V-Day Pensacola Independent News | February 11, 2016 | Volume 17 | Number 7 | inweekly.net
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winners & losers 4
outtakes 5
news
buzz 8
6, 7
I could stand to work with her for another 200 years.
a&e
cover story
15
13
22
publisher Rick Outzen
art director Richard Humphreys
editor & creative director Joani Delezen
contributing writers Duwayne Escobedo, Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Emily Richey, Chuck Shepherd, Shelby Smithey
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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. Š 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
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MESS Hall is partnering with Global Learning Academy to plant the seeds of creativity through hands-on science activities with TE-C (Tinker-Explore-Create) Studio. Disney supports this initiative through a Creativity Garden grant, a nationwide project of the Association of Science-Technology Centers. This grant program aims to cultivate young minds to think creatively.
BAPTIST HEALTH CARE The health
care system announced a new $6-million investment in Pensacola International Airport Commerce Park. The Baptist Medical Park-Airport will feature Andrews Institute for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute, Baptist Medical Group primary and specialty physicians, imaging and lab services. It will also provide urgent care for minor illnesses and injuries.
HAROLD E. ‘HAL’ MARCUS The Uni-
versity of West Florida received the largest gift from a living donor in its history. Longtime supporter Hal Marcus allocated $5 million to the College of Science and Engineering. The College will be named the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering in his honor, marking it the University’s first named college.
WCOA The station celebrates its 90th anniversary this month. WCOA debuted Feb. 3, 1926 from Pensacola City Hall with City Clerk John E. Frenkel, Sr. as its first host. Its call letters stand for “Wonderful City of Advantages.”
PATRICK MURPHY The Democratic
Congressman from South Florida was dealt a blow in his bid for his party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate when his opponent received a big endorsement. Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, announced his support for Congressman Alan Grayson for the Democratic nomination to try to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio. Will the Kennedy magic work?
EDWARD SISSON The City of Pensacola’s
Chief Human Resources Officer apparently abolished the city’s independent personnel board that the city’s employee handbook established to hear the appeals of disciplinary decisions. Chief Human Resource Officer Sisson—you’ve got to love the titles some city officials give themselves—replaced it within himself and his boss, City Administrator Eric Olson. So much for a fair and nonbiased appeal process.
RED-LIGHT CAMERAS The City of
Gulf Breeze may have to take down its cameras on Highway 98. Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes' latest proposal to drive red-light cameras out of Florida squeezed through his committee last week. His bill would repeal the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act of 2010 and, as a result, prevent local governments from using the cameras for traffic enforcement. State numbers indicate that 75 jurisdictions operated red-light cameras in the most recently-completed fiscal year.
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New Listings, New Subdivision in Milton
outtakes
by Rick Outzen
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON
Pensacola City Councilman Larry Johnson believes the City of Pensacola should follow its CRA 2010 Master Plan. Inweekly agrees that the $200,000 two-volume plan shouldn't be shelved, and the time is right to revisit it. In his Jan. 31 PNJ viewpoint, "No $25,000 study is needed in our city," Johnson chastised his fellow council members for hiring Urban Design Associates to help draft a new Request for Proposals for the Hawkshaw property on South Ninth Avenue. His key point was the city already had paid for the CRA 2010 Master Plan that had recommendations for the site, which the consultant Looney Ricks Kiss described as "Aragon East." The top three redevelopment projects recommended by LRK and approved by the city council in 2010 were: Government Street Affordable Housing (between Coyle and Donelson Streets): Affordable/workforce housing development. ECUA Redevelopment: The development program prepared by LRK shows a build-out scenario totaling 1,535 residential units on the subject property and other adjacent property owned by the City of Pensacola. Bruce Beach Redevelopment site: Create a park focused on environmentally sustainable education within existing wetland areas, including private development of medium- and high-density, mixed-use buildings. The plan also highlighted the potential for redevelopment at the Technology Park, Com-
mendencia Slip, Bartram Park and the north end of the Port of Pensacola. The North End Redevelopment site is currently an unpaved surface parking lot and unimproved land located along the south waterfront of Seville Harbor. Development opportunities could include a new warehouse and office buildings to support the Port and a waterfront hotel and restaurants to support and activate Seville Harbor and the waterfront. The consultant suggested that structured parking should be considered. The city's track record of following its 2010 CRA redevelopment plan hasn't been stellar. Bruce Beach is the site of the proposed Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery and Enhancement Center. Mayor Ashton Hayward passed on the option of purchasing and developing the old ECUA site. The Studers now own it. Other than the announcement a couple years ago that Space Florida was planning to build at the Tech Park, there has been little news about the other redevelopment sites. In fact, I don't think the city has issued RFPs for any of the sites, except for Aragon East (Hawkshaw). The Pensacola City Council, Mayor Hayward and their staffs need to hold a workshop to update the CRA Master Plan and determine if any the redevelopment projects approved five years ago are still worthwhile. Thank you, Mr. Johnson, for bringing up the issue. {in}rick@inweekly.net
The city's track record of following its 2010 CRA redevelopment plan hasn't been stellar.
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PENSACOLA’S WEST SIDE TRANSFORMATION
Baptist Hospital / Photo by Richard Humphreys
By Duwayne Escobedo The west side of Pensacola aged badly. It went from a beauty mark as a center of prosperity and main corridor in Pensacola in the mid-20th century to a big, cracked wart on the end of a nose by the 1980s. Instead of being drawn to those neighborhoods, people and businesses began to flee. Chasing them away were crime, gangs, drugs, prostitution and trash-ridden, rundown neighborhoods. It had the reputation for becoming dangerous after dark. However, the west side has slowly begun going down the path of rejuvenation. There are new businesses, such as CVS and Walgreens. New community centers, such as the $3 million Theophalis May Neighborhood Resource Center opened in 2014 at Legion Field. Affordable housing, such as Morris Court, have undergone renovations. And churches, such as Greater Little Rock, have come back
bigger and better following a tornado that destroyed it in 2007. Now, Baptist Health Care plans to redevelop about two blocks or six acres of its property south of its main hospital on E Street. The land, which is bordered by E and G streets and West Moreno and West Blount streets, is seen as another catalyst for West Side revitalization in the surrounding mostlypoor and majority-black neighborhoods. Baptist, considered a community anchor as one of the largest employers in Pensacola, is teaming with the city and county on the redevelopment project. Ideas for the site unveiled on Feb. 1 include: •A three-story, 40,000-square-foot building that would have office space to house Baptist’s administration. The ground floor would include a restaurant, coffee shop or retail. •Green space with shade, sitting areas, a walking path and possibly a public plaza.
