Inweekly Feb. 20 2025 Issue

Ways to Start Saving Big

winners losers

KAYLA STANFORD Santa Rosa Superintendent of Schools Dr. Karen Barber, the Santa Rosa School Board and the Santa Rosa Education Foundation announced Stanford as the Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year 2026. She is a fifth-grade teacher at Holley-Navarre Intermediate School and is in her ninth year of teaching. Stanford is Santa Rosa's nominee for the Florida Department of Education Teacher of the Year 2026. The Florida Teacher of the Year will be selected in May and serve as Florida's nominee for National Teacher of the Year to be announced in January 2026.

PENSACOLA YOUTH BALLET The cultural organization announced the Legacy Awards, which pay tribute to the remarkable women who laid the foundation for dance in our community. Dorothy Lister, Patsy Graydon Hill, Elvie Demarco and Gioia Michelotti, were visionaries who transformed Pensacola's artistic landscape, opening doors for generations of dancers to follow. Four $1,500 Legacy Award Ballet Scholarships were presented to Perdido Performing Arts, 5 Star Dance Centre, LaBelle Performing Arts and Gulf Coast Elite Gymnastics. These scholarships, funded through the ticket revenue of Pensacola Youth Ballet's Community Nutcracker, ensure that the dreams of these women continue to flourish through Pensacola's young dancers.

LARRY BUTLER MEMORIAL MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The University of West Florida celebrated an $18,500 donation to its Dr. Grier Williams School of Music to support the Larry Butler Memorial Music Scholarship Fund on Jan. 30. The new funds are a result of fundraising during the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, which was held in November. Pensacola native Larry Butler was a highly influential figure in the country music industry, known for his exceptional talents as a producer, songwriter and musician. He won the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1976 for "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" by B.J. Thomas. In 1980, Butler became the first and only Nashville producer to win the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year.

STEVE STROBERGER

During an agenda review on Feb. 6, the Escambia County commissioner read an impassioned statement supporting Beulah Town Center, LLC, getting an extension on working out a purchase agreement for OLF-8, a 540-acre site near I-10 on Nine Mile Road. He seemed to win the support of the board. When the issue came up during the regular meeting later that day, Stroberger again argued for the extension but never made a motion for it, even after Chairman Mike Kohler pointed out, "We don't have anything we can vote on." In the void, Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger moved to enforce the Feb. 9 deadline, which passed 4-1. We recommend that Stroberger take a class on parliamentary procedure or someone write him a better script to follow before the next meeting.

NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT CUSTOMERS

Earlier this month, the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered staffers at the agency to stop all work. Elon Musk, whom President Trump has tasked with downsizing the federal government, wrote on X, "CFPB RIP." In 2016, the CFPB ordered Navy Federal Credit Union to pay approximately $23 million in redress to victims of improper debt collection practices, including making false threats to its members—many of whom are active-duty military, retired service members and their families. In November 2024, the agency ordered Navy Federal to pay more than $80 million to affected consumers illegally charged overdraft fees. Without CFPB's oversight, who would protect the military members and their families from the leadership of Navy Federal?

SUPERINTENDENT MULLIGAN District

5 School Board Member Tom Harrell wants a referendum that would let Escambia County voters return to an elected school superintendent, claiming his district isn't happy with the new system. In 2018, Escambia County voters narrowly approved a ballot referendum for an appointed superintendent, with 50.36% voting for it. The school board has hired two superintendents since the change, Dr. Tim Smith (2020-2023) and Keith Leonard (2023-present), which isn't much of a sample size.

Kayla Stanford / Photo Courtesy of Santa Rosa School District Steve Stroberger / Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

PLAYING NICE

We have had two University of West Florida Board of Trustees meetings with no firings or more significant changes. Gov. Ron DeSantis' five appointees have played nice, except for electing Boise State professor Scott Yenor as chairman.

The last time DeSantis completely took over a board of trustees was at New College of Florida in 2023. The new trustees fired President Patricia Okker, dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and overhauled the small liberal arts college.

Were our concerns that the New College playbook would be implemented at UWF unfounded? No.

DeSantis' minions have had trouble coming up with arguments to fire UWF President Dr. Martha Saunders and overhaul the university. Performance metrics show that UWF is the top Division II university in Florida and better than four Division I schools with much larger budgets.

Republicans have begun to stress the economic outcomes for students in various college programs. More than 79% of bachelor's graduates are employed or furthering their education one year after graduation, ranking UWF second in the Florida State University System. UWF graduates earned a median wage of $53,000 in 2021-22, setting a new record for the university and increasing by $4,200 from the previous year.

The UWF of Nursing topped the state and national averages for 2024, as 97.67% of its graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) on their first attempt. U.S. News and World Report Best ranked the university 39th among more than 350 institutions for Best Online Bachelor's Programs and 25th for Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans.

The governor could have overlooked these statistics and changed UWF, but he had another problem. Several staunch Republican donors did not want Saunders to lose her job or make any significant changes at the school. Yes, the Florida panhandle is very conservative and a Republican stronghold, but we love UWF, as evidenced by the success of its "Here for Good" capital campaign.

Launched in April 2024, the "Here for Good" campaign is designed to raise funds in four key areas: People (scholarships and faculty support), Programs (academic and athletic non-schol-

arship initiatives), Place (physical spaces and named programs) and Community (community initiatives). Dr. Saunders set an ambitious fundraising goal of $90 million and has raised over $65 million in less than a year.

Another problem is Scott Yenor. He sees independent women as "a fundamental threat to strong, fruitful families" and our national prosperity and stability. He has said that today's women are "more medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome than women need to be without connections to eternity delivered through their family."

DeSantis tried to distance himself from Yenor when asked about the professor's views of women, but I found an official photo of Yenor with the governor and his wife from February 2023 when the Claremont Institute announced Yenor as the think tank's inaugural Senior Director of State Coalitions.

As out of step Yenor's views of women are with Northwest Florida, it was his attack on Democrats during the committee hearings regarding Pete Hegseth's appointment as Secretary of Defense that caught the attention of the Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus. Yenor singled out several senators for being Jewish. He wrote, "Nine are Jews, two of whom are women and four of whom are 65-years-old or older."

On Feb. 11, the bipartisan Jewish Caucus called on DeSantis to reconsider the appointment of Scott Yenor to the University of West Florida Board of Trustees because of "his stun ning antisemitic commentary."

State Sen. Randy Fine posted on X: "Antisemites have no place in Florida's universities, let alone as its leaders."

In its press announcement, caucus leaders called out Yenor. "His history of antisemitic and misogynist rhetoric is not only deeply offensive but also incompatible with the principles of lead ership and integrity that should define Florida's higher education."

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These factors might explain why nothing has happened at the board meetings yet. However, the biggest reason for Yenor and the governor's other four picks playing nice could be they must be approved by the Ethics and Elections committee, which Sen. Don Gaetz chairs. Gaetz supports UWF. They don't want to give him any ammunition for rejection.

