dedication and the team's commitment to animal welfare.
GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION
The credit union donated $20,000 to Manna Food Pantries during their annual Fill the Mayflower Event. The check marks another chapter in Gulf Winds' more than 20-year commitment to supporting Manna through financial contributions, food drives, volunteer work and in-kind donations. The donation helps address food insecurity, with one in three children in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties facing hunger. Manna is experiencing increased need and decreased food donations. Gulf Winds has donated over $450,000 to Manna to date, equivalent to food for 100,000 people. Its latest contribution directly supports Manna's continued efforts to provide meals to those in need and address regional hunger-related issues.
FAMILIESFIRST NETWORK
The Pensacolabased nonprofit child welfare organization received the national Adoption Excellence Award from the Children's Bureau. The award recognizes the organization's exceptional work connecting foster care children with permanent families. Serving Northwest Florida from Escambia to Walton County, the FamiliesFirst Network finalized 350 adoptions in fiscal year 2024, utilizing digital platforms and community outreach for adoption recruitment. President Cory Borcherding emphasized the award as a testament to their team's dedication and community partnerships. The organization continues to work towards finding forever homes for children in need.
ECUA
The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority may be forced to reconsider its fluoridation program after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Presidentelect Donald Trump's nominee to be the Department of Health and Human Services secretary, sparked a national debate by calling for an end to the public health practice. 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 City of Pensacola added fluoride to drinking water in 1968, which lasted only briefly. The ECUA board voted in 1998 to add fluoride after 58% of voters approved a referendum.
ESCAMBIA
COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD A federal judge ruled that Escambia County School Board members must testify in a lawsuit challenging book removals from school libraries. U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell rejected claims of "legislative privilege," determining that book removal decisions are administrative acts rather than legislative ones. The judge argued that book removal decisions are based on specific content and applying existing policies. His ruling contradicts previous decisions by other judges in similar cases. The lawsuit is part of broader litigation challenging Florida's recent laws that made it easier to challenge and remove books deemed unsuitable, leading to increased legal challenges from publishers, authors and parents.
MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS The Florida Commission on Ethics rejected a potential settlement in a lawsuit challenging a 2023 law requiring municipal elected officials to disclose detailed financial information. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law in June, arguing the Legislature didn't adequately justify the need for such extensive disclosures. Judge Damian viewed the detailed disclosure requirement as potentially violating the First Amendment's protection against compelled speech. Ethics Commissioner Laird Lile proposed seeking a settlement with less-detailed financial disclosure requirements, warning that losing the case could risk the entire financial disclosure system. The commission voted 6-2 to reject the motion to negotiate a settlement.
Merideth Roberson / Photo Courtesy of Escambia County
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
THE COST OF DEPORTATION
President-elect Donald Trump made immigration a central theme of his campaign, emphasizing strict border security and proposing the "largest domestic deportation in American history." His strong rhetoric on building a border wall and enforcing immigration laws resonated with many voters concerned about illegal immigration and its impact on the economy and security.
In the race's closing days in Madison Square Garden, he pledged, "On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out. I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible."
Less than two weeks after his election victory, Trump confirmed that he would declare a national emergency to fulfill his campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants living in the U.S. without legal permission. He has said he would deploy "military assets" to help.
On Truth Social, Trump said he will target Canada and Mexico as soon as he is sworn into office. He posted, "On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl and all Illegal Aliens, stop this Invasion of our Country!"
According to the American Immigration Council, about 11 million undocumented immigrants lived in the United States as of 2022. An additional 2.3 million removable immigrants were released into the United States between January 2023 and April 2024 and would also be targeted in any mass deportation operation.
Their mass deportation would lead to significant staffing, logistical and financial issues. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a backlog of nearly 4 million immigration cases due to process requirements and the shortage of judges.
In its October report, "Mass Deportation: Devastating Costs to America, its Budget and Economy," the American Immigration Council (AIC) estimated the cost of a one-time depor-
tation to be at least $315 billion. "We wish to emphasize that this figure is a highly conservative estimate. It does not take into account the long-term costs of a sustained mass deportation operation or the incalculable additional costs necessary to acquire the institutional capacity to remove over 13 million people in a short period of time."
What if the Trump administration doesn't try to remove all 13 million in 2025 and instead sets a goal of removing 1 million annually? The cost is much higher because it would take much longer to deport the 13 million.
The AIC report stated, "Even assuming that 20 percent of the undocumented population would 'self-deport,' under a yearslong mass-deportation regime, we estimate the ultimate cost of such a longer operation would average out to $88 billion annually, for a total cost of $967.9 billion over the course of more than a decade."
The lack of detention facilities is a major logistical issue. The report stated, "There would be no way to accomplish this mission without mass detention as an interim step. To put the scale of detaining over 13 million undocumented immigrants into context, the entire U.S. prison and jail population in 2022, comprising every person held in local, county, state, and federal prisons and jails, was 1.9 million people."
This is good news for the private prison industry. Geo Group, the country's largest private prison operator, operates Milton's Blackwater River Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility. On a corporate earnings call after Election Day, its founder, George Zoley, told investors, "The Geo Group was built for this unique moment in our history and the opportunities that it will bring."
$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger
Wall Street has agreed. On Nov. 4, the day before Election Day, its stock traded for $14.18 per share. By Thanksgiving, the share price had more than doubled, jumping to $28.69.
While prison operators will be happy, the economic impact on other industries, such as construction and agriculture, is concerning because they employ a significant number of undocumented workers. Mass deportation sounds good to some, but its implementation could destroy our economy. {in} rick@inweekly.net
SACRED HEART EARNS TOP GRADE
ty in the areas of dangerous bed sores, falls causing broken hips, collapsed lungs, dangerous blood clots and air or gas bubbles in the blood.
yourself what you think the grade transparent on our methodology
THE 'A' & 'B' HOSPITALS
Leapfrog divides the metrics into five categories. Sacred Heart matched the best scores in three
gery, practices to prevent errors,
"It does validate what we know," said Kendrick Doidge, Florida West's vice president of community engagement. "There's a number of safety indicators we go through on a daily basis to make sure we're doing the best we can for our patients."
Florida West rated worse than average in seven metrics. Three areas of concern came in the doctors, nurses and hospital staff category. The hospital scored worse than average in effective leadership to prevent errors, nursing and bedside care for patients and responsiveness of hospital staff.
dated and considered the gold standard in health care quality and safety. Gulf Breeze Hospital is the area's only CMS 5-star rated hospital, and Baptist Hospital has a 4-star rating which ranks in the top quartile in the country … We are proud of the consistent ratings we earn, which represent the level of care our amazing team provides patients with day in and day out."
By Tom St. Myer
Ascension Sacred Heart remains a gold standard for medical care in the area. Sacred Heart earned the only local "A" hospital safety grade from the Leapfrog Group for Fall 2024. This marked the eighth consecutive "A" grade stretched over four years for Sacred Heart. HCA Florida West Hospital earned a "B," while Baptist Hospital, Gulf Breeze Hospital and Santa Rosa Medical Center each earned a "C."
Leapfrog based the grades on preventing medical errors, infections and injuries. The national nonprofit organization used 32 metrics to grade the hospitals.
Hospitals that excelled in at least 22 measures earned an "A." This grade indicates that the hospital protects patients and improves outcomes, resulting in reduced length of stay and lower mortality rates. Fewer than 30% of hospitals nationwide earned an "A," including 71 in Florida.