•A community garden where area residents could grow fruit, vegetables and other food. •Fields for soccer, lacrosse or other public events, such as concerts. Other ideas thrown out during the public envisioning session included housing for Baptist employees, a fitness center, a gift shop and occupational retail for doctors and nurses. “I’m passionate about Pensacola, and I’m passionate about this community we’re located in,” said John Porter, a Baptist executive who moved here 25 years ago. “We want to be a good neighbor. This is the beginning of great things to come.” Richard Martz, partner and principal of the Montreal-based Live Work Learn Play, led the public meeting attended by about two dozen residents and community leaders, including Pensacola City Councilwoman Jewel Cannada-Wynn. Martz said the company, which began the West Moreno District project in 2014, plans to hold another public meeting at the end of March to reveal more detailed plans for the redevelopment. He admitted the location does have storm water runoff issues. “Neighborhood change happens incrementally with singles and doubles,” Martz said. “It sets the tone.” He added: “You want a nice entrance to your house. Hopefully, this can start to affect change in the community and lead to different perceptions people might have of this part of town. I hope it starts a pattern of reinvestment here on the west side.” Residents and community leaders expressed excitement about future plans. Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May, who grew up in Morris Court, called for more public-private partnerships like the one with Baptist. Like Martz, he
would also like to see private entities take steps to return to the west side on their own and help in the longtime redevelopment efforts. “Yes, we have serious challenges that exist,” May said. “Still, I hoped progress would be quicker than it has been.” Greater Little Rock Rev. Lonnie Wesley expressed excitement about Baptist Hospital’s plans. His church was rebuilt after a tornado strike in 2007. “I love what Baptist is doing, and I love every effort I see on the west side and Cervantes corridor,” the pastor said. “A better west side of Pensacola will only lead to a better Pensacola.” Lisa Ashcraft, who took over Oscar’s Restaurant in 2015, has repainted the outside of the iconic west side eatery and put up old world decals to improve the look of the business that has survived on Cervantes since 1946. “This area has a huge amount of potential,” she said. “It’s important folks focus on the potential of what this area can be and not just what they see. We are working feverishly to make sure we stay viable.” Sammy Savage, a longtime resident of the west side who attended Baptist’s public hearing, praised the public-private partnership for consulting with the public on building a safe and comfortable place. “I like that you are not trying to displace residents,” he said. “You want to keep the community involved, which I think is good.” While Ashcraft, Wesley and others hope new development can help increase property values, they realize housing is also a major problem that needs to be addressed for the west side to experience a future renaissance. “It’s going to have to be baby steps,” Ashcraft said. {in}
“A better west side of Pensacola will only lead to a better Pensacola.” Lonnie Wesley
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PENSACOLA FIRE DEPARTMENT COUP D'ÉTAT
Pensacola Fire Station #1 / Courtesy Photo
By Rick Outzen On Feb. 2, Pensacola Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joe Glover, whose combined experience in the Pensacola Fire Department is more than 50 years, were placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. The two men were not told what the investigation concerned. A week later, Schmitt and Glover have yet to hear anything more from the city. Their names have been removed from the city’s web page on the fire department that now has message from “(Acting) Interim Chief” David Allen. Deputy Chief Glover visited with Inweekly and described how he was informed of the leave. He said that Chief Matt Schmitt called him the prior week while he was on military training at Keelser AFB in Biloxi, Miss. He is a senior master sergeant in the Air Force reserves.
City Administrator Eric Olson wanted to meet with him and Schmidt, who has been the acting fire chief since 2010. The meeting was eventually scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. in city hall. “We show up, and Tracy Walsh (from Human Resources) and Mr. Wilkins (Keith Wilkins, assistant city administrator) were waiting for us,” said Glover. “I never met Mr. Wilkins before. I knew Tracy. She looked really nervous and uncomfortable.” He asked where was Olson and was told he wouldn’t be attending since he and the HR director, Edward Sisson, were named in complaints. Glover explained to Inweekly that both he and Schmitt had recently filed Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints.
Glover’s complaint dealt with discrimination regarding his pay; Schmidt’s concerned retaliation by Olson and Sisson after the chief had told the city administrator that he felt Sisson was discriminating against Glover. According to Glover, Wilkins gave the two fire department leaders memos, asked them to read and then sign the documents. “The memos basically told us that we’re not to talk to anyone in the fire department, not to go the fire stations,” said Glover. “We had to give up our keys to all of the buildings, our fobs, anything that gave us access to anything in the city.” Glover added, “They just kept stressing this is non-disciplinary. They did everything but put hand cuffs on us.” He felt that Olson and Sisson were retaliating against him and his boss for filing the complaints. He believed they have tried to hurt his name. “One thing that hurts the most, on a personal note, is the one good thing, the best thing that my father left me was a good name,” he said. “My dad was a sharecropper up in South Carolina. He made something out of his life. He always kept a good name. He was a military man, and he was an alcohol and drug counselor, that’s what he did. He himself was addicted to alcohol at one time, so he turned his life around. What I got from all that is he was able to make a good name for himself, and that’s the best thing that he left for me, and that’s been stripped, all in one fell swoop. “ Glover had no idea what the city is investigating. “I’ve not done anything illegal. I’ve not done anything immoral. I’ve not done
“I guess my biggest fault is thinking and believing that justice will always prevail, but that’s not the case.” Joe Glover
anything unethical. I’ve done none of those things. I don’t know what it is that they’re looking for or what this investigations about.” Glover said that he and Schmitt asked for an administrative appeal. “And Mr. Wilkins just said it’s noted,” he told Inweekly. “That’s another issue, because the human resources manual has a whole section of the human resources manual that’s devoted to this appeals process. There’s no appeal board that’s been established. “ Two days after Glover and Schmitt were removed from the fire department, Inweekly downloaded the city’s human resource policy manual and found the appeal process had been changed. The independent personnel board had been eliminated, and the mayor was no longer the final authority on a disciplinary decision. Olson was. A few years ago, Glover and other African-American firefighters had unsuccessfully tried to sue over discriminatory practices inside the fire department. While the department has improved, the memories of those times linger. “I’ve been through this before. I’ve been retaliated against several times in my career,” he said. “Sometimes, well I try to take the high road, but at some point you have to take a stand. I guess my biggest fault is thinking and believing that justice will always prevail, but that’s not the case.” He added, “Unfortunately, people don’t care about playing by the rules. They don’t care about what the laws say. They don’t even care about what their own human resources manual says. I think there’s a thought that within the city, the administration, that if you’re an at-will employee that they can pretty much treat you how they want to. I’m just not one that will sit back and be mistreated.” According to news reports, an attorney has been hired to do the investigation. Olson declined an interview request from Inweekly to discuss the investigation and the changes to the appeal process. {in}
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OLSON’S TALE After refusing to answer questions from the News Journal and Inweekly, Pensacola City Administrator Eric Olson went on a local morning show to discuss why Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Chief Joe Glover had been placed on administrative leave. On News Radio 1620, the city administrator tried to decouple the investigation concerning Schmitt and Glover from the changes made in the city’s disciplinary appeal process. “If I can take you back, we obviously have two people placed on administrative leave,” said Olson. “At the same time, we have changed out HR manual. “ While he admitted that the timing of the two incidents appears “interesting,” they are not connected. He said, “They are linked in time, but they are not linked by any substantive or deliberative process that these two issues should somehow go together.” He said that last October the city had an employee going through the appeals process and realized that the personnel board listed in the manual hadn’t been established.