Stay tuned. {in} rick@inweekly.net

By Rick Outzen

GAETZ, ANDRADE TACKLE INSURANCE

insurer recently used self-dealing to move $100 million over to co-owned subsidiaries. The Florida insurer moved the money to hide the company's true financial standing and obtain

The legislation empowers the Office of Insurance Regulation to use revelations of selfdealing and executive compensation by companies when analyzing their financial condition and setting rates. Gaetz said some insurance companies overly compensate their executives and then claim to be operating at a loss and

Andrade said increased insurance rates negatively impact everyone in the state. He noted that public education, health care and local governments each feel the sting from paying for property insurance. The objective, he said, is addressing the issue without preventing insurance companies from turning a profit.

Rising property insurance rates is the No. 1 complaint State Sen. Don Gaetz heard on the campaign trail last year. Gaetz is in the business of fighting for his constituents, and he has partnered with State Rep. Alex Andrade to tackle the rising costs, improve the claims process and increase rate transparency.

Earlier this month, Gaetz and Andrade introduced Senate Bill 554 and House Bill 451. The proposed legislation calls for property insurance companies to speed up payments to businesses and families that suffer losses, streamline the adjustment process to eliminate delays and reach fair settlements, reveal their financials if they ask for rate increases and require both sides to pay attorney fees during the claims process.

"The bill was inspired by meetings I've had with more than 1,000 businesses, families and groups in Northwest Florida who have brought this issue to the forefront for me," Gaetz said. "The cost of property insurance is the No. 1 kitchen table issue."

Gaetz said his fellow legislators across the state share the same concerns. Over the past two years, the legislature has attempted to lower insurance rates by eliminating unnecessary litigation. However, those efforts have failed to move the needle, and rates have risen for each of the past eight quarters.

The result? Some Florida homeowners have dropped their insurance. ValuePenguin, a LendingTree research site, conducted data analysis and discovered that 20% of homeowners are either self-insured or uninsured.

According to the National Association of Realtors, Florida homeowners pay an average rate of $10,996, nearly five times the national average of $2,377. Louisiana ranks a distant

second at $6,354. Florida is home to six of the top 10 cities nationally for highest homeowner insurance costs.

Gaetz acknowledges that Florida is a highrisk market and describes the proposed legislation as a heavy lift. However, the legislation offers a common-sense approach to addressing some of the issues, including insurance companies haggling over payment amounts to the detriment of property owners.

ADDRESSING THE ISSUES

"Not a majority, but there are some insurance companies whose business model is to drag out payments so they can get property owners to settle for less than the claim is worth," Gaetz said.

"Secondly, it's a fact that when you file a claim, the insurance company sends out an adjuster, and they decide how much the claim is worth. Based on their analysis, they tell insurance companies, 'Here is what it's going to cost.' In the meantime, the insured, either through themselves, a lawyer or public adjuster, try to make their own case."

The bill proposes that the state insurance commission choose software for adjusters to provide their damage assessments quickly and that their estimates be subject to current data on market costs for repairs. Gaetz said this is important for transparency and eliminates haggling over costs.

"It shouldn't be a mystery how much a bundle of shingles will cost in Okaloosa County," Gaetz said. "Software can be used. Our bill requires that both sides turn their cards over, then a claim can be settled more quickly if both sides are operating from the same set of facts."

Andrade said, "Resolution of claims is the biggest issue other than the cost of property insurance. The claims part is adjusters not turn -

ing their files in fast enough. They're not quick enough for decisions to be made."

Their bill increases the penalty on insurance companies that delay paying settled claims and establishes what the legislators describe as a fair way for insureds and insurers to share the costs of litigation and prevent unjustified lawsuits. This comes on the heels of a bill Gov. DeSantis signed into law in December 2022. Senate Bill 2-A eliminated one-way attorney fees, banished assignments of benefits, allowed for mandatory binding arbitration, reduced the deadline for policyholders to report a claim and required a final judgment or decree of an adverse adjudication against the insurer before filing bad faith litigation.

"You're pursuing perfection, but you have to accept it's never going to be perfect." Alex Andrade

In 2022, Florida accounted for only about 15% of the nation's homeowners' claims but over 70% of the nation's litigation, according to the Office of Insurance Regulation. Insurers paid about $2.9 billion in direct domestic homeowners' defense costs and containment expenses in 2022 alone. The costs included defense, litigation and attorneys' fees. Some insurance companies stopped offering coverage in the state in response to excessive litigation and claim fraud, and consumers paid for these costs in the form of higher rates.

"We need to recognize that beating the unnecessary litigation issue is not going to solve all of the problems," Gaetz said. "We have to go after as many cost drivers as we can."

Another concern the bill addresses is insurance companies seeking rate increases and profiting off self-dealing. Gaetz said a Florida

In 2023, Florida domestic insurance companies reported a combined net underwriting gain/loss that almost broke even, a dramatic improvement from losing over a billion dollars in the previous three years. When combined with investments, domestic carriers showed a net positive income for the first time since 2016.

A HEAVY LIFT

Legislators hear the complaints from fedup constituents. Their efforts in the past two sessions failed to put a major dent in the rising rates, and they feel a sense of urgency to stop the disturbing trend. Still, Andrade agrees with Gaetz that their legislation will be a heavy lift. Their fellow legislators will pick over the bill with a fine-toothed comb.

"It's like having five blind men trying to describe what an elephant looks like," Andrade said. "One person is touching the trunk and describes the trunk, another touches the leg, another touches the ears. Everybody's got a very strong opinion. It's hard sometimes for a bill to make it through. There's not one bill that's going to fix the problem. You're pursuing perfection, but you have to accept it's never going to be perfect."

Gaetz admits the legislation is not a silver bullet to drive down insurance costs, but it addresses other insurance cost drivers and provides a transparent framework for rate-setting and prompt payments.

"I'm bringing this to the floor because of the conversations I've had with people trying to stay in their homes," Gaetz said. "Older families and younger families, particularly military, and people as divergent as realtors and builders are having issues. My concern is if we don't do something about this extensive cost driver, the free state of Florida could become the unaffordable state of Florida."

Inweekly requested to interview Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky about the bill. His press secretary Shiloh Elliott said he was unavailable and asked Inweekly to submit questions for him. The questions went unanswered. {in}

diovascular facilities.

Based on a comprehensive evaluation of over 900 hospitals across 23 metrics, the recognition highlights the institutions' excellence in clinical outcomes, cost efficiency and patient experience. For Ascension Sacred Heart, this marks its eighth appearance on the list, while HCA Florida West celebrates its debut among the nation's top cardiac care providers.

"It certainly fills our entire clinical team here with an immense sense of accomplishment to see a Pensacola hospital shine on the national level," said Will Condon, President & CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola.