President and CEO Leah Binder stated that Leapfrog gathers data from the federal government and through a survey in which over 2,200 hospitals participated. The survey includes C-section rates and practices for safer health care, such as hand hygiene, safe surgical volumes for highrisk surgeries, and intensive care unit staffing to reduce mortality and infection rates for hospitalacquired infections.
"We improve safety, and we improve healthcare through transparency," Binder said. "So when you go on our website, you will see every-
tal staff. The hospital received average or betterthan-average ratings in 31 metrics, with belowaverage ratings only in nursing and bedside care for patients.
"Winning this 'A' designation eight times in a row and four years in a row brought a smile to my face," Sacred Heart President and CEO Will Condon said. "We have a culture and a group of people who never settle for the status quo. There are always things you can do better with processes. We push ourselves on new standards and find ways to improve safety and provide the highest rate of care for our patients."
Condon said the Leapfrog grading system is the easiest way for the public to see the level and type of care hospitals provide. Healthcare consultant Quint Studer, who served as Baptist Hospital's president from 1996-2000, said whenever someone asks him for advice on hospitals, he recommends that they check out the Leapfrog data.
"Leapfrog's history is that it's developed by business people," Studer said. "They want a way to measure quality that is not driven by hospitals but is driven by businesses who pay for insurance. It's an external look at clinical quality. When you get an 'A' from Leapfrog, you're fulfilling the mission of providing high-quality care."
HCA Florida West graded as an A hospital in the past but slipped to a "B" this fall. Still, the hospital rated better than average in 17 metrics.
The hospital performed better than average in five of seven safety problems metrics and four of six for infections. Florida West excelled in safe -
"Those are areas we are working on," Doidge said. "We know where our deficiencies are. We're always looking at where we are and looking at the data. It's a good indicator, but it doesn't speak to where we are overall. It's just a matter of where we were at a given point and time. We're always trying to do better."
THE 'C' HOSPITALS
Baptist earned a "C" and excelled in four of the six infection measures, four of the seven for safety problems and two measures for problems with surgery.
Baptist declined to report three measures: staff working together to prevent errors, effective leadership to prevent errors, and nursing and bedside care for patients. The hospital scored worse than average in 11 measures, including three of the five reported for practices to prevent errors: doctors order medication through a computer, safe medication administration and handwashing.
Inweekly requested to interview Baptist President and CEO Mark Faulkner. Baptist declined the request, but Director of Corporate Marketing Candy McGuyre issued the following statement: "Leapfrog is one of the many rating agencies that report on hospital quality. The methods and data collection of these different rating agencies vary and, subsequently, are inconsistent and sometimes conflict with each other. The differing scores can be confusing. Baptist focuses, instead, on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services star rating system, which is objective, vali-
Gulf Breeze Hospital earned a "C," declining to report three metrics and four others being marked "not available." The hospital, part of the Baptist Health Care system, scored better than average in 12 metrics, including three in safety problems and three in doctors, nurses and hospital staff. Under safety problems, Gulf Breeze was rated better than average for harmful events, dangerous bed sores and air or gas bubbles in the blood. In the doctors, nurses and hospital staff category, the hospital rated high in communication with nurses and doctors and responsiveness of hospital staff.
Gulf Breeze scored worse than average in six metrics, with three in the practices to prevent errors category—the same three areas as Baptist Hospital.
Santa Rosa Medical Center scored better than average in eight metrics and worse than average in eight. Three of its better-than-average metrics occurred in the practices to prevent errors category: doctors order medication through a computer, handwashing and staff work together to prevent errors. Three of its worst occurred in doctors, nurses and hospital staff: nursing and bedside care for patients, specially trained doctors care for IC patients and responsiveness of hospital staff.
What about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rating system? Gulf Breeze is one of 481 hospitals nationwide that earned five stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The five measure groups for the star rating system include mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care. Sacred Heart and Santa Rosa Medical Center joined Baptist as four-star hospitals. Florida West is rated as a two-star.
For the Leapfrog grades, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org. {in}
SHOUT OUT
Celebrating the Wins That Lift Us All
Ken Ford Thank you,
After more than 34 years under the leadership of founder Dr. Ken Ford, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition will see a new senior leadership team take the reins.
Ford will step into an emeritus role as of January 2025.
Under Ford’s leadership, IHMC grew from a small office inside the University of West Florida into an independent research entity with an international reputation for excellence and innovation. The Institute focuses on a broad range of topics related to amplifying and extending human capabilities through three primary research focus areas: artificial intelligence and human cognition, robotics and exoskeletons, and healthspan, resilience and performance.
Ford holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Tulane University and has authored hundreds of scientific papers and six books. His research spans artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and human-computer interaction. He is a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and other prestigious organizations.
Ford’s career includes serving as Associate Center Director at NASA Ames, where he led the Center of Excellence in Information Technology and earned the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal in 1999.
He chaired the NASA Advisory Council from 2008 to 2011 and was awarded NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2010.
His other appointments include the National Science Board, the Air Force Science Advisory Board, and the Defense Science Board. In 2013, he joined the Advanced Technology Board supporting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
He was a member of the inaugural class of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame in 2017.
In 2018, Dr. Ford was appointed to the National Security Commissionon Artificial Intelligence.
In 2020, Florida Trend Magazine named Ford one of its Living Legends, a list of all-time influential Florida leaders in business, medicine, academia, entertainment, politics, and sport.
His leadership and contributions continue to shape advancements in science and technology.
As IHMC has evolved, the growth trajectory that Ken laid out has been thoughtful and purposeful.
— Dr. Morley Stone steps into the role of Chief Executive Officer, having previously served as Chief Strategic Partnership Officer
STUDER
FAMILY OF COMPANIES
5Eleven • Blue Wahoos • Bodacious Shops • Bodacious Bookstore Bodacious Brew Thru • Bubba’s Sweet Spot • Oyster Bay • Studer Properties
SPECIAL ELECTION Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-262 to set the dates for the Special Election for Florida's First Congressional District, a district that represents Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, and a portion of Walton County. The Special Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, and the Special General Election will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
"At Governor Ron DeSantis' direction, this Special Election is being conducted as quickly as statutorily possible," said Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd. "We are committed to ensuring this election is held as soon as we can hold it by state law."
Federal and state laws govern special elections, providing specific dates and deadlines for local election officials to conduct them. State law also lays out specific requirements for an election, including minimum periods of time for qualifying, primaries, mail and early voting, and general elections. The timeline for conducting a special election follows the timeline applicable for general elections.
Timeline: Primaries
Dec. 5-6, 2024 Qualifying Period: One and onehalf days starting at 8 a.m. on the first day and ending at noon on the second day.
Dec. 14, 2024 Vote-By-Mail Ballots Sent to Absent Stateside and Overseas Military and U.S. Civilians: Begins 45 days before an election.
Dec. 19, 2024 Vote-By-Mail Ballots Sent to Domestic Voters: The seven-day window starts 40 days and ends 33 days before an election.
Dec. 30, 2024 Book Closing for Special Primary: Last day to register to vote or change party affiliation.