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“The personnel board was never established,” said Olson. “In order to get that to meet the right of this person to go before a personnel board, we had to establish one. That meant we had to get people nominated, you had to have a vote of the employees, all before this other individual could make it through the final step of the appeals process.” Nominations were received from the employees, and the election of the board members was to be Dec. 2, according to the city administrator. “As we were going through the process of establishing the personnel board, the original complaint was settled in late November,” he said. The city cancelled the board election on Dec. 1. Olson said the decision was then made to eliminate the personnel board. “We looked back and said, ‘Well why did we have a personnel board to begin with? Why is that in the HR manual?’ It's really a legacy from the old civil service,” he recalled.
“Civil service went away under the new charter,” said Olson. “What we had was this legacy HR procedure that we felt we don't need, and we can address the same concerns in a different more streamlined fashion and still give what we want to give every employee—which is a fair, equitable hearing if they've got an appeal.” In regards to the investigation, the city administrator said it concerns the EEOC complaints against him and the Chief Human Resources Officer Ed Sisson by Schmitt and Olson. “Any time the city receives an EEOC complaint, our insurance carrier is notified,” said Olson. “When our insurance carrier is notified, our insurance carrier then takes one of the attorneys that it has on retainer to check into the matter. In this case, it happened to be Rob Larkin from Allen, Norton & Blue." He said that Larkin advised that the fire chief and deputy chief be placed on admin-
“There is no punishment intended; it's just for the benefit of the investigation for all parties involved.” Eric Olson
istrative leave and the city retain an outside counsel to conduct an investigation. Olson and Sisson were allowed to continue at work. Olson did not explain why Schmitt and Glover weren't told the subject of the investigation. He repeated that the administrative leave was done on the advice of legal counsel. “There is no punishment intended; it's just for the benefit of the investigation for all parties involved,” he said. “To preserve the integrity of the investigation, that's the step that's taken.” Will the fire chief and deputy chief be reinstated once the investigation is complete? Olson said, “I think that's correct. That's the purpose. We separate everybody from the situation, we conduct a thorough investigation, and based on the results of that investigation and the recommendations that fall out of it ... That may be the ultimate outcome.” Editor’s note: The personnel board was not a “legacy HR procedure.” It was a commitment the city made to the Florida Legislature when it agreed to repeal the city’s civil service board in 2013, a few months before Olson was hired.
inweekly.net
We congratulate
gregory p. fayard on becoming our partner.
Mike Papantoni0 / Courtesy Photo
KILLER C8 CLOSING ARGUMENT Mike Papantonio of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A. led a trial team that won a $1.6 million award for Carla Bartlett of Guysville, Ohio this past October. The lawsuit alleged that C8, a chemical used to make Teflon, from a DuPont Co. plant contaminated drinking water and contributed to her contracting kidney cancer. For the paper’s article about Mass Tort cases (Inweekly, “Giant Killers,” Feb. 4), Papantonio talked about how a last-minute revelation may have been the key to the victory. “The night before we were to present our closing arguments, we're having drinks,” Mike Papantonio told Inweekly. “I've got my closing done, having been up probably 36 hours pulling everything together and making it succinct.” His co-counsel, Rob Bilott of the Ohiobased firm Taft Stettinius & Hollister, said to Papantonio, "You know, I was looking through the MSDS sheets." MSDA stands for “Material Safety Data Sheet,” which is a detailed information bulletin prepared by the manufacturer or importer of a chemical that describes the physical and chemical properties, physical and health hazards, routes of exposure, precautions for safe handling and use, emergency and first-aid procedures, and control measures. Papantino had already used a few MSDS sheets in the trial and was familiar with them. The sheet Bilott handed to him had a statement the Pensacola trial lawyer hadn’t seen. Bilott said, "I just kept looking through them, and I found this. I don't know whether you want to use it." The MSDS sheet for C8 said, "We believe it can cause cancer, and we based that on the very studies that DuPont did and that we did." Papantonio told Inweekly, “That's in the MSDS sheet. Well, I'm holding it back. We’ve got one more witness, and then we go into closing. The trial attorney went back to his hotel room and rewrote his closing argument. February 11, 2016
The last witness was a Dr. Ricker. Tim O’Brien of Levin Papantonio was handling the witness. Papantonio had one instruction for O’Brien—don’t reveal the importance of the MSDS sheet. “I toldfile Tim, name: ‘I will beat2cl.hor.tag you bloody if you do use the MSDS, because I'm about to have some fun with it.’ I told him to hand the MSDS 2 Ricker, color identify logo (horizontal application) sheet to Dr. it for the record, read out the number to the jury, say it, at least, This is not the standard format for the ESC logo and should only four times,” Papantonio. besaid used when necessary and applicable for a horizontal application. He knew the defense had dealt with hunColor logoand prints PMS 287 going plus Cool dreds of documents, they weren’t to Gray 8 address this MSDS sheet. In his closing argument, the defense counsel stood up and said,"I've heard Mr. Papantonio talking about cancer, asking us, ‘Did we know about cancer?’ Talking about Since 2008, Greg has created an how we knew about cancer, suggesting to you that we had some document about outstanding reputation for himself as a cancer. Have you seen it? I haven't seen it." Papantonio said, “I’m sitting there. My commercial and construction litigator. jacket is on fire. I’ve got the MSDS sheet folded in my breast pocket.” Today, we’re proud to have him as part of The defense rested. It was Papantonio’s our real estate division, handling both turn. His rebuttal was the last thing that would be said in trial. After it, the case was commercial and residential real estate matters. in the hands of the jury. The defense counsel wouldn’t have a chance to say another word. And we’re proud to call him our partner. Papantonio stood and addressed the jury. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think I heard a challenge when Mr. Mace was up here talking. I think he said, ‘Show me a document.’ I believe that's what he said. As a matter of fact, I'm positive that's what he said." Papantonio turned and looked at the defense counsel. He said, "Mr. Mace, I want to show you a document. Matter of fact, I attorneyS at l aw Since 1913 want you to read the document with me if you would." 30 S. Spring Street, penSacol a, fl 32502 He pulled out the folded MSDS sheet 195 gr and boulevard, Suite 101, mir amar beach, fl 32550 from his coat pocket. He said, "Why don't 115 north c alhoun Street, Suite 5, tall ahaSSee, fl 32301 you read this with me?" Papantonio told Inweekly, “We read that 800-433-6581 eScl aw.com line, ‘Cancer, our tests, your tests show it.’ Buddy, it was over.” {in}
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9
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Blaise Adams Market President, Centennial Bank
Cindi Bear-Bonner Founder and Owner, Fitness Onboard, LLC
Becca Boles Corporate Communications Director, Gulf Power Company
Patrick Elebash Jeweler, Small Business Owner, Elebash Jewelers
Chad Henderson Co-Founder and CEO, Catalyst CRE - A THG Investments Company
Gail Husbands Retired Escambia County Educator
Stacy Keller Williams Vice President Member Experience & Training, Navy Federal Credit Union
Jerry Maygarden Former State Legislator and Majority Leader, Florida House of Representatives
Jean Pierre N’Dione Part-owner and General Manager, Five Sisters Blues Café, Great Southern Restaurants
Lisa Nellessen-Lara Executive Editor, Pensacola News Journal
Mort O’Sullivan Managing Member of the Gulf Coast Division, Warren Averett CPAs & Advisors
Scott A. Remington President and Shareholder, Clark, Partington, Hart, Larry, Bond & Stackhouse Attorneys at Law
Martha Saunders Provost, University of West Florida
010 1
Julie Sheppard General Counsel and Special Assistant to the Director, IHMC
TWO KEY PRIORITIES FOR 2016
Josh Sitton Owner and managing member, Bear General Contractors LLC, Offensive Guard, Green Bay Packers
Growing jobs: Pensacola must support and strengthen small businesses to create more jobs and better wages. To accomplish this, the Institute will offer a variety of training programs to assist start ups and existing businesses and organizations to achieve better performance and results.
Improving kindergarten readiness:
Exists to improve the community’s quality of life Produces research and analysis on key issues Provides support to grow small businesses inweekly.net
February 11, 2016
Just 66 percent of children in the Escambia County School District show up for their first day of school ready for kindergarten. While Santa Rosa County has the thirdbest rate of kindergarten readiness among the 67 counties in the state, Escambia County ranks near the bottom.
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V-Day Pensacola by Shelby Smithey
I
t’s difficult to think of a piece of theatre that has had such an enigmatic force in celebrating the female experience as “The Vagina Monologues.” The episodic play written by Eve Ensler, premiered two decades ago in New York City and has since sparked a movement of anti-violence and female empowerment. “The Vagina Monologues” was a catalyst for the creation of V-Day, a global activist movement started in 1998 by Ensler that has raised over $100 million for groups working to end violence against women and girls through proceeds from productions of the play. The 'V' in V-Day stands for victory, valentine and vagina. Overall, the spirit of V-Day is to promote creative events to increase awareness and generate broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sex slavery. February 11, 2016
Locally, the Feminist Society of Pensacola (FSP) and STRIVE have partnered to bring a production of “The Vagina Monologues” to the Artel Gallery February 13. The entire FSP Council is participating in the performance, and four representatives from STRIVE are participating, as well. “STRIVE has been hugely supportive of FSP since our inception, and we’re so excited to share the stage with them,” Co-Director and Event Coordinator Kirstin Norris said. STRIVE is a local social advocacy group for transgender rights, serving the needs of the trans community in whatever capacity is necessary, including activism, community outreach, education and support in employment, housing and medical needs. ““The Vagina Monologues” has been called the most important piece of political theatre in the past decade by the New York Times,” said Emily Echevarria, Co-Director and Event Coor-
dinator. “We are excited to bring these diverse, poignant and sometimes hilarious stories to life in the gorgeous space at Artel to benefit our local rape crisis program at Lakeview.” V-Day campaigns, which take place around the world, raise much-needed funds and awareness for their communities’ anti-violence groups. All proceeds from V-Day Pensacola will benefit the Rape Crisis Trauma Recovery Program at the Lakeview Center. The proceeds will help to fund training for advocates and therapists, as well as provide supplies for art therapy for survivors of sexual assault and violent crimes. “This V-Day celebration is the perfect offbeat date or night out with friends, and you can enjoy it while strengthening our community’s resources for victim support,” Echevarria said. “Expect to laugh, cry and be inspired as we shine a light on the global movement to end violence against women.”