The impact of this dual recognition extends beyond local pride. According to Premier/Fortune's analysis, if all U.S. hospitals matched the performance level of these top institutions, over 14,000 lives could be saved annually, along with $1.5 billion in healthcare costs. This becomes particularly significant given that heart disease claims a life every 33 seconds in the U.S.

"To receive this recognition means our cardiovascular team of physicians, nurses and colleagues can produce extraordinary results and can replicate those extraordinary results to achieve quality healthcare that is equal to the best hospitals in the nation," said Gabe Bullaro, HCA Florida West Hospital CEO.

To celebrate the announcement, HCA Florida West Hospital staff and its Cardiology Specialist team wore red on Feb. 7, as part of the American Heart Association's Wear Red for Women Day.

AGREEMENTS NEEDED The ongoing negotiations between Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves and the Escambia Children's Trust regarding

press conference, he highlighted concerning statistics from the Florida Chamber showing the state lost $5.4 billion last year due to parents' inability to work because of childcare issues. Moreover, 15% of Florida parents with young children have left the workforce in the last six months.

The mayor plans to organize a summit to discuss the optimal use of the funds for improving childcare availability within city limits, which will inform the development of the interlocal agreement.

Meanwhile, the Escambia Children's Trust board meeting revealed financial complications. While the Trust has recorded a contingent liability of $690,684 for county CRA taxes, no such liability exists for city CRA funds because the city hasn't sent an invoice. The Trust's financial reports show only approximately $2 million uncommitted, barely covering the $1.8 million Mayor Reeves wants to allocate.

The situation has drawn criticism from County Commissioner Lumon May, who serves on the Trust board. He noted perceived media bias in the Pensacola News Journal's coverage, noting that while the county faces scrutiny over CRA funds, less attention is paid to the city's lack of an interlocal agreement.

Despite lacking a formal agreement or explicit commitments, Mayor Reeves expressed confidence in the collaborative process. However, he warned that unilateral spending decisions by the Trust regarding the CRA funds "would certainly change our trajectory."

Commissioner May said, "We should resolve the city and the county at the same time. And the end result—it's all taxpayer dollars that we're hoping to go to benefit the lives of children."

hood density. He specifically pointed to current restrictions like R-1 AAA zoning, which requires quarter-acre lots for single-family homes in the city center, as potentially outdated regulations that may need reform.

However, historical precedents exist for higher-density housing in Pensacola's established neighborhoods. The mayor said. "Some of the most beautiful ornate quadplexes in our city are in North Hill that were built in the 1940s."

The mayor emphasized that the review process will seek extensive input from residents, architects, builders and developers. The initiative aims to balance preserving neighborhood character with making housing development financially viable.

Reeves stressed that government alone cannot solve the housing crisis, and the code updates should empower private investment and development to help address the community's housing needs. For more information, visit cityofpensacola.com.

The achievement stems from UWF's research expenditure of $40.4 million in 2023 and the awarding of 29 research doctorates during the 2022-2023 academic year, well exceeding the minimum requirements for R2 status of $5 million in research spending and 20 doctoral graduates. This classification places UWF among an elite group of high-research institutions nationwide.

The Carnegie Foundation, an independent policy and research center dedicated to advancing education, bestowed this classification based on data from both the National Science Foundation HERD Survey and the IPEDS Completions Survey.

OVERHAUL CODE Mayor Reeves announced the city will hold its first public workshop for reviewing the Land Development Code (LDC) from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Pensacola City Hall, followed by an open house from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, to collect additional public feedback.

According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the comprehensive review of the city's development regulations comes as housing remains the top public policy issue facing cities across the country. The initiative also aligns with Pensacola's strategic plan, where housing emerged as residents' primary concern.

"There's no better brushstroke of trying to attack this problem than looking at the codes that prohibit or limit our ability to thicken neighborhoods," Reeves said, noting that Pensacola hasn't comprehensively updated its development code in nearly two decades.

The mayor acknowledged that the review process, expected to take about two years, will likely spark "difficult conversations" about neighbor-

WHY KISSEL GOT PICKED During the Academic Affairs Committee meeting of the University of West Florida's Board of Trustees last week, the trustees discussed their upcoming accreditation site visit and plans to transition to a new accrediting body—a change resulting from Florida's 2022 law requiring universities to change accreditors.

The subsequent discussion may have tipped off why Gov. Ron DeSantis chose Dr. Adam Kissel to serve as trustee. Kissel chairs the committee and noted the transition would require updating numerous university regulations and policies that specifically reference the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS).

The accreditation transition from the SACS to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) begins next year. Kissel stated that HLC has less history of interfering in state university governance compared to SACS, a claim made by DeSantis when he signed the bill requiring periodic accreditor changes.

The bill was prompted by the governor's concerns following SACS's involvement in two controversial issues: a potential conflict of interest in Florida State University's presidential search and the University of Florida's blocking professors from serving as expert witnesses in a voting rights lawsuit.

In 2023, Kissel co-wrote a paper, "The Politicization of Higher Education Accreditation," for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Austin, Texas. He accused accreditors of abusing their authority to create accreditation standards that "promote or require diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and … stop conservative or even neutral reforms at U.S. colleges and universities."

His paper had a special section on Florida and DeSantis' fight with accreditors, which must have pleased DeSantis as he prepared his presidential campaign. It definitely put him on the governor's radar.

CIVICS SESSIONS On Feb. 11, community organizers from the League of Women Voters of Pensacola Bay Area, Escambia County Democratic Party, Earth Action, Northwest Florida Panhandle Coalition for Civic Engagement, and Movement for Change introduced a six-session course titled Community Forum: Civics Education and Engagement.

"Democracy thrives, and communities are informed, engaged and empowered," said Mary Gutierrez of Earth Action. "The Community Forum Civic Education and Engagement series aims to inspire action and deepen understanding of the democratic processes. This forum will provide a platform to explore understanding government structures, rights and responsibilities, and how it empowers individuals to make a difference in their communities."

Experts, educators and community leaders will discuss practical strategies for increasing civic knowledge, generating dialogue, and encouraging involvement in local and national decision-making.

Dr. Paula Montgomery of the League of Women Voters noted that her organization doesn't support candidates but does support voting.

"We support taking part in the government," she said. "We look on voting as our nation's citizens' superpower to get the government that we want. This voting must be done by an educated electorate. Our citizens must understand how the government works and the responsibilities that accompany the right to vote."

Sessions will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings starting Feb. 25 and ending April 1 at Overflow Health Alliance Pensacola, 3101 N. Davis Highway. Interested parties can RSVP to earthethicsaction@gmail.com.

KUDOS FOR RODGERS The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's (MDL) decision to centralize Depo-Provera lawsuits in Pensacola under Judge M. Casey Rodgers represents a significant vote of confidence in the Northern District of Florida's judicial expertise.