Jan. 18-25, 2025 Early Voting: The eight-day mandatory window starts 10 days before an election and ends the Saturday before election day. Jan. 28, 2025 Special Primary Election Day
Feb. 11, 2025 Deadline for Elections Canvassing Commission to certify results of Special Primary Election
T imeline: Special Election
Feb. 15, 2025 Vote-By-Mail Ballots Sent to Absent Stateside and Overseas Military and U.S. Civilians
Feb. 20, 2025 Vote-By-Mail Ballots Sent to Domestic Voters
March 3, 2025 Book Closing for Special Primary
March 22-29, 2025 Early Voting
April 1, 2025 Special General Election Day
Two elected officials resigned to run for the seat vacated by Rep. Matt Gaetz—Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and State Rep. Joel Rudman. Patronis' resignation is effective March 31, 2025, and Rudman made his effective Jan. 1, 2025. Former Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino has filed to run with the Federal Election Commission. We will have a complete list of the candidates after the qualifying period ends for the primaries on Friday, Dec. 6. Visit dos.fl.gov/ elections for more information.
NEW FLORIDAWEST CEO A "phenomenal" location with an abundance of business assets and a quality of life that ranks "second to none" convinced Chris Platé to leave the comforts of North Carolina behind.
Platé accepted the CEO position at FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance and begins Dec. 16. He brings nearly 30 years of experience in economic development to FloridaWest, serving the past 25 with the Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission.
"I've done about as much as I can in Union County," Platé said. "It was serendipitous timing. Everything lined up. The office I left was on autopilot. This is such a unique opportunity that I need to pursue this."
Platé replaces Brian Hilson, who served as CEO for only 11 months before departing in July. Hilson returned to Alabama to be near family and accepted the executive director position for the Bibbs County Chamber of Commerce. Rick Byars remains in his role as interim CEO until Platé arrives.
Platé rose up the ranks to executive director and led initiatives resulting in 7,000 new manufacturing jobs and more than $4 billion in capital investment across North and South Carolina. His leadership contributed to establishing the largest aerospace cluster in North Carolina and achieving the lowest unemployment rate in the Charlotte area in 23 years.
Monroe-Union County ventured into aerospace right after the 9/11 attacks, a bold move that paid significant dividends.
"People were looking at me like I had three heads because 9/11 had just happened, and they were saying, aerospace is dead," Platé said. "We went in when no one was interested."
The breakthrough for the aerospace movement occurred when Platé recruited Goodrich Company (now Collins Aerospace) to the area. Other aerospace companies soon followed.
Platé considers Escambia County ripe for growth in aerospace with assets such as Pensacola International Airport, Naval Air Station Pensacola and its proximity to companies in Mobile. He cited the business incubator Co:Lab, IHMC and The Bluffs as other assets that create competitive recruiting advantages for FloridaWest.
"There's a lot of those things you kind of go through that just check so many boxes for an economic developer," he said.
FloridaWest Board of Directors President David Bear said the agency sought a CEO with experience in aerospace and manufacturing. Platé met the criteria. Manufacturing wages raised from $9-$11 to $32 an hour during his tenure at Monroe-Union County. His experience in tourism further strengthened his credentials.
"He's done a lot within sort of this economic development and tourism role," Bear said. "With his experience in both of those realms, it just felt like a good opportunity for us to leverage our large tourism base and expand it through economic development."
Building relationships in the region will be a priority for Platé. He said he will rely heavily on his Florida contacts to establish connections.
"Economic development is difficult in the sense you're not selling a widget, you're selling an idea," he said. "A person has to trust you implicitly because they could get fired if they make a bad decision, and they could cost a company millions of dollars."
Platé said FloridaWest is already on a "solid foundation." Maybe so, but the agency faces an identity crisis. Few in Escambia County understand its role. A survey of area leaders conducted earlier this year revealed just how few.
Nearly 50% of respondents said they had no understanding of FloridaWest's success and impact. Forty-six percent said they had limited understanding, and only 5% stated they had a solid understanding.
FloridaWest faces its identity crisis amid a five-year campaign to increase private sector investment by $500,000. The agency is dependent primarily on public funding. According to the audited statements for the last fiscal year, local governments provided the organization with $825,000 annually. The private sector chipped in only $250,000.
The campaign to increase private sector investments coincides with a five-year strategic plan that began in 2022. The plan emphasizes three main strategic goals: business recruitment, business retention and expansion, and facilitating innovation and entrepreneurship.
"That plan is still relevant, but it's probably due for a hefty review," Bear said. "Unfortunately, it's been sitting on a shelf because we didn't have the resources to fulfill it."
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Florida Blue, the state's largest health insurance provider, is in its open enrollment period. For Hong Potomski, its market leader in Northwest Florida, the company is about much more than insurance; it provides health solutions.
"Our enterprise is dedicated to ensuring that the Panhandle has the best quality of care and is affordable for our residents and our community," she said. "Our team has leaned into the community and continues to invest, collaborate and partner as we work to build an even better, healthier community in this area."
Potomski is an Inweekly Rising Star (2013) and former Pensacola Young Professionals president (2015-16). She was recently recognized on the Inweekly Power List. The Pensacola native's commitment to improving the community is evident.
"Because we live, work and play in this community, we are intentional about ensuring that if you have a question about health insurance or services, you can pick up the phone and call our team," she said. "That is, I feel, the beauty of our team and our organization's focus on being very local in our market. We are here to help."
Achieve Healthy EscaRosa recently rolled out the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment Report. Although there has been some progress, Escambia County still has a ways to go. Potomski has talked with Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves and Dr. David Bellar, the dean of the University of West Florida's Usha Kundu,
MD College of Health, about how Florida Blue alongside community and business leaders can collaboratively help tackle some of the area's most significant health needs.
"We have incredible resources and amazing healthcare providers in this community," she said. "In order to move the needle and promote a culture of health and well-being, we need a collective effort among our community, business and healthcare leaders."
For Florida Blue, open enrollment usually ends Dec. 15, which is the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage that starts on Jan. 1, 2025. People can enroll from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15, 2025, for coverage that will begin on Feb. 1, 2025. For more information, call (866) 223-3187.
NEW COUNCIL OFFICERS
At a special meeting of the Pensacola City Council held on Nov. 26, the council elected Jared Moore to serve as the president and Allison Patton as vice president. They assume their positions immediately.
Moore has served District 4 since 2018. He is a third-generation family business owner and a lifelong Pensacola resident. He served as council president before in 2021 and won re-election unopposed in 2022.
MILITARY SUPPORT
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $2.1 million in additional funding for military-supporting infrastructure through the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program. The grants support infrastructure projects and economic growth in Florida's military communities. Half of a million dollars went to local projects.
"Florida is committed to investing in our military's capacity and military communities," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "These funds continue my mission of making Florida the most military-friendly and veteran-friendly state in the nation."
"Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, Florida is continuing to support critical projects that further strengthen military readiness," said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. "These awards will have impacts across the state, building on past investments and further cementing the bond between our defense communities and military installations."
Since 2019, Governor DeSantis has awarded nearly $6.3 million to Florida's military communities through the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program to local governments or economic development organizations representing a local government with a military installation.
The Pensacola-Escambia Promotion and Development Commission will receive $250,000 to develop advanced facilities to accommodate existing and future cyber assets adjacent to Corry Station. Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners will receive $250,000 to fund a master plan to guide a land swap between the county and the Navy on a current outlying landing field.
For more information on military community programs, visit floridajobs.org.
HIGH-SPEED FOR 12,000 HOMES Conexon Connect, the internet service provider formed by rural fiber broadband leader Conexon, has completed its first fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) project in the state of Florida, a 2,000-mile network launched in partnership with Escambia River Electric Cooperative (EREC).