THE TRANS MONOLOGUES
FSP said that this year, “The Vagina Monologues” will feature a beautiful monologue based on the stories of over twenty trans women. “We are honored to have four members of STRIVE reading this monologue,” Norris said. “We strive for inclusivity and diversity and feel that our fabulous cast represents very real, very different women.” STRIVE Vice President Katharine Luck said that when FSP told them that they were putting on a performance of “The Vagina Monologues” and invited them to partner on the project, they saw it as a great opportunity for trans voices to be heard. “We are routinely ignored, excluded and silenced, even in activist efforts and progressive spaces,” Luck said. “Part of STRIVE's work is breaking that silence. We try to take on the responsibility of making 13
Blaise Moehl attended “The Vagina sure that transgender people are representMonologues” locally in 2014 and said that he ing ourselves in all the spaces where we plans to go this year as well. need to be heard and understood.” “It’s a valuable show to see because STRIVE members will perform the mono“The Vagina Monologues” portrays inseculogue ‘They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy…Or rities, dangers and experiences that women So They Tried.’ Ensler added the piece in 2005, which was written entirely from the perspective go through that people may not really associate with the standard human experiof a trans person. ence,” he said. “Trans women are the only women who Plus, Moehl said, it’s a solid, entertainhave to fight tooth and nail just to have that ing show. title recognized,” said performer Delia Melody. “We want men to understand that their “We unarguably face the most violence of masculinity isn’t so fragile that they can’t any subset of women, yet we are the most participate in an event that uplifts and supoften forgotten. I'm proud that we have ports women,” Norris said. “Feminism is for a feminist society which recognizes and everyone!” uplifts our oft silenced voices. We need and deserve to be heard.” “They assigned me a sex the day I was born,” the monologue reads. “It’s as random FSP Council Member Ashley Faulkner as being adopted or being assigned a hotel chose to read the monologue ‘My Short room on the 30th floor. It has nothing to Skirt’ for the production. do with who you are or your fear of heights. “It was an obvious choice for me as a But, in spite of the apparatus I was forced to member of local riot girl rap duo Cookies & carry around, I always knew I was a girl.” Cake,” Faulkner said. “Our song ‘Short Skirt’ “Transgender voices are usually silenced is an anthem for ladies and excluded,” Luck said. that want to take back the “But In this presentaeconomy of their bodies, tion of “The Vagina “I chose it because very much along the same Monologues,” we will be it’s a war cry, I feel theme of the monologue.” speaking for ourselves like it’s my war cry.” Echevarria will be alongside our sisters.” performing a piece entitled Kirstin Norris STRIVE member In‘Hair,’ which they said they digo Lett said that FSP’s liked because it’s about presentation of “The bodily autonomy and going Vagina Monologues” will give the audience against what are basically body hair stana little insight into their world and hopefully dards gifted to us by porn. begin the process towards true compassion “I saw “The Vagina Monologues” perto all women no matter what background. formed at Sluggo's in 2009, so when I saw the “Transwomen have a difficult journey call for participants in late 2013 for the 2014 to say the least,” Lett said. “Though the obproduction, I jumped at the chance,” Echevarstacles we have are many, we still continue ria said. “The experience was so positive and to fight for our rights to live, work, play and bonding that I knew I wanted to take on a leadmost of all be our authentic selves.” ership role for a future production to make it happen again, and 2016 was that opportunity.” Norris will be reading ‘My Revolution Although the play itself focuses a lot on Begins in the Body.’ “I chose it because it’s a women’s issues, “The Vagina Monologues” war cry, I feel like it’s my war cry,” Norris said. is an event that anyone can enjoy while sup“It’s an impassioned call to revolution, to rally, porting equality. to end violence against women, and that fight “Men are the ones who probably most is personal to me.” need to hear and understand a lot of what is Melody said that most of the issues are discussed in the monologues,” Norris said. rooted in society's ingrained, institutionalized “I think everyone can enjoy these funny, and legitimized hatred towards women. “Shatquirky—and yes, at times sad—stories, but tering that misogyny is a necessity not only men have a bigger opportunity to broaden for us to reach equality, but for the rights of all their perspectives.” women,” Melody said.
CLAIMING YOUR MONOLOGUE
COME ONE COME ALL
Performers Brooke Hardy and Kinsley Hess will be reading a monologue that is compiled from the testimonies of Bosnian women subjected to rape camps. “I chose ‘My Vagina Was My Village’ to challenge myself, both personally and as an actor,” Hardy said. “It deals with the very difficult subject of systematic rape during the Bosnian War. Given the current plight of women in war zones around the world, I couldn't think of a timelier piece to perform.” Hess said that the monologue is an incredibly important story about violence against women, and Ensler was one of the few who brought it to light. “It’s equally important today because 20 years later, systemic rape is still happening in war-torn countries,” Hess said. “When will women stop being casualties of men’s wars?” ‘The Woman who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy’ will be performed by Mikaela Sheldt. “My character is unashamed and comfortable, strong and focused,” Sheldt said. “The process of learning her story has changed me. My monologue uncovers a deep place where I still question my value. It lifts me up, nurtures me, and requires that I let go of the shame I have gotten so used to carrying.” Sheldt said that in a lot of ways, that’s what the monologues are about—creating positive change for women. “What we love about “The Vagina Monologues” is that they are always evolving,” Norris said. “We believe that the message of the monologues is that women have autonomy over their bodies, in every scenario imaginable.”{in}
V-DAY PENSACOLA
WHAT: The Feminist Society of Pensacola and STRIVE present Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; local art sale and cocktail hour start at 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox COST: $10 at door, $20 presale for seating in first three rows and glass of champagne also available DETAILS: facebook.com/vdaypensacola
What is the Feminist Society of Pensacola? The Feminist Society of Pensacola was formed in January of 2015 by a group of women who saw the need for a collective, feminist voice in Pensacola and decided to do something about it. FSP is made up of six council members who range from nurses to non-profit workers. FSP holds monthly meetings at Sluggo’s, which are open to the public. They usually host a guest speaker at meetings, from the young woman who was asked to leave PHS prom because of her dress, to representatives from the local nonprofit Favor House. There are no dues to be a part of FSP, they only ask that you bring an item to donate to Favor House to the monthly meetings. FSP also gets involved in their community. They are working with the Rape Crisis Center at Lakeview on a Spring Break initiative to raise awareness about consent during the months that our beaches fill with spring breakers from all over the country. Reach them at facebook. com/FeministSocietyPensacola.