"Judge Rodgers has already entered case management order number two and set the initial hearing for Friday, Feb. 21," said Virginia Buchanan of Levin Papantonio, who will take a leading role in the proceedings. "She's also set the second status conference and provided deadlines for parties to identify critical issues requiring her ruling."

The selection of Pensacola as the venue marks a departure from traditional pharmaceutical litigation. Buchanan said, "Historically, those cases have gone to the bigger venues. When you think of our beloved hometown, having the level of legal talent and judicial respect among Judge Rodgers' peers and among the MDL panel members, that is just thrilling and exciting."

Judge Rodgers' reputation for efficiency and thoroughness is well-established through her handling of the 3M earplug litigation, where she managed over 300,000 claims while maintaining an expedited timeline.

The Depo-Provera lawsuits concern Pfizer's widely used contraceptive injection, which re -

cent studies have linked to an increased risk of meningiomas, a type of brain tumor. According to CDC data, approximately one in four sexually experienced women have used Depo-Provera, which has been on the U.S. market for over three decades. The lawsuits allege that Pfizer failed to adequately warn users about these potential risks.

Judge Rodgers' management style, which Buchanan describes as demanding but fair, promises to keep the litigation moving while ensuring thorough consideration of all issues.

"She doesn't gloss over, she doesn't ignore, but she really is demanding in the sense of making us do things promptly, do them right and be accountable," Buchanan said. "Most importantly, the clients get justice that is not delayed, but that is on time."

BYE, BYE BELLAR Dr. David Bellar, Dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health, has notified UWF that he has been named President and CEO at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in Baton Rouge, La.

Provost Dr. Jeremy Kuhl wrote the faculty, "I am grateful for Dr. Bellar's service and leadership at the University of West Florida. Although he only joined us in 2022, I have been impressed with the strides made in increasing the enrollment, visi bility and community engagement for the College. Dr. Bellar also focused on the workforce needs of the region and state, including partnerships with hospitals and other employers."

Dr. Bellar came to UWF in July 2022 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was a professor and chair in the Department of Applied Physiology, Health and Clinical Sciences. In Pensacola, he served as chairman of Achieve Healthy EscaRosa, a collaborative that works to improve health outcomes.

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FranU) is a small private Catholic university that was founded in 1923 as a nursing school. FranU has about 1,366 total students. The full-time enrollment is 737 students, and the part-time enrollment is 491.

Dr. Bellar will continue to serve as Dean through at least the spring semester and plans to complete faculty evaluations before his departure.

BABY BUCKS STORE Community Health

Northwest Florida is launching its Baby Bucks Store, offering expectant mothers a unique way to "shop" for essential baby items. Opening March 7 at the Jackson Street campus, the store will provide car seats, strollers and other necessities through an incentive-based program.

The initiative includes a comprehensive pregnancy Road Map and Passport system to track healthcare milestones. Mothers earn "Baby Bucks" by attending prenatal appointments, which they can later redeem for baby supplies.

To stock the store, Community Health encour ages the public to support the cause by providing gifts for maternal mothers and their expectant babies using the Amazon Baby Registry. Enter "Community Health" as the baby's name. {in}

the 2025 pensacola mardi gras season presented by

inc

When thinking about LGBTQ+ social groups, square dancing might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But for members of Emerald Waves Squares, it's all about keeping an open mind and open ears.

For founder Tim Thorpe, bringing the first all-inclusive, queer-friendly square dance club to Pensacola was about more than just creating a fun hobby—it was about filling a void in the community. Many queer social spaces revolve around nightlife, but Emerald Waves provides a sober, intergenerational space where members can build friendships and connections while staying active.

"I really wanted our community to have something outside of bars, social media and dating apps—a safe space where people can come together," Thorpe said. "I hope more people realize this isn't banjos and hay bales, like they remember from grade school. We dance to modern, upbeat music: classic rock, country, pop and Top 40. After the pandemic, when we lost so many social gatherings, I think it's more important than ever to get people out socializing again."

Thorpe has been square dancing since he was a teenager, traveling the country to visit LGBTQ+ square dance clubs in Atlanta and St. Petersburg before deciding to start one of his own.

"I chose Pensacola because I knew it had a larger LGBTQ+ community, the dance hall was available, and the best caller in the tri-state area was willing to teach here," he said. "Our caller, Nick Hartley, has been instructing and calling square dance for over 50 years. He's one of the most energetic callers around. Most LGBTQ+ square dance groups tend to be more fun, energetic and diverse, and they typically attract younger crowds compared to other dance halls."

Now 62, Thorpe makes the two-hour drive from his home in Marianna to dance in Pensacola every Tuesday. He explained that square dancing

is one of the few dance forms people can continue well into old age since it doesn't require memorizing complex choreography or even having a strong sense of rhythm. If you can walk and listen, you can square dance.

"Square dancing is a great social and physical activity. It brings people together through a shared love of music and dance," he said. "We're a really friendly group. We check our politics and religion at the door. It's also great mental exercise; you have to listen to the calls, process them and then perform them in sync with seven other people, like solving a puzzle in motion. "

Despite the area's religious and political climate, Emerald Waves has been well received, with many allies and straight members from other square dance groups joining. Only once has Thorpe faced pushback—when he was told he couldn't hang a flier with "LGBTQ" on it. But within the group, members break down misconceptions and connect at a personal level.

"I think older generations are typically drawn to square dancing because they're retired and have more free time," Thorpe said. "It does take commitment—you can't miss more than three or four weeks in a row without falling behind. But unless we get younger people involved, it will become a heritage dance that disappears. I like to think that by bringing multiple generations together on the dance floor, we're not only challenging stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community, but also breaking down any preconceived notions younger dancers might have about older generations."

One of those younger members helping keep square dancing alive is Tyler Morris. One of Emerald Waves' most active participants. Morris, who joined in October 2024, first discovered the group through a Facebook post.

"I loved the idea of combining this classic style

Fostering Queer Connection, One Square Dance at a Time

By Dakota Parks

of dance with a younger, more diverse crowd," she said. "For me, it's all about the sense of community. Emerald Waves brings together people from different walks of life, and we literally join hands and circle to the left. Pensacola needs more groups like this. It fills a void by creating a space where LGBTQ+ individuals can feel comfortable, accepted and have fun."

As Thorpe explained, beginners start with a few open house events, where they can try out simple moves in a low-pressure environment before progressing to more structured lessons. "We just get everyone out on the floor with some simple moves," he said. "Then we start to add in some calls and get people used to the verbiage. From there, we break them into squares."

A square consists of four couples arranged in a formation that, when viewed from above, resembles a square—two couples on the front and back, and two on the sides. Each week, dancers build on what they've learned, increasing the number and complexity of calls they can follow. With multiple advanced levels, dancers can choose how far they want to progress, eventually reaching a level where they can dance at mainstream events or square dance conventions anywhere in the U.S. or even internationally.