With this milestone, Conexon Connect delivered fiber internet access to all EREC members across rural Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, bringing high-speed internet service to homes and businesses previously lacking reliable connectivity. The newly completed network enables residents to access essential online services, including telemedicine, remote education and modern work opportunities.
"Completing the fiber network across EREC's service area is another major step forward in our mission to bring connectivity to underserved communities nationwide," said Randy Klindt, Conexon Founding Partner and co-CEO. "We're proud to empower these areas with digital access to help drive innovation, opportunity and growth in Florida."
Founded in 1939, EREC is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving approximately 12,000 residents in northern Escambia County and Santa Rosa County.
Fiber broadband technology also enables the
benefits of smart grid capabilities to the co-op's electrical infrastructure.
"Over the past two years, we've worked tirelessly to bring this critical infrastructure to every EREC member in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties," said Ryan Campbell, CEO of EREC. "Today, every member of our cooperative has access to fast, reliable internet, which is not just about improving connectivity—it's about enhancing quality of life, fostering economic growth and ensuring that no one in our community is left behind in the digital age. This project represents our commitment to providing not just electricity but the tools that empower our members to thrive in an increasingly connected world. By partnering with Connect, we've been able to make a lasting impact on our community."
Conexon's current impact in Florida spans five electric cooperatives' service territories – delivering Connect high-speed internet to members of TriCounty Electric Cooperative, Glades Electric Cooperative and EREC – and partnering with Central Florida Electric Cooperative and Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative as those co-ops build FTTH networks to serve their members with broadband.
Collectively, the co-ops' broadband project investment totals more than $260 million, with nearly 9,000 miles of fiber built to date, reaching well over 70,000 rural Floridians.
"In rural areas across the state, there is only one group of people who truly care about getting broadband to every home in every rural area—not the telephone companies that have abandoned rural Florida, not the cable companies that never built to rural Florida—it is the rural electric cooperatives that have been serving their communities for over 85 years," said Conexon co-CEO Jonathan Chambers. "We are proud of the partnership we formed with Escambia River Electric Cooperative. In just 18 months, we built a fiber broadband network to serve every member of the cooperative, a network that will last for decades to come."
HRSA GRANT The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) has awarded Community Health Northwest Florida (CHNWF) a $1-million grant to provide care for people released from incarceration to support their healthy return to the community.
HRSA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that plays a crucial role in improving access to healthcare for underserved and vulnerable populations. The CHNWF grant is part of the $52 million recently awarded to 54 health centers nationwide. The funding allows health centers to provide prerelease care to incarcerated individuals who are expected to be released within 90 days.
"People re-entering the community from incarceration are particularly vulnerable to poor health outcomes," says CHNWF CEO Chandra Smiley. "With this grant, we will be able to provide those services to better support their successful and healthy reentry to our community."
According to HRSA, research shows that individuals released from prison face an opioid overdose risk up to ten times higher than the general public. By focusing on substance use disorder treatment and overdose prevention, this initiative aims to significantly reduce this risk and improve long-term health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Through the grant and its partnership with the Escambia County Jail, CHNWF is positioned to support justice-involved individuals as they navigate their release from prison, help them overcome potential barriers, and ensure continuity of care as they rejoin their community.
In addition to healthcare services, CHNWF is required to provide case management services and collaborate with community partners to tackle health-related social issues such as housing and food insecurity, financial strain, transportation barriers and intimate partner violence.
For more information, visit Community Health Northwest Florida's website at healthcarewithinreach.org. {in}
YES, AND?
By Savannah Evanoff
Improv is a team sport.
And while the performers might not wear jerseys or lob basketballs across a court, they do pass along incomplete jokes to their teammates, expecting them to finish—or at least continue—the play they started. Not only that, but they practice techniques and rules several hours a week just like a sport, said Brooke Hardy, a co-owner and member of the Improvable Cause improv troupe.
It's not stand-up comedy, she emphasized.
"No shade against stand-up, but stand-up is an individual sport; you have a set list of jokes you deliver to the audience," Hardy said. "Improv is a very collaborative activity. You have to be able to work with people and understand people, and be able to not read each other's minds, but know each other well enough that you can anticipate things. Because really, we're building something completely out of nowhere based on maybe a suggestion from the audience. And it's all new—never been seen before, right there in the moment."
They practice what to do when they make mistakes or when they freeze, how to respond in the moment and how to listen and make people listen—all stuff they teach in workshops, too. And like any other athletes, they learn skills in improv that cross over to their day-to-day life.
"The No. 1 rule of improv is 'Yes, and,' and people are pretty familiar with that," Hardy said. "It really just means, whatever information you're given, you accept it and then you add to it. You can really apply that to basically everything."
"There's an egalitarian element to it, because they're on stage trying to make each other look good," said Becca Timmons, a troupe member and second co-owner (Laynie Gibson is the third). Chemistry is crucial.
"When we're looking to add someone to the troupe, we have to click not only on a comedic level and improviser level, but all the way down to a human level," Timmons said. "You have to almost implicitly trust these people. They're my friends. Trust is huge, and that bond is huge. And just like with a new relationship, you gotta work it. So we meet once a week to rehearse, and we have meals together, and you try to keep that connection. We just feed off of each other. It's just an absolute blast."
HOW THEY GOT THE BUG
No member of Improvable Cause didn't grow up enamored with some form of comedy, and it likely boiled down to whatever reruns were showing on cable TV.
Hardy grew up on sketch comedy: "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), "In Living Color" and "Mad TV." A naturally goofy person, she earned some of her first laughs as a kid impersonating SNL characters, namely the Jewish woman named Linda Richman from a sketch with Mike Myers called "Linda Richman's Coffee Talk."
"My uncle was doing this character around the house in front of people, and I started doing it— and I did it better than him," Hardy said. "Then I came up with my own characters after that."
Hardy considers herself a "highly physical" and silly comedian, and she's still big on characters.
"My go-to character is usually an old lady; it just comes out," Hardy said. "Everyone knows, in my troupe, that as soon as I hunch over, I'm about to be an old lady. Is she Jewish or is she Italian?"
Her senior prediction in high school was that she'd someday play the little sister to Mary Katherine Gallagher, another fictional character on SNL. Today, she's a professional improv comedian, and the longest standing member (with no breaks) of Improvable Cause.
Involved with community theater her entire life, Hardy started improv at 19 after being invited by troupe member Cole Dickson. She's almost 39 now.
"I joke that it's been the longest relationship of my life," Hardy said. "I fell into this, and I just never stopped. It's become part of my life. Speaking for some of my troupe members, they need it. They need to do improv; it's their outlet. They have a serious day job, and this is what they do to let off steam, or they have anxiety and improv helps with that. There's so many different reasons why people do it."
Like Hardy, troupe member Michael Daw dreamt of making it to SNL. He remembers spending his last summer of high school before entering the professional world watching SNL reruns and "Kids in the Hall" on Comedy Central.
He was actually dissuaded from improv at a youth church camp, when during a role-playing game, he got stuck portraying the role of a local pastor he'd never met and no one would switch characters with him.
"It was really embarrassing and cringey, and I was like, 'I'm never doing that again,'" Daw said.
Spoiler alert: He did.
After spending a good chunk of time in the music scene, Daw finally indulged his interest in doing sketches with Kitty Get A Job; he still performs with the Pensacola comedy group.