What is STRIVE? STRIVE’s mission is to provide for the changing needs of the local transgender community, whatever they may be. Their work includes, but is certainly not limited to, advocacy for employment, housing, and medical care; activism; community outreach; education; support; and resource coordination. STRIVE tries to be as involved as possible with other organizations fighting for equality. They believe in intersectionalism, the idea that oppressed minorities need to work together. Reach them at facebook.com/socialtransinitiative.
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WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11-18
Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...
Two Swans are Better than One By Shelby Smithey
Ballet Pensacola’s Artistic Director Richard Steinert is putting a unique twist on a classic ballet. He’s cast two lead dancers to play White Swan and Black Swan for the production of Swan Lake premiering Friday at the Pensacola Cultural Center. Traditionally, one lead dancer is cast to play both White and Black Swan, but Steinert said that he wanted to give the production a Pensacola flair while staying true to style. The lead role of Odette, or White Swan, will be danced by Ya Meng Lin. This is Lin’s final show at Ballet Pensacola before she takes a break from ballet to attend college in New York City. The 24-year-old is from Beijing, China where she trained with Beijing Dance Academy for seven years. She moved to the states when she was 16 and has spent a total of five seasons with Ballet Pensacola. “White Swan is a dream role for every ballet dancer,” Lin said. “It’s such an iconic role. It’s a tragic love story.” Lin said that it’s the most challenging role that she’s danced, but Swan Lake means a lot to her for more personal reasons. “My parents used to be ballet dancers,” she said. “My dad was the Prince and my mom was White Swan, so it’s something that’s really special to me.” Lin said that the role requires an immense amount of technique, stamina and artistry. This is her first time having a principal role in Swan Lake, but she’s danced in other productions of it before. “It’s incredibly special because I’m leaving, so this is sort of like my retirement show,” Lin
said. “I’ve never had a chance to go to college since ballet takes so much time.” Lin said that Steinert shortened the ballet, as well as tweaked the story line for this production of Swan Lake. “Richard loves to modernize everything he does,” Lin said. “It’s really fresh and unique, because it’s not like your typical Swan Lake.” Odile, or Black Swan, will be played by Kayla Bartlett, who joined Ballet Pensacola the same year as Lin. “We have been best friends since we got here,” Lin said. “We are the same age, only four days apart. We are very close. It’s so special for Kayla and me to share this character on stage for my last performance. Kayla is such a wonderful dancer to work with. She’s amazing, not just because she’s my best friend.” Bartlett began studying ballet at the age of six in Longview Ballet Theatre in Texas. She trained in classical ballet in Philadelphia, Miami and Austin before joining Ballet Pensacola. “Getting to do these roles as best friends before Ya Meng leaves is very special for the both of us,” Bartlett said. “It’s very emotional.” Bartlett said that the most challenging part of her role is the acting. “Obviously the choreography is also challenging, but acting is tricky with Black Swan,” she said. “She is trying to seduce the Prince and get him away from the White Swan, so she’s portraying being the White Swan to the Prince but also showing the audience that she’s not. She can be cold, so I have to portray that as well.”
juxtaposition of classic versus contempoBartlett said that Ballet Pensacola does rary here in one work,” he said. “We didn’t mostly contemporary work, and this is the first want to mount a production that looks like time that the company will be doing a welleverybody else’s Swan Lake.” known, full-length classical ballet. Steinert said that he decided to change the “To suit it more for our audience, Richard way Black Swan is usually done so both Lin has changed the story line so that our audience and Bartlett were able to have principal roles. will enjoy it a bit more than the typical Swan “It’s sort of like classic Rodgers & HamLake,” Bartlett said. “I’m also very excited to be merstein American Musical Theatre and able to do classical work, because we don’t do throw in a dream sequence,” he said. “In our it often besides The Nutcracker.” version, Von Rothbart, who curses Odette, is Known for his innovative and collaboraalso in love with her. It’s not just a love story, tive style, Steinert joined Ballet Pensacola as but a love triangle.” Creative Director in 2007. Steinert said that he is This is his first time directhappy for Lin and her deing Swan Lake. cision to go to school, but “I’ve danced it numerhe is sad to see her go. ous times, but I’ve never “I could stand to work mounted a production,” with her for another 200 he said. years,” Steinert said. “We He grew up in Hartford, have a unique ability at Connecticut and started Ballet Pensacola to have a directing ballet about 30 very kind and supportive years ago. He works at Balatmosphere. And ballet isn’t always an art let Pensacola with his wife, Christine Duhone. Steinert said that the entire production of Swan fraught with kindness and supportiveness. They inspire me when I need it, and I think Lake has taken about six weeks to prepare for. I inspire them when they need it.”{in} “We mount and load-in pretty quickly,” he said. “In six weeks they learn the choreography, the costumes are made and the set is built. We are on a fairly tight schedule.” WHAT: Ballet Pensacola presents Swan Lake Steinert said that his wife has WHEN: 7:30 p.m., February 12, 13, 19 and 20, 1:30 p.m., taken the lead in choreography February 14 while he does stage direction. WHERE: Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson “The set and lighting COST: $23—$35 design is quite industrial in DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com, 850.432.2042 nature, so we really have a
“It’s really fresh and unique, because it’s not like your typical Swan Lake.” Ya Meng Lin
SWAN LAKE
Join Rick Outzen guest host of Pensacola Speaks weekdays at 5pm
February 11, 2016
15
calendar THURSDAY 2.11
WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Try some-
thing new every week at Aragon Wine Market’s regular wine tasting, only a few blocks from downtown. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com
FRIDAY 2.12
WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Out and about
The Weeknd Calvin Harris
Florence + The Machine Alabama Shakes Ellie Goulding Lenny Kravitz FLUME
+ 70 BANDS
in East Hill on Friday night? Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the night. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. ICE HOCKEY 7:05 p.m. Come out and support Pensacola’s Ice Flyers against the MS RiverKings. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. $15-$29. pensacolabaycenter. com DATE NIGHT DANCING 7:15-8:15 p.m. Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in a unique group class that keeps partners together. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $5. dancecraftfl.com SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE: STUDIO
400 SERIES 7:30 p.m. Six one acts: an evening of one-act plays that find the humor, truth, darkness and surprises in romance and relationships. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. $10-$17. pensacolalittletheatre.com TRAILER PARK BOYS: RANDY & MR. LAHEY 8 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $20. vinylmusichall.com
SATURDAY 2.13
PENSACOLA DOUBLE BRIDGE RUN 7 a.m.
The Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15K carries runners over two bridges across Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound. Community Maritime Park, 301 W Main St. SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace. PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered at the weekly Palafox Market. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com ICE HOCKEY 6:35 p.m. Come out and support Pensacola’s Ice Flyers against the Columbus Cottonmouths. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. $15-$29. pensacolabaycenter.com
SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE: STUDIO 400 SERIES 7:30 p.m. Six one acts: an eve-
ning of one-act plays that find the humor, truth, darkness and surprises in romance and relationships. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. $10-$17. pensacolalittletheatre.com CIRCUE DE LA SYMPHONIE 7:30 p.m. Peter Rubardt, Conductor Cirque de la Symphonie Performers featuring highflying acrobatics and other feats set to 616 1
a soundtrack of classical hits. Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. $15-$90. pensacolasymphony.com JOHN HART PROJECT 8 p.m. With Nick & The Ovorols and Post Pluto. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $5. vinylmusichall.com
SUNDAY 2.14
SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE: STUDIO 400 SERIES 2:30 p.m. Six one acts: an eve-
ning of one-act plays that find the humor, truth, darkness and surprises in romance and relationships. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. $10-$17. pensacolalittletheatre.com VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER AT H2O 5-9 p.m. Celebrate the most important person in your life this Valentine’s Day with a gourmet 4-course dinner and wine pairing for two prepared by Celebrity Chef Dan Dunn. Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, 12 Via De Luna. $150 per couple. hiltonpensacolabeach.com MARTIN SEXTON 7 p.m. With Brothers McCann. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $25-$27. vinylmusichall.com
MONDAY 2.15
DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. Lessons in country and swing. Learn the country two-step at this weekly class, which is followed by a social dance at 8 p.m. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com
TUESDAY 2.16
DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. Lessons in country and swing. Learn the country two-step at this weekly class, which is followed by a social dance at 8 p.m. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com TUESDAY NIGHT POETRY NIGHT 7 p.m. Free open-mic poetry event every Tuesday. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. facebook.com/TNPN BALLYHOO! 7 p.m. With Resinated. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $10-$15. vinylmusichall.com
WEDNESDAY 2.17
COOKING DEMONSTRATION WITH CHEF IRV 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. This demonstra-
tion will focus on practical pork dishes. The cost includes tasting, wine pairings and a take-home recipe booklet. Reservations required. Jackson’s Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. $45. jacksonsrestaurant.com PENSACON TRIVIA NIGHT + COSTUME CONTEST 7-11 p.m. Get decked out in your
favorite costume and head to the deck bar. There will be cash prizes, bar trivia, ladies night $2 drinks, photo ops and DJ Tony. Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com DANCE PARTY 8-10 p.m. A mix of swing, country and ballroom music for partner dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $5. dancecraftfl.com
arts & culture
≥Exhibits
FUNKY TURNS 40
This exhibition commemorates the 40th anniversary of 1970’s Saturday Morning cartoons that featured positive black characters for the first time in television history. The exhibition includes original production cells and drawings used to produce these cartoons. On display until April 9. Museum hours and location: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org MY ENDLESS QUEST FOR THE CHTHONIC
Working in both two and three dimensions, Jim Jipson creates photographs and sculptures that poetically reinterpret natural forms into mysterious abstractions. On display until February 13. Museum hours and location: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, 12-4 p.m. TAG Gallery, Center for Fine & Performing Arts, 11000 University Pkwy. Uwf.edu
FEARLESS FOURSOME
This session, feature artists are Debbie Andress, Sandy Ford, Patricia O’Neal and Pat Page. Debbie Andress is best known for her portrayals of wildlife and orchids. Sandy Ford is focusing on painting clouds, while Patricia O’Neal is pushing boundaries. Pat Page, a local of Pensacola, has made her hometown her subject. On display through February 16. Museum hours and location: Monday-Saturday, 10
a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 1-5 p.m. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zarragossa St. quaysidegallery.com NEEDLE ART SHOW
Over 75 needle art pieces featuring stitches such as hardanger, needlepoint, counted cross stitch and pulled threads. On display through February 24. The Wright Place, 6 E. Wright St. NEW IN THE Q
Quayside Art Gallery welcomes Deb Chilote, watercolor & acrylics, Amber Dawn, portraits in acrylic on plexiglass, Irmi Presutto, seascapes in acrylics, Ginger Osborne, water colors, Kat Bush, seascapes, pet portraits in oil, Cathy Painter, stained glass and kaleidoscopes, Joyce Williams, glass engraving, Karin Gundmundson, acrylics, and JC Findley, photography. On display through February 16. Museum hours and location: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zarragossa St. quaysidegallery.com COLLECTION IN CONTEXT: WOMEN CREATING This
exhibition presents the diversity and growing strength of the PMA’s Permanent Collection highlighting female modern and postmodern artists through a variety of media. On display until February 27. Museum hours and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org
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February 11, 2016
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DIFFERENCE MAKERS
Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge presents the Award Recipients of 2015 Adult Community - George Washington Honor Medal Petty Officer First Class Alexanna C. Williams, USN Community Volunteerism and Leadership Captain Lee Little Hansen, USN (Ret.) The Global Corner School Passport Program Chief George Burton “White Antelope� Dodge, Sr. Advocacy for Native Americans, Veterans and Community Youth Community - George Washington Honor Medal Stefan Pressley Emulating the Ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. William Langhorne, Scott McGaugh, Ariel Noethlich, Tristan Wu The Backpack Project USA Public Communications - George Washington Honor Medal The Pensacola News Journal World War II Seventieth Anniversary Series Lisa Reese, President/Publisher; Lisa Nellessen-Lara, Executive Editor Marketta Davis, Military Reporter Special Events - George Washington Honor Medal Juan Sebastian de Elcano Society Visit of the Spanish Naval Training Ship, Juan Sebastian de Elcano Pensacola, 27 May - 1 June 2015 Dame Maria Davis & Collier Merrill, Co-Chairpersons; Fiesta of Five Flags The Marine Corps League: Corporal J.R. Spears Detachment 066 Heroes Among Us Col. Christopher E. Holzworth IV, USMC, (Ret.); Edward Rouse, PAO Officer Educator - George Washington Honor Medal Lauren Samoszenko Ransom Middle School Youth Essay - George Washington Honor Medal on Ribbon Cassandra Harrison Youth Essay - Certificate Alexander Apin, Christopher Gibson, Saraiah Morgan Liberty Bell Award - Adult Community Charles Gould Angel Flight Anne Clapsadl Patriotism Expressed Through Art Liberty Bell Award - Public Communications Seaplane An All American Musical Allen Pote (Composer), Dr. Jack Fleming and Carolyn Fleming (Authors), Lauren Eisenhour (Producer), Emily Mixon (Director & Choreographer) Lifetime Achievement - American Eagle on Stand John Appleyard Remembering Our Past