"Learning to square dance has been so much fun, and it's not nearly as intimidating as it sounds," Morris added. "Right now, we're focusing on the basics: learning the calls and getting comfortable with the movements. Sometimes we mess up the entire square and just laugh it off and try again. It's more about following instructions with music than fancy footwork at this stage."

At its core, square dancing is about movement and teamwork, but for Emerald Waves, it's also about redefining traditions and creating a space where everyone feels welcome. Traditional square dance roles rely on gendered pairings, but

here, those roles are flexible. Members routinely swap positions, and most importantly, have fun in a space where no one pays much attention to who's dancing with whom.

"In square dancing, there are traditional 'beau' and 'belle' roles, which essentially mean left and right. But in our group, those roles are fluid. No one bats an eye if two women dance together. Sometimes it gets tricky and you forget who you're supposed to be, but that's all part of the fun," Morris said. "Some women even wear neckties to signify the 'beau' role. I'm currently learning the 'belle' position, but I'm looking forward to learning the 'beau' role when the next season starts."

Emerald Waves meets every Tuesday evening with beginner and mainstream classes. They also routinely host "Blast Classes" to welcome new dancers into beginner dance groups, and are expecting their next one to happen this fall.

"I would love to see our entire dance hall filled with people dancing," Thorpe said. "I want to see the Pensacola community fall in love with this activity, to experience its value for our social sanity. It's a chance to decompress from the news, from politics, from war and the stresses of work. When you're there, you're focused on dancing, laughing and having a good time with friends. Everything else just melts away." {in}

EMERALD WAVES SQUARES

WHAT: A square dance club for the LGBTQ+ community and allies

WHEN: 6:30-9 p.m. every Tuesday

WHERE: Ragon Hall, 2600 Stratford Road

COST: $10 per class, but spectators are welcome to come watch for free

DETAILS: emeraldwavessquares.com

Photo Courtesy of Emerald Waves Squares

Arts & Entertainment

The Intimacy of Nail Art with Lyrik Lagos

By Sydney Robinson

fun to just do that on a press-on instead of with a client."

Perusing Lagos's virtual art portfolio via Instagram reveals her eclectic, often comedic style featuring pop culture figures like Snoopy, The Addams Family, Hello Kitty, Care Bears, The Muppets and much more, all reproduced for her customers' fingers.

"I'd like to do more nails with handmade charms, and Garfield because he's my muse," said Lagos.

In a world where a French manicure or simple colors are often the norm, how does Lagos find inspiration?

"The nail industry in Japan is something I look up to," said Lagos. "Specifically a shop called Sucre. From grungy nature-inspired to brightly colored plastic maximalism, the boundaries of what makes a beautiful nail are wider there."

Lagos says she's also driven to improve her art from the supportive work environment she shares with fellow nail artists Locklin (@gilded.pensacola) and Paige Storr (@lilpothos).

"It's definitely different from the maledominated circles that I've been in—much more inspiring, much more welcoming, and a lot more respect going around, and not just for women. [Doing] nails is like you're caring for someone. It's art, and then you also get to care for someone."

It's that caring aspect that gets to the heart of why Lagos feels so drawn to the industry.

"One of the reasons why I like doing art on nails is that it's something someone can carry around with them, and something that they can admire about themselves throughout their day. It's a constant reminder that someone cares about you," said Lagos.

For Lagos, that ability to make her customers feel cared for is a responsibility she takes seriously.

"When someone's going through a hard time, you can paint their nails or help them paint their toenails," said Lagos. "I've noticed that is a big part of like, I don't know if you'd call it 'girlhood,' or just, you know, life. But it means a lot to me."

"You hold hands with your clients all day, so you inevitably become friends," said Lagos.

Two years ago, Lagos decided to take her self-taught artistic background to the nail world after being influenced by friend and fellow nail artist Savannah Locklin to try out the medium.

"Savannah was like, 'If you're good at art, you'd be great at nails,'" said Lagos. "It took me about five years to get around to finally doing it."

Lagos and her customers joy in equal measure.

"I'm really enjoying it, because I love doing nails. I wasn't expecting to love it."

Lagos has found a way to bring her art to local markets and connect more with the wider arts community, participating in Pensacola Arts Market and other small maker spaces where she sells press-on nail art, ceramics, oil painting and even pom-pom earrings.

"I like press-ons because you can do more of an intricate design that would take a really long time, you know, because the dry manicure I do takes a while," said Lagos. "So like, if someone wants character art, sometimes it's

"Having really talented nail friends inspires me to be better and learn more. Having a bond with another artist is special and I'm lucky enough to have two with my nail girls at Left of Venus," said Lagos.

A unique aspect of the nail art medium is that customers are often co-creators, bringing ideas and inspiration of their own to the salon.

"If it's a new client, I like them to come to me with ideas," said Lagos. "But once you get to know someone, that's when the inspiration comes and you can be like, 'You're gonna love this.'"

In an industry that is most often by women and for women, Lagos feels the local nail art industry benefits from being a more feminine space.

While Lagos is eager to hold hands with anyone in need of some pampering, she finds extra joy in working with fellow artists.

"Hands are really important to an artist, and so I take a lot of pride in caring for my artistic clients' hands. I mean, they're important for everyone, but I feel like especially when you do art, you really value your hands," said Lagos.

As a self-taught creative, Lagos welcomes other creatives in the field.

"You just have to want it really bad," said Lagos. "You have to want to be good. You have to want to learn." {in}

Lyrik Lagos's Hot Dog Nailz @hotdognailz

Photos Courtesy of Lyrik Lagos

MARDI GRAS EVENTS

MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE PARTY & KING CAKE COMPETITION Enjoy specialty brews, Cajun food specials, live local music and king cake 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Coastal County Brewing Co., 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com.

KREWE OF AVANT GARDE'S ANNUAL MASQUERADE MARDI GRAS BALL & SALUTE TO OUR ARMED FORCES The Krewe of Avant Garde invites the community to the Annual Masked Mardi Gras Ball at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21 at the Pensacola Yacht Club, located at 1897 Cypress St., to show support for our military and enjoy dancing with live band music by the Platinum Premier Band. Dinner, mask contest, court program and cash bar provided. There will be a special salute to all our armed services. Tickets are $60 per person. Reservations are required for this formal, black-tie-optional event. To RSVP, contact the Krewe at pmv@cox.net.

CRUISING FOR STRIKES: THE LOVE BOAT BOWLING TOURNAMENT NautiKrewe and Krewe of Cheers are hosting a bowling tournament to raise funds for their nonprofit organizations 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Deluna Lanes, 590 E. Nine Mile Road. Cost is $30 per person or $120 per team. There will be a 50/50 Raffle and a Liquor Basket Raffle. Dress in your favorite Love Boat/nautical attire.