Top Row: Cole Dickson, Becca Timmons, Colleen Timmons, Laynie Gibson and Topher Warren. Bottom Row: Rachel Earl, Michael Daw and Brooke Hardy / Photo by Geoff Peck (@tinyobservations)
Improvable Cause is an improv troupe in Pensacola, Florida—not to be confused with a local murder mystery group of a similar name.
That was also where he also met people from Improvable Cause and joined it, too. He describes his improv comedy style as "poo poo, pee pee."
"We always talk about playing to the top of our intelligence and really trying to be smart about the jokes, but sometimes you get up there and a poop joke just kills," Daw said.
Timmons, a Pensacola native, watched a lot of stand-up comedy and sitcoms. She's a big fan of the show "30 Rock," as well as comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
"I mean, it sounds almost trite at this point, but they were huge for women in comedy," Timmons said. "And of course, they all got their start as improvisers."
Timmons decided to give improv a shot on a bit of a whim after finishing school. She decided to do something for herself, which translated to the summer intensive ImprovOlympic.
"At the ripe age of 26, I was like, 'I'm going to get into improv,'" Timmons said. "I did that for six weeks, and I just absolutely got the bug."
She later returned to Pensacola and found Improvable Cause in 2019 through a Google search. The rest is history.
Improvable Cause isn't always on Saturdays, but it's their SNL.
"One of our former directors used to always say, 'As soon as you start getting paid for something you do, that makes you professional,'" Hardy said. "I had this realization in my early thirties [of] like, 'I don't have to leave Pensacola.' You can do what you want no matter where you are, if you just want to create. I'm not looking to make my living doing comedy or anything like that; I have a day job like everybody else. But that doesn't mean you can't still do stuff that's meaningful."
HITTING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Improv is imperfect. But it's the uncertainty that makes it fun, Timmons said.
"More often than not, we shock ourselves when it works and when something's funny and pithy and something smart comes out of it," Timmons said. "It's making those logical connections on the fly that makes it really, really fun and challenging. And honestly, it kind of rewires yourself as a person a little bit, makes you a much more active listener."
While some pre-show jitters are normal, they don't last long for Timmons.
"Knowing I'm on stage with my troupe members and I'm in my hometown; people came out at 10:30 at night to see me—they want to see improv; they want to be here, so I want to be here," Timmons said. "At that point, I'm just looking to have a good time. And when I have a good time, I find the crowd has a good time. When the troupe is hitting on all cylinders, and the crowd is generous with their laughter, and the crowd is on board, it's almost relaxing at that point. It's almost zen. Whatever sweaty palms or apprehension you have, it goes away very quickly."
Improvable Cause's main longstanding show is short-form improv similar to the style of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" It's composed of short games based on audience suggestions, usually with a rule or gimmick their troupe is known for, Hardy said.
Hardy acknowledges improv shows get a bad rap.
"'Oh, you want to come to my improv show?' is almost like a cliche they make fun of," Hardy said. "It's in comedy TV shows like that
means you're going to go see something terrible. The last thing most people want to do is go watch someone's improv show, but it's kind of funny, because we're actually not bad at it."
The worst-case scenario for improv, though, is "surprise improv," Daw explained. Being sure to mention they'll say "yes" to just about anything that pays, he references a corporate team-building event they did once on Pensacola Beach.
"They did not tell any of these people what we were about to do, and we went up there and did a 30-minute set with no laugh, no response from the audience at all, and it was awkward and cringey," Daw said. "If you're familiar with 'King of the Hill,' it was like doing a show for a room full of Hank Hills, who are kind of humorless and really are only there to learn about propane. But it made the troupe closer to go through that."
Per Daw's request, Improvable Cause recently started experimenting with long-form improv more similar to "Upright Citizens Brigade" or The Second City improv comedy enterprise, Hardy said. They started last December when Kevin McDonald from "Kids in the Hall" came to Pensacola for a show at The Handlebar and asked them to join.
"We're like, 'OK, let's practice it. Let's give it a shot,'" Hardy said. "Maybe it would flop. We didn't know. It actually went really well."
Those shows are called Cheese for the Table, which is an inside joke, Hardy said, The next one is being planned for Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Improvable Cause also hosts regular workshops for people who want to try their hand at improv, and they have one coming up Saturday, Jan. 18.
During those workshops, they often share a quote by Del Close, who is largely considered the father of improv. It's something to the effect of "Fall, and figure out what you're going to do on the way down," Hardy said.
"You just have to be super vulnerable and be willing to react to the unexpected," Hardy said. "A lot of people think like, 'Oh, I could never do that.' It's not as hard as people think. I think people tell themselves they can't do it because they're scared of being vulnerable and of making mistakes. Oftentimes, people who are naturally perfectionists don't want to do improv things because they have to put themselves in a situation where they're not gonna have a right answer right away, or they may mess up."
Their audience loves it when they mess up, she said.
"People just really, really laugh, and we all need to laugh, right?" Hardy said. "Things got really serious [during Covid] ... But sometimes I'm just like, 'Dang, the world is too serious and bleak, and we all just need to get together and laugh sometimes.'" {in}
IMPROVABLE CAUSE DECEMBER SHOW
WHAT: An improv comedy show that happens the first Saturday of each month (usually)
WHEN: 10:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7
WHERE: The Clark Family Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St.
COST: $10
DETAILS: improvablecause.com, pensacolalittletheatre.com
Talking Eco-Conscious Creativity with Saturday Sun Arts & Entertainment
feathers, his designs are intricately textured and alive with fish scales and butterfly wings so finely detailed they seem to leap off the print.
videos from an artist on Instagram and started talking to my dad about it, because he used to do printmaking and etchings on copper plates. He always told me how much he loved it and encouraged me to just give it a try. I loved how hands-on it was, and inking up a block for the first time and seeing my design come to life was magical."
As a self-taught artist, Dykzeul developed his skills through trial and error, learning to carve sharp, precise edges and mastering the tools of the trade. His process begins with brainstorming ideas, sketching designs on paper or digitally, then transferring them onto blocks. From there, he carves away the negative space, checking his progress with test prints along the way to ensure every detail is just right.
new artistic mediums. Dykzeul brainstorms and bounces new design ideas off fellow creators in the family, and his parents even helped design his business logo and branding.
"My parents met in college doing graphic design then formed their own firm, so they've spent their entire careers side by side working together. It's always been inspiring to me seeing them create and work together," he said. "Their resilience is also inspiring. They've had to relearn so much since learning graphic design in the 80s, back when it was hands-on cutting and layering. It's always been nice having the space to follow my creative dreams knowing my parents support me and don't see art as unproductive or unimportant."
"I've always been very in tune with the natural environment," Dykzeul shared. "Growing up on the West Coast and going to college in Oregon, this climate is completely new to me. I'm still adjusting to the heat and humidity when I go hiking, but I take a lot of inspiration from the Pensacola environment. My coastal and marine life prints always resonate with people. I love creating pieces that make others happy and help them bring nature into their homes."
That love for nature and sustainability is central to his art practice. His medium of choice, linocut printing, offers him the flexibility to produce multiple works of art from a single carved block, and linoleum is made from natural, renewable materials. Dykzeul also frequently prints on thrifted or vintage clothing, breathing new life into preloved pieces while reducing waste.