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news of the weird INTELLIGENT DESIGN Wired.com's most recent "Absurd Creature" feature shows a toad devouring a larva of a much-smaller beetle, but the "absurdity" is that the larva is in charge and that the toad will soon be beetle food. The larva's Darwinian advantage is that, inside the toad, it bites the hapless "predator" with its hooked jaws and then secretes enzymes to begin decomposing the toad's tissue (making it edible)—and provoking it to vomit the still-alive larva. GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN LAZINESS An 80-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were ticketed in separate incidents in Canada the week of Jan. 18 when police spotted them driving cars completely caked in snow except for a small portion of the windshield. The man, from Brussels, Ontario, was driving a car resembling a "pile of snow on the road." The Halifax, Nova Scotia, woman's car was, a police statement said, "a snowbank with four wheels." GREAT ART! Fed up with the "pretense" of the art world, performer (and radio personality) Lisa Levy of Brooklyn, New York, sat on a toilet, naked and motionless, at the Christopher Stout Gallery in January to protest artists' "BS" by presenting herself in the "humblest" way she could imagine. Visitors were invited to sit on a facing toilet (clothed or not) and interact with her in any way except for touching. Levy told the Bushwick Daily website that too much "ego," "like a drug," "distorts your reality." WAIT, WHAT? In January, the U.S. Department of Justice's inspector general recommended closing down a program of the department's Drug Enforcement Administration that paid employees of other federal agencies (Amtrak and the beloved Transportation Security Administration) for tips on suspicious passengers. (The program apparently ignored that federal employees have such a duty even without a bounty.) DEA was apparently interested in passengers traveling with large amounts of cash—which DEA could potentially seize if it suspected the money came from illegal activity (and also, of course, then keep the money under federal forfeiture law). According to the inspector general, the tipping TSA agent was to be rewarded with a cut of any forfeited money. THE CONTINUING CRISIS Britain's North Yorkshire Police successfully applied to a judge in January for a "sexual risk order" against a man whose name was not disclosed publicly and whose alleged behavior was not revealed. Whoever he is and whatever he did, he is forbidden to enter into any sexual situation with anyone without providing at least 24 hours' notice to the police—nor is he allowed to look at or possess any sexually oriented materials. According to the York Press, the order is temporary until May 19, at which time the magistrates may extend it.
by Chuck Shepherd
BRIGHT IDEAS Christopher Lemek Jr. was arrested in Palmer, Massachusetts, in January and charged in a New Year's Eve hit-and-run accident that took a pedestrian's life. Lemek emerged as a suspect a few days after the collision when police, visiting his home, noticed freshly disturbed earth in his backyard. Eventually Lemek confessed to literally burying the evidence—using a construction vehicle to crush his truck and an excavator to dig up his backyard and drop the truck into it. SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Several Connecticut state troopers involved in a DUI checkpoint in September were apparently caught on video deliberating whether to make up charges against a (perhaps obnoxious) checkpoint monitor. Veteran protester Michael Picard, 27, posted the videos on his YouTube page in January, showing troopers (illegally) confiscating Picard's camera and suggesting among themselves various charges they could write up (at least some not warranted by evidence) to, as one trooper was heard imploring, "cover our asses." (The troopers returned the camera after deliberating, but seemed unaware that it had been running during the entire incident.) State police internal affairs officers are investigating.
TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY
SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT
INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST
OOPS! Private Parts: (1) A middle-aged woman reported to a firehouse in Padua, Italy, in January to ask for help opening a lock for which she had misplaced the key. It turned out that the lock was to the iron chastity belt she was wearing—of her own free will, she said (because she had recently begun a romantic relationship that she wanted not to become too quickly sexual). (2) Firefighers in Osnabruck, Germany, told Berlin's The Local that in two separate incidents in December, men had come to their stations asking for help removing iron rings they had placed on their penises to help retain erections. (The Local, as a public service, quoted a prominent European sexual-aid manufacturer's recommendation to instead use silicone rings, which usually do not require professional removal.) RECURRING THEMES Few matters in life are weirder than the Scottish love of haggis (sheep's liver, heart, tongue and fat, blended with oats and seasonings, boiled inside a sheep's stomach to achieve its enticing gray color!), and in January, in honor of the Scottish poet-icon Robert Burns, prominent Peruvian chef Mitsuharu Tsumura joined Scotland's Paul Wedgwood to create haggis from, instead of sheep, guinea pig. Wedgwood said he was "proud" to raise haggis "to new gastronomic levels." {in}
From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2015 Chuck Shepherd
Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com February 11, 2016
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Valentine’s Day Lunch, brunch, and dinner specials Friday, Saturday, and Sunday We will offer a Valentine’s Day lunch feature Friday, February 12, and Saturday, February 13. On Sunday, February 14, we will offer a special brunch feature. Also, Chef Billy Ballou and Chef de Cuisine Jason Hughes have prepared a number of special features for dinner that will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In addition to the features, we will also be serving from our lunch, brunch, and dinner menus. For details, visit fishhousepensacola.com.
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Selected Shorts presents some of the best-loved selections of classic and contemporary short fiction, read by acclaimed screen and theater actors and recorded live at Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City.
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Independent News | February 11, 2016 | inweekly.net
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