NAVARRE KREWE OF JESTERS MARDI GRAS PARADE Parade is 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 on Navarre Beach.

MARDI GRAS CUISINE Cooking class is 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Cost is $100 per couple. Registration closes 24 hours prior to class. Sign up at pensacolacooks.com.

KREWE OF AFRICAN KINGS BALL This invite-only event crowns the new king and queen for the year, 6-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

KREWE OF WRECKS 45TH ANNIVERSARY GRAND COSTUME BALL Dress in costume (this year's theme is '70s) or formal. Event is 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Whiskey Joe's, 400 Quietwater Beach Road, Ste. 13. Cost is $60 per person with cash bar or additional $40 for open bar. Details kreweofwrecks.com.

Support Manna Food Bank with Krewe of Sparta 12-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23. Manna is located at 3030 N. E St.

KREWE OF LAFITTE ILLUMINATED

MARDI GRAS PARADE Head to downtown Pensacola for the Illuminated Mardi Gras Parade 7:30-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. on Palafox and Government streets.

ILLUMINATED LIGHTS: MARDI GRAS

VIEWING PARTY Watch the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade from the balcony of Bodacious with treats 7-9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $60 and available on Eventbrite.

MARDI GRAS DOG SHOW Dog competitions, food vendors and more 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 2 at Escambia Equestrian Center, 7750 Mobile Highway.

MARDI GRASS & BRASS AT THE HANDLE-

BAR Show featuring The New Cahoots and 5 Mile Brass 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information at thehandbar850.com.

MARDI GRAS WEEKEND AT SEVILLE

QUARTER Start your Parade Day off at Seville Quarter with all the festive Mardi Gras Krewes and pre-parade parties 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1 ahead of the Grand Mardi Gras Parade, which rolls at 2 p.m. On Fat Tuesday, Seville Quarter will transform into the French Quarter from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. Located at 130 E. Government St. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

MARDI PARTY AT THE LOFT Watch the parades, enjoy festive drinks, king cake and more at The Loft at the Mercantile, 2 Intendencia St. 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Details at rustedarrowmercantile.com/events.

PENSACOLA GRAND MARDI GRAS PA-

RADE Watch the Grand Mardi Gras parade 2-7 p.m. Saturday, March 1 in downtown Pensacola on Palafox and Government streets. Details at pensacolamardigras.com.

MARDI GRAS PARTY AT ODD COLONY Get in spirit of Mardi Gras with Nite Tripper Kettle Sour Beer release and dancing 1-7 p.m. Saturday,

March 1 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.

KREWE OF WRECKS STREET DANCE Bring your beads, napkins, umbrellas and more to enjoy a New Orleans-style street dance at Crabs, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk, 12 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Open to the public.

KREWE OF WRECKS PARADE Head to Pensacola Beach for the Krewe of Wrecks Parade 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2 along Via de Luna to Gulfside Pavilion.

RED BEANS AND RICE The Krewe of Wrecks serves up free red beans and rice 11 a.m. Monday, March 3 at Sandshaker, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Open to the public.

KREWE OF COMA Mardi Gras season finishes with Krewe of Coma Lighted Hat Contact and Coronation ceremony 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 4.

4TH ANNUAL MARDI GRAS BEAD TREE CLEAN-UP Help clean up the beads in downtown Pensacola to be collected and donated to Arc Gateway where they will be sorted, sanitized and repackaged for next year. The clean up is 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 8 on Palafox and Government streets. Find the volunteer sign up sheet at pensacolamardigras.com.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 or older to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

ARTIST TALK WITH DANIELA DE CASTRO

SUCRE Pensacola Museum of Art hosts an artist talk with muralist Daniela de Castro Sucre 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Event is free. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.

FRIENDS OF THE WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARY WINTER BOOK SALE Visit the

West Florida Public Library, 239 N. Spring St., for deals on books. On Friday, Feb. 21 the sale is 3-7 p.m. with $5 admission for non-members. The sale continues 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 with free admission and book prices half-off, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 with free admission and $7 bag sale. For more information, visit friendsofwfpl.org.

MORNING AT THE MUSEUM AT NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM "Morning at the Museum" at the National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., includes a Chickfil-A breakfast, presentations from the Museum's curatorial staff and a movie in the giant screen theater. Guests also have the chance to win prizes. Doors open at 9 a.m. and presentations begin at 10 a.m. Tickets are $20 each. No admission for children under 4. Purchase tickets at navalaviationmuseum.org/tickets. Dates include Feb. 21, Cities of the Future; Feb. 25, Jerusalem; Feb. 28, Desert Elephants.

THEATER COMES TO PENSACOLA: THE TIVOLI HIGH HOUSE AND PENSACOLA OPERA HOUSE Hear the story of how theater came to Pensacola: from dancing, gambling and theatrical performances to the famous and infamous attendees and performers including a notorious gunslinger—all ending in a coin toss. Event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF UWF Theatre Department presents the classic "Fiddler on the Roof" 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Feb. 21 and Saturdays, Feb. 22 at UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Bdg. 82. Tickets are $16-$20. Visit uwf.edu/cfpa for details.

FEBRUARY MEWVIE NIGHT: HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS Head to Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St., to watch "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and cuddle with adoptable cats 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21. Cost is $32 and includes complimentary popcorn, coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea. Details at coastalcatpcola.com.

GALLERY NIGHT: FORKS & FRAMES A foodie-themed Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 in downtown Pensacola on South Palafox St. For details, visit gallerynightpensacola.com.

ALTON BROWN: LIVE Event is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information available at pensacolasaenger.com.

OPERA AFTER DARK Enjoy a concert from Pensacola Opera studio artists 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Tickets are $25 and available at pensacolaopera.com.

LINOCUT PRINTMAKING CLASS Learn the art of carving designs and creating your own stamps 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Cost is $32. Tickets and details available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

SIP AND PAINT WITH THE TRAVELING PAINTER Paint-and-sip event with the choice

Photo Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

a&e happenings

of two designs 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Tickets and information available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

SEAN OF THE SOUTH Event is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

24 HOUR THEATRE Actors and writers will audition, write and produce a play within 24 hours starting 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 and perform the play 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and information available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

PENSACOLA COMMUNITY ARTS & RECREATION ASSOCIATION PRESENTS: HALLELUJAH CAFÉ From playwright Leroy Williams, this comedic play will be performed at Pensacola High School Auditorium, 500 W. Maxwell St., 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Tickets are $15 and available at pcaraonline.com.

CUBED 2025: LIVE PAINTING EVENT Head to Museum Plaza and watch artists paint murals 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Details at pensacolamusuem.org.