"Whenever I have time, I'll thrift for pieces that speak to me or that I think will print well; natural fibers like denim are my favorites because they hold the design beautifully," he said.
busy creating: perfecting his market setup, designing winter greeting cards, brainstorming a special print lineup for PensaPride and gearing up to launch an online store.
"More than anything, I just want to put love and happiness out in the world," he concluded. "Despite being in a more conservative area, I always fly a Pride flag at the front of my booth. I think that's paramount to me as an artist—to make sure people know regardless of where you are, there's always a space for you." {in}
SATURDAY SUN @saturday.sun.art
SATURDAY SUN DECEMBER MARKET SCHEDULE
•Friday, Dec. 6: Gary's Brewery
•Saturday, Dec. 7: Holiday Market at the Maritime Park
•Saturday, Dec. 14: Pensacola Arts Market
•Friday, Dec. 20: Gallery Night
•Sunday, Dec. 22: Gary's Brewery
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
SAVE OUR SHELTERS SILENT AUCTION
Shop the Save Our Shelters silent auction and help support low cost spay and neuter for dogs. The silent auction runs until 4 p.m. Dec. 7. Bidders can see the themed mini trees, gift baskets and artwork at Dieux Spa, 4400 Bayou Blvd., Ste. 54, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information please contact sossaveourshelters@gmail.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 ADOP -
TION 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 (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
HOLIDAY WREATH WORKSHOP Join Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel's florist for a step-by-step guide to creating your own holiday wreath 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the hotel, 400 Bayfront Parkway. Sign up at stayoysterbay.com.
SISTER ACT JR. Dixon After Hours Performing Arts Academy presents its fall production
of "Sister Act Jr.: The Musical." Dates are 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 and 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, 1201 N. H St. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the
Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., will host a German Winter Market, 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Details at facebook.
PENSACOLA BEACH LIGHTED BOAT PA-
The annual lighted boat parade will set sail 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 from Sabine Marina and make its way around Santa Rosa Sound. Directly following the boat parade, Santa will make his way to the Quietwater Shell on the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to greet children, followed by a brief firework display. Spectators can watch from Little Sabine or Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. Details at facebook.com/pensacolabeachchamber.
FLORA-BAMA SANTA DROP Annual event takes place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. Santa's skydive arrival takes place at noon. Event is free.
CHRISTMAS GALA AT PENSACOLA
LIGHTHOUSE Enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and games, and get a picture with Santa 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2081 Radford Blvd. Event is free.
ST. CHRISTOPHER'S CHRISTMAS CARAVAN
ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW Event is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3200 N. 12th Ave. Details at facebook.com/christmascarvan.
MATT MATHEWS: BOUGIE ON A BUDGET
Comedy show is 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.
HOLIDAY MARKET AT COMMUNITY
MARITIME PARK Shop numerous tent/craft vendors with kids' activities and live music 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at 35 W. Cedar St. Details at apexshowsandevents.com.
SURFIN' SANTA BEACH PARADE The
annual Surfin' Santa Beach Parade is 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 starting from Avenida 10. The parade will make its way down Via De Luna toward Casino Beach and end at Gulfside Pavilion. Details at facebook.com/pensacolabeachchamber.
TOM SEGURA Watch comedian Tom Segura 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets available at pensacolabaycenter.com.
NITRO CIRCUS Watch this holiday-themed stunt and trick show 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are available at pensacolabaycenter.com.
GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING PAWTY
Event is 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Tickets are $25 and include all supplies, a visit with adoptable cats and your choice of hot cocoa or apple cider. Details at coastalcatpcola.com.
WINTER WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP Visit
The Loft at Mercantile, 2 Intendencia St., for a guided workshop for all skill levels. Event is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. Details at rustedarrowmercantile.com/events.
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 (850) 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 equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
BODY,
MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
SOUND BITE DINNER Pop-up dinner with six unique dishes from Chef Nick Brune accompanied by live music. Dinner is 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $95 and available at facebook. com/bodaciousshops.
ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS The next Atlas Beverage Class features Rollins Distillery. Classes are 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Tickets are $30 per person. Reserve your spot by calling (850) 2870200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.
TRASH PANDA PARTY: ERIN'S EMO FAREWELL A farewell party for Erin with a beer release and emo music 7-11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
STREET FOODS: CHINESE This Pensacola Cooks Cooking Class is 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C. Cost is $60 per student (adults only). Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classes-and-events.
THE DINNER DETECTIVE COMEDY MYSTERY DINNER SHOW Event is 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Hilton Garden Inn, 8 S. Ninth Ave. Tickets available at thedinnerdetective.com.
100 MILE DINNER: 100% LOCAL COMMUNAL FEAST Farm to table dinner is 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Gather, A Culinary Collective, 41 S. Navy Blvd. Details at pensacolacatering6.wordpress.com/the-100-mile-dinner.
COASTAL COUNTY BREWING PO' BOY PARTY Event is 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Rd. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com.
DECK THE HALLS: A HOLIDAY LUNCH EVENT Enjoy a special menu and live music from Pensacola Opera for this holiday event. Seatings are 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 7, 14 and
21 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Reserve your spot by calling (850) 469-9898 or visiting jacksonsrestaurant.com.
SANTA PUB CRAWL O'Riley's Irish Pub hosts its 12th Annual Santa Pub Crawl starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at O'Riley's, 321 S. Palafox St. General admission is $10 with an unwrapped toy donation. VIP tickets are $35 with an unwrapped toy. Get a limited edition t-shirt, enjoy a live DJ at the afterparty and more. Visit orileyspub.com for details and tickets.
VINO MAGNIFICO The next Vino Magnifico is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 located at 29 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $18 per person. RSVP at vpauls.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-in-downtown-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 accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of 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.
a&e happenings
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
HIRS COLLECTIVE Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Details at thehandlebar850.com.
RADIOLIVE The December show features Pat Byrne, Kelly Hunt and Tina & Her Pony. Show is 6
p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.org.
MAGNIFICAT Choral Society of Pensacola's holiday program including familiar carols and selections from Handel's "Messiah." Show is 7:309 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at 1212 E. Moreno St. Tickets available at choralsocietyofpensacola.org.
PARTY ICONIC PRESENTS: CHARLI PARTI
Event is 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets at partyiconic.com.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SHINING BRIGHT
CONCERT Join the Pensacola Bay Concert Band 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 for "Christmas Lights Shining Bright," a Christmas concert and carol sing-along in the Henry Roberts Activity Center at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Admission is free with the donation of a non-perishable food item which will be donated to Manna Food Pantry.
EMILY NENNI, JARRED MCCONNELL
AND THE HIGH ACES Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
SUMAC, KOWLOON WALLED CITY, TRIG -
GER OBJECT Show is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.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.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY
Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE
QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern. com for details.
OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY
Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.
KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Karaoke is 9 p.m. Wednesdays at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.
KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Wisteria Tavern hosts karaoke 7 p.m. Wednesdays at 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.
WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
KARAOKE NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S Bring your singing talents Monday and Thursday nights at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Festivities are 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
HAPPY HOUR LIVE MUSIC AT O'RILEY'S Drink specials and live music are 4-7 p.m. Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Sunday at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
KARAOKE NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Details are at orileyspub.com.
LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.
FITNESS + RECREATION
NAIA WOMEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
The 2024 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship will be played in Pensacola through Dec. 9 with games at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex, 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Dr. For more information, visit pensacolasports. org/naia-w-soccer-championship.