IMPROVABLE CAUSE Monthly improv show the first Saturday of the month. The next Improvable Cause show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and information available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

RISING TIDE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN DEPP

This exhibition is part of Ben Depp's ongoing project documenting the rapidly shifting landscape of Southern Louisiana. Depp has been flying above the bayous and wetlands of Southern Louisiana in a powered paraglider for 10 years, photographing the visual clues that tell the story of this place and its destruction. Exhibit on view through Friday, April 4 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for hours.

71ST ANNUAL YOUTH ART FOCUS The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., in partnership with the PMA Guild and Escambia County Public Schools, is proud to present the 71st Annual Youth Art Focus exhibition,

showcasing artwork from across the Escambia County School District. The exhibition serves as a celebration of the strong artistic achievements of K-12 students and their teachers. Exhibit is on view through Feb. 23. Visit pensacolamuseum. orrg for hours.

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.

THE BRENT LOFTS ART EXHIBIT Exhibit of

Sally T. Miller, abstract painter, and Erica Dukes, travel photographer inside The Brent Lofts, 17 S. Palafox St. Exhibit will be on display through March 30. Details at facebook.com/thebrentlofts.

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 St. 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.

FOOD + DRINKS

FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH During the month of February, Five Sisters Blues Café will celebrate Black History Month featuring dishes inspired by Black culinary innovators. From Feb. 17-23: Edna Lewis, Grande Dame of Southern Cooking; and for the entire month: John Young, Buffalo's Wing King, and Nathan "Nearest" Green, the original Jack Daniels. Find more info at fivesistersbluescafe.com.

ITALY V. SPAIN WINE DINNER Enjoy four courses and eight wines with hosts Juston Takacs and Jeremy Agricola 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Drift, 41 Fort Pickens Road. Details available at driftpcola.com.

BLIND WINE TASTING WITH RANDY HAMILTON Event is 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20

at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $45 and available on Eventbrite.

NAPLES TO NAPA: A FOOD AND WINE EVENT Join Chef Ian Gilette and wine expert Matt Nichols for a special wine dinner 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Angelena's Italian Ristorante, 101 E. Intendencia St. Cost is $100 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (850) 542-8398 or visiting angelenaspensacola.com.

NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY AT SEVILLE QUARTER

Seville Quarter celebrates National Margarita Day 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, Feb. 22 with festival vibes and creative cocktails. Guests named Margarita or Rita get their first margarita free (just show a valid ID). Located at 130 E. Government St. More info at sevillequarter.com.

RIVER WOODS RANCH DINNER SERIES WITH CHEF MATTHEW AND CHEF CHRIS

Enjoy the food of Spain at this special dinner event 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $110 and available at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

SAGE IN BLOOM: COOKING WITH THE SEASONS Cooking class is 6-8 p.m. Friday February 28 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Cost is $60 per student (adults only). Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classes-and-events.

7TH ANNUAL GIRL SCOUTS COOKIES AND CRAFT BEER Craft beer and Girl Scout cookie pairing event 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Tickets are $20 and available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

FUN WITH FONDUE Cooking class is 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C. Cost is $100 per couple (adults only). Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/ classes-and-events.

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

a&e happenings

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.

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain. com/upcoming-events for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT

AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9-11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719

E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays

a&e happenings

at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC

BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

CANDLELIGHT The next Candlelight events are 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 with a Tribute to Adele; 6:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 Mozart, Bach and Timeless Composers; and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 Back to The Beatles. All events at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Tickets available at feverup.com.

SCHISM: TOOL TRIBUTE BAND Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

LOGAN PILCHER "BEAUTIFUL LØSER"

ALBUM RELEASE Show is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Tickets are $15 and available at facebook.com/oddcolony.

PALOMINO BLOND, HIGH, LAZY CHAIR Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

GASOLINA: REGGAETON PARTY Show is 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

AGENT ORANGE Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

COWBOY BEBOP LIVE Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

ROMAN STREET FEAT. ANDY VARGAS Show is 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and details available at pensacolasaenger.com.

I AM, HE SAID: CELEBRATING NEIL

DIAMOND Show is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and details available at pensacolasaenger.com.

JUSTIN BIEBER NIGHT Themed dance night is 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. For ages 18 and up. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

DIRTWIRE & MOONTRICKS Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.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 QUAR-

TER 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, 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.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OCEAN HOUR CLEAN UPS Ocean Hour

Clean Ups are 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. On Feb. 22, the sites are Morgan Park and Lexington Terrace Park. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and buckets. 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, Feb. 21

•7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22

•4:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23

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. Friday, Feb. 21

•9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22

•6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23

BLOSSOM ROLLER SKATE CLUB Join a community of skaters and get hands-on coaching to learn how to roller skate and gain confidence skating outdoors. The adults-only club will meet 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 at Chimes Way Skatepark, 5002 Chimes Way. Must provide your own skates and safety gear.

CYCLE SUNDAY Join Bike Pensacola for a 30-minute slow ride 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 and then return to Emerald Republic, 1414 W. Government St. for some brews, food and fun. Details at facebook.com/bikepensacola.

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.

free will astrology

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): The Hindu holiday of Maha Shivaratri is dedicated to overcoming ignorance and darkness in celebrants' own lives and in the world. This year it falls on February 26. Even if you're not Hindu, I recommend you observe your own personal version of it. To do so would be in accordance with astrological omens. They suggest that the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to be introspective, study your life and history and initiate changes that will dispel any emotional or spiritual blindness you might be suffering from. P.S.: Remember that not all darkness is bad! But some is unhealthy and demoralizing, and that's the kind you should banish and transmute.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The blue whale is the most massive animal that has ever lived. You could swim through its arteries. Its heart is five feet high and weighs 400 pounds. And yet, when diving, its pulse slows to four to eight times per minute. I propose we choose the blue whale to be your spirit creature in the coming weeks. May this magnificent beast inspire you to cultivate slow, potent rhythms that serve you better than hyperactivity. Let's assume you will accomplish all you need by maintaining a steady, measured pace—by focusing on projects that require depth and diligence rather than speed. Your natural persistence will enable you to tackle tasks that might overwhelm those who lack your patience.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Over 10,000 years ago, someone walked for a mile through what's now White Sands National Park in New Mexico. We know they did because they left footprints that were fossilized. Scientists believe it was probably a woman who mostly carried a child and sometimes let the child walk under its own power. Like those ancient footprints, your actions in the coming weeks may carry lasting significance—more than may be immediately apparent. I encourage you to proceed as if you are making a more substantial impact and having a bigger influence than you imagine.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): What's the oldest known recipe? What ancient food product did our ancestors write down instructions about how