OCEAN HOUR CLEAN UPS Ocean Hour
Clean Ups are Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and buckets. Next event is Saturday, Dec. 7 at Naval Live Oaks in Gulf Breeze and Bob Sikes Bridge (South end). For more information, visit oceanhourfl.com.
PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS Games are at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and information are at pensacolabaycenter.com. Upcoming dates:
•7:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6
•7:05 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21
PUBLIC ICE SKATE Tickets are $15 for adults and kids with skate rental or $12 for adults and kids with their own skates. Season passes and private sessions are also available. Skate sessions are located at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Upcoming dates:
•9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21
57TH ANNUAL SNOWBALL DERBY Watch the 300-laps late model stock car races Thursday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 8 at Five Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road. Details available at 5flagsspeedway.com.
WINTER WONDER RIDE The ninth annual holiday slow ride and bike build is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 starting from Museum Plaza, 120 S. Church St. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
YOGA UNCORKED AT 5ELEVEN Yoga classes are 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 5eleven, 511 S. Palafox St., with Disko Lemonade running the class. Register at diskolemonade.com.
YOGA WITH MARNI AT HA-YA Visit Ha-Ya Wellness for integrative yoga with Marni 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of the month at 4301 Spanish Trail Road. Visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary for more information.
SIP AND STRETCH YOGA Yoga class for all levels is Sundays through 2024 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Class starts at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $18 for a one-hour class followed by a complimentary beverage. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.
HOOK, LINE & SINKER MONTHLY FISHING SEMINAR SERIES Hot Spots Charters hosts a monthly free fishing seminar the first Monday every month at Flounder's Chowder House, 800 Quietwater Beach Road on Pensacola Beach. A free fish dinner is 6:30 p.m. with the seminar at 7 p.m. and typically lasts about an hour. Visit facebook.com/hlsseminar for details.
TIKI TUESDAY SUNSET YOGA Take in a slow flow yoga class led by Donna Dickey 6:30
p.m. Tuesdays at Sneaky Tiki Bar, 17 Via De Luna Dr. Cost is $15 to drop in and includes a drink. For details, visit iamabode.com.
LIVE JAZZ AND SWING DANCING From 6:30-11 p.m. the first Friday of each month, enjoy a live band for dancing Lindy, Foxtrot, East Coast and West Coast Swing. This is a fun, friendly atmosphere with lessons for all levels and no partner required. Location is at The Way You Move Dance Studio, 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $15. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.
WEST COAST SWING DANCE Join the fun
6:30-10 p.m. Wednesdays for $5 and 6:30-11 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month for $10. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. More information at thewayyoumove.us.
BALLROOM, LATIN, SWING DANCE From 6:30-11 p.m. the second Saturday of each month, enjoy a mix of music for all dancers. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio is at 918 Winton Ave. The cost is $10. More information is at thewayyoumove.us.
PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pensacola Rec Plex North Parkrun is 7:30 a.m. Saturdays. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is free and open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com.
KID-FRIENDLY
THE POLAR EXPRESS PAJAMA PARTY
Watch "The Polar Express" on the Giant Screen Theater at National Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., 2 p.m. every Sunday through Dec. 22. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. Each kid will receive a complimentary hot chocolate and cookie. Tickets are $10 per person. Children 4 and under are free admission. Visitors without a Department of Defense identification card must enter the base via the West Gate located off Blue Angel Parkway. Details at facebook.com/navalaviationmuseum.
SCIENCE SATURDAYS AT IHMC Science Saturdays returns offering 90-minute enrichment sessions at IHMC, 40 S. Alcaniz St. Programs are for kids in grades 3-6. Grades 3 and 4 attend the 9-10:30 a.m. session and grades 5 and 6 attend the 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. session. Dates and programs are Dec. 14 with bottle rockets. Registration begins two weeks prior to each session. Visit ihmc.us/life/ science_saturdays for details.
BROWNSVILLE COMMUNITY CENTER
PERFORMING ARTS CLUB For ages 8-18, this club is an opportunity for all aspiring actors, dancers, singers, rappers and musicians. The club meets 11:30 a.m. Saturdays at Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. For more information, contact Leroy Williams at (850) 426-1156 or email lewilliams@myescambia.com.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF DECEMBER 5
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Blaming others for our problems is rarely helpful. If we expend emotional energy focusing on how people have offended and hurt us, we diminish our motivation to heal ourselves. We may also get distracted from changing the behavior that ushered us into the mess. So yes, it's wise to accept responsibility for the part we have played in propagating predicaments. However, I believe it's also counterproductive to be relentlessly serious about this or any other psychological principle. We all benefit from having mischievous fun as we rebel against tendencies we have to be dogmatic and fanatical. That's why I am authorizing you to celebrate a good-humored Complaint Fest. For a limited time only, feel free to unleash fantasies in which you uninhibitedly and hilariously castigate everyone who has done you wrong.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): What you are experiencing may not be a major, earthshaking rite of passage. But it's sufficiently challenging and potentially rewarding to qualify as a pivotal breakthrough and turning point. And I'm pleased to say that any suffering you're enduring will be constructive and educational. You may look back at this transition as a liberating initiation. You will feel deep gratification that you have clambered up to a higher level of mastery through the power of your intelligent love and feisty integrity.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): You are now about halfway between your last birthday and next birthday. In the prophecy industry, we call this your Unbirthday Season. It is usually a time when you receive an abundance of feedback— whether you want it or not. I encourage you to want it! Solicit it. Even pay for it. Not all of it will be true or useful, of course, but the part that is true and useful will be very much so. You could gather a wealth of information that will help you fine-tune your drive for success and joy in the months to come.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Legend tells us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating beneath the Bodhi Tree in Bihar, India. He was there for many weeks.
By Rob Brezsny
At one point, a huge storm came and pelted the sacred spot with heavy rain. Just in time, the King of Serpents arrived, a giant cobra with a massive hood. He shielded the Buddha from the onslaught for the duration. Now I am predicting that you, too, will receive an unexpected form of protection and nurturing in the coming weeks. Be ready to open your mind about what help looks and feels like. It may not be entirely familiar.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In written form, the Japanese term "oubaitori" is comprised of four kanji, or characters. They denote four fruit trees that bloom in the spring: cherry, plum, peach and apricot. Each tree's flowers blossom in their own sweet time, exactly when they are ready, neither early nor late. The poetic meaning of oubaitori is that we humans do the same: We grow and ripen at our own unique pace. That's why it's senseless to compare our rate of unfoldment to anyone else's. We each have our own timing, our own rhythm. These ideas are especially apropos for you right now, Leo.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): I hope you will hunker down in your bunker. I hope you will junk all defunct versions of your spunky funkiness and seek out fresh forms of spunky funkiness. In other words, Virgo, I believe it's crucial for you to get as relaxed and grounded as possible. You have a mandate to explore ultimate versions of stability and solidity. Shore up your foundations, please. Grow deeper roots. Dig down as deep as you can to strengthen and tone your relationship with the core of your being.
likely to be consistently faithful to your ideals. Your actual effects on people will closely match your intended effects. The American idiom is, "Do you practice what you preach?" I expect the answer to that question will be "yes" as it pertains to you.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Author George Orwell advised us that if we don't analyze and understand the past, we are likely to repeat the mistakes of the past. Alas, few people take heed. Their knowledge of our collective history is meager, as is their grasp of recurring trends in their personal lives. But now here's the good news, dear Scorpio: In the coming months, you will have exceptional power to avoid replicating past ignorance and errors—if you meditate regularly on the lessons available through a close study of your life story.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In his song "Voodoo Child," Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix brags, "Well, I stand up next to a mountain / And I chop it down with the edge of my hand." I encourage you to unleash fantasies like that in the coming days, Sagittarius. Can you shoot lightning bolts from your eyes? Sure you can. Can you change water into wine? Fly to the moon and back in a magic boat? Win the Nobel Prize for Being Yourself? In your imagination, yes you can. And these exercises will prime you for an array of more realistic escapades, like smashing a mental block, torching an outmoded fear and demolishing an unnecessary inhibition or taboo. To supercharge your practical power, intensify your imagination's audacity.
soul's health, refine your practice of the art of creative rebellion.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Be like a beautifully made fountain that people love to visit, Aquarius. Not like a metaphorical geyser or stream or waterfall out in the natural world, but a three-tiered marble fountain. What does that entail? Here are hints. The water of the fountain cascades upward, but not too high or hard, and then it showers down gently into a pool. Its flow is steady and unflagging. Its sound is mellifluous and relaxing. The endless dance of the bubbles and currents is invigorating and calming, exuberant and rejuvenating. Be like a fountain.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Every one of us is a hypocrite at least some of the time. Now and then, we all ignore or outrightly violate our own high standards. We may even engage in behavior that we criticize in others. But here's the good news for you, Libra. In the coming weeks and months, you may be as unhypocritical as you have ever been. According to my analysis of the astrological, omens, you are
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): The name of my column is "Free Will Astrology" because I aspire to nurture, inspire and liberate your free will. A key component in that effort is to help you build your skills as a critical thinker. That's why I encourage you to question everything I tell you. Don't just assume that my counsel is always right and true for you. Likewise, I hope you are discerning in your dealings with all teachers, experts and leaders—especially in the coming weeks and months. You are in a phase of your cycle when it's even more crucial than usual to be a good-natured skeptic who poses exuberant, penetrating questions. To serve your
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Around this time of year, persimmon trees in my neighborhood have shed their leaves but are teeming with dazzling orange fruits. Pomegranate trees are similar. Their leaves have fallen off but their red fruits are ready to eat. I love how these rebels offer their sweet, ripe gifts as our winter season approaches. They remind me of the current state of your destiny, Pisces. Your gorgeous fertility is waxing. The blessings you have to offer are at a peak. I invite you to be extra generous as you share your gifts with those who are worthy of them—and maybe even a few who aren't entirely worthy.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What can you make or do in 2025 that you have never made or done before? Start dreaming. {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Parents and teachers at Gosho Kodomo-en kindergarten in southwestern Japan thought for sure someone with a footwear fetish was swiping little shoes from cubbies at the school, the Associated Press reported. Police installed three cameras in the school, and on Nov. 11, zeroed in on another culprit: a weasel. "It's great it turned out not to be a human being," said Deputy Police Chief Hiroaki Inada. The stolen shoes have not been found, but the school has installed a net over the cubbies to keep the weasel, who is still on the loose, out.
EWWWWW Los Angeles is known for many things, but perhaps its most ignominious claim to fame is being the "clogged capital" of the United States on "Brown Friday"—the day after Thanksgiving, when plumbers nationally go out on emergency calls 65% more often than on other Fridays. Analysis by Yelp showed that plumbing-related searches went up 73% in L.A., followed by 37% in Miami, United Press International reported. RotoRooter said the most common problem areas were kitchen sinks, toilets and garbage disposals.
•Looking for a different type of pizza than the standard pepperoni or sausage? At Pizza Hut restaurants in China, customers are being offered deep-fried frogs on top of their pies, the Independent reported on Nov. 21. The pizza has a thick crust with red sauce and basil, with a whole fried bullfrog on top. The limited-time variety is being offered in a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons and is called "Goblin Pizza."
RUDE Starting on Jan. 1, the Garden of Remembrance cemetery in Stoke-on-Trent, England, will welcome visitors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the Stoke Sentinel reported. But should family members want to visit at other times, they'll be required to buy a VIP pass for 5 pounds (or 10 pounds, if they also want to visit the rose garden). "Now I need to pay a membership fee to visit my dad's grave," groused Jode Bourne, whose father, Mark, is buried there. "This is an absolute disgrace." A posted notice says the new rules will make "the site secure for our staff, families and visitors."
•A prop gravestone for Ebenezer Scrooge, left behind after a 1984 movie adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" starring George C. Scott, was smashed on Nov. 24, the BBC reported. The cemetery next to St. Chad's Church in Shrewsbury, England, was part of the scene where Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come; much of the movie was filmed there. Town council clerk Helen Ball said the stone is "in multiple pieces. I think it's one of those things that's very dear to everybody's hearts." She said the council would determine whether the stone could be repaired.
NO GOOD DEED ... Nigel Carter, 64, of Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, collected 500 bikes to send to a charity in Sudan that helps people who need cheap transportation to school or work, the BBC reported on Nov. 22. But a Scottish Environment
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
Protection Agency inspector said the shipment could not leave the port because some of the bikes needed minor repairs, such as oil on chains and new brake cables. Carter said he found it "ludicrous" that the bikes were returned to him. A SEPA official said he had a duty to ensure that Scotland's waste was not dumped on another country, but Carter said the Sudanese charity had picked out the bikes and were happy with their condition. They will likely be returned to the recycling center where they came from and scrapped.
IT'S A MYSTERY George Oliver of Calvert County, Maryland, often walks the beach looking for fossils, NBC News reported. As he strolled along Chesapeake Bay on Nov. 4 during low tide, he spotted a coffin in the water. Inside was a nearly whole human skeleton. Oliver removed the skeleton and dug the mostly submerged coffin out of the water. "When I first found it," he said, "you could not tell that there was human remains. You just thought that it was full of beach sand." Oliver called the sheriff's department, who called an archaeological society. Based on the construction of the coffin and the condition of the body, it's believed to be at least 100 years old. Kelcey Ward, a crime scene technician with the sheriff's office, said the skull showed signs of "a gunshot wound or blunt force trauma of some sort." The remains and coffin will be interred at a local cemetery.
THE PASSING PARADE Have you ever really loved a car? The Polara family of Padarshinga Village in India REALLY loved their 18-year-old Suzuki Wagon R, Oddity Central reported. They believed the hatchback to be their lucky car, so when it burned its last gallon of gas, they gave it a special send-off: a lavish burial ceremony attended by more than 1,500 guests. The Polaras had a 15-foot-deep hole dug on their property, then had the car, covered with flowers and decorated with garlands, lowered into it as music played. The ceremony included several rituals and cost the Polaras more than $4,500. "This car was more than just a vehicle," Sanjay Polara said. "It was part of our journey toward success." He plans to plant a tree over the grave as a marker.
NEWS YOU CAN USE Looking for a torture method even more sinister than sitting across from your politically outspoken cousin at the holiday dinner table? LAD Bible reported on Nov. 21 that an Italian monk, Franciscus Brunus de San Severino, described "goat's tongue" in his 1502 treatise on torture methods—but it's not entirely clear whether the medieval practice actually took place. It involves soaking the subject's feet in saltwater, then securing them in a stock and letting a goat lick them to the point of peeling and bleeding. The torture method, which may date back to ancient Rome, could have resulted in death from infection. {in}