By Rob Brezsny

to make? It was beer! The 4,000-year-old Sumerian text included a hymn to Ninkasi, the goddess of beer. It tells how to use the right ingredients and employ careful fermentation to concoct a beverage that lowers inhibitions and brings people together in convivial celebration. In that spirit, Cancerian, I encourage you to meditate on the elements you can call on to create merrymaking and connection. Now is a good time to approach this holy task with extra focus and purposefulness.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In November 1963, the captain of a sardine boat sailing near Iceland noticed a column of dark smoke rising out of the water. Was it another boat on fire? No, it was the beginning of a volcanic eruption. A few days later, steady explosions had created a new island, Surtsey, which still exists today. I suspect you will have a metaphorically comparable power in the coming weeks, Leo: an ability to generate a new creation out of fervent energies rising out of the hot depths. Be alert! And be ready to harness and make constructive use of the primal force.

load, a great and strange burden for the spirit to undertake." I know from experience there's truth in that idea. But I'm happy to tell you that in 2025, freedom will be less heavy and less burdensome than maybe ever before in your life. In fact, I suspect liberation will be relatively smooth and straightforward for you. It won't be rife with complications and demands, but will be mostly fun and pleasurable. Having said that, I do foresee a brief phase when working on freedom will be a bit more arduous: the next few weeks. The good news is that your emancipatory efforts will set the stage for more ease during the rest of 2025.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Always and forever, the world is a delicate balance of seemingly opposing forces that are in fact interwoven and complementary: light and shadow, determination and surrender, ascent and descent, fullness and emptiness, progress and integration, yes and no. The apparent polarities need and feed each other. In the coming weeks, I invite you to meditate on these themes. Are there areas of your life where you have been overly focused on one side of the scale while neglecting the other? If so, consider the possibility of recalibrating. Whether you are balancing emotion with logic, rest with work, or connection with independence, take time to adjust. If you honor both halves of each whole, you will generate fertile harmonies.

I propose we make the tardigrade your power creature for the coming weeks, dear Capricorn. Your flexibility and fluidity will be at a peak. You will be hardy, supple and durable. It will be a favorable time to leave your comfort zone and test your mettle in new environments. Seemingly improbable challenges may be well within your range of adaptability.

Seemingly improbable challenges may be well within your range of adaptability.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In the coming days, playing games could be good practice for life. Breezy exchanges and fun activities could stimulate clues and insights that will be useful in making important decisions. What appears to be ordinary entertainment or social engagement may provide you with profound lessons about strategy and timing. How you manage cooperation and competition in those lighter moments could yield useful guidance about more serious matters.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson was a 10thcentury Danish king. He united the tribes of Denmark into a single kingdom. His nickname originated in the fact that he had a prominent dead tooth that turned bluishgray. More than 10 centuries later, engineers who created a new short-range wireless technology decided to call their invention "bluetooth." Why? Because they imagined it would serve a variety of electronic devices, just as the king once blended the many tribes. In the spirit of these bluetooth phenomena, I'm urging you Virgos to be a uniter in the coming weeks and months. You will have an enhanced capacity to bridge different worlds and link disparate groups. PS: An aspect that could be construed as an imperfection, like Harald's tooth, could conceal or signify a strength.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin wrote, "Freedom is a heavy

SAGITTARIUS

(NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The ancient stands of cedar trees on Japan's Yakushima Island have a special power. They create weather patterns for themselves, generating rain clouds from the water vapor they release through their leaves. This ingenious stroke of self-nurturing provides them with the exact rainfall they require. I propose that we make these cedar trees your power symbol in the coming weeks. It's an excellent time for you to dream up and implement more of the conditions you need to flourish.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Tardigrades are tiny, eight-legged animals colloquially known as water bears or moss piglets. Their resilience is legendary. They can thrive anywhere, from mountaintops to the deep sea, from Antarctica to tropical rainforests. They can withstand extreme temperatures, live a long time without water and even survive in outer space.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Have you been struggling to summon the motivation to start anew in some area of your life? I predict that sometime in the coming weeks, you will find all the motivation you need. Have you been wishing you could shed the weight of the past and glide into a fresh project with unburdened mind and heart? I believe that destiny will soon conspire to assist you in this noble hope. Are you finally ready to exorcise a pesky ghost and dash jubilantly toward the horizon, eager to embrace your future? I think you are.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: If you like my writing here, you might like my newsletter: newsletter. freewillastrology.com. {in}

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THE WEIRDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

A United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Chicago was forced to divert to Denver on Feb. 9 after a passenger became unruly, LiveandLetsFly.com reported. The man was up out of his seat repeatedly and argued with flight attendants before demanding to know "Where are the Mormons?" One passenger said the incident "escalated into a big physical altercation and several passengers had to rush out of their seats to help the crew pin down this person." Although the troublemaker was removed from the flight in Denver, the plane sat on the ground for about five hours before continuing to Chicago.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Domino's Pizza UK has launched its first-ever eau de toilette, Eau de Passion, which is inspired by its Pepperoni Passion pizza and features notes of spice, pepper and a woody, warm base, the New York Post reported. The scent's bottle is shaped like a slice of pizza, and the cologne is free from Domino's website if you're lucky enough to be chosen to receive one. British star Luke Debono, who's promoting the scent, said it is "the perfect gift for passionate pizza-loving couples looking to spice things up this Valentine's Day."

NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE A high school teacher in Queensland, Australia, has taken to identifying as a cat, 7News-TV reported on Feb. 10. "Miss Purr," as she prefers to be known, teaches at Marsden State High School, where she "screeches and growls when (her students) don't listen," one person posted on Facebook. She also hisses and licks the backs of her hands during class and wears a headband with cat ears. One concerned mother said Miss Purr had made her daughter "purr for a lolly." The Department of Education said the school was aware of the complaints and the principal is speaking with the teacher.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY On Feb. 10 in Inazawa, Japan, more than 7,000 men wearing only loincloths participated in the Konomiya Naked Festival at a Shinto shrine, The Mainichi reported. The event, which has been held for more than 1,200 years on the 13th day of the first lunar month, features a "god-man" who is thought to carry away misfortune if you touch him. This year's "god-man" was 26-year-old Ryota Kato, who threw himself into the crowd as the men chanted and fought to touch him. About an hour later, he emerged from the crowd and entered the shrine.

INEXPLICABLE Law enforcement officers in South Holland, England, are stumped by a rash of pet cats returning to their homes with patches of missing fur, The Spalding and South Holland Voice reported on Feb. 12. The cats have apparently been shaved. "This behavior is completely unacceptable," said inspector Matt Dickinson. "The cats in question are someone's pet, part of their family." Evidently, it's not the

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

first time the mysterious cat shaver has struck; two Facebook commenters said their cats had been shaved in past years.

IT'S COME TO THIS A manufacturer of fortune cookies contacted the owner of a Vietnamese restaurant in Sydney, Australia, to announce they would no longer fill her orders for custom messages that are offensive or contain expletives. 9News reported that Nahji Chu, owner of Lady Chu, ordered profanity-laced cookies for Valentine's Day. But after the manufacturer mistakenly sent some of Chu's cookies to fulfill another order, causing distress with that customer, they changed their policy. Chu wasn't happy: "If you're getting it mixed up with other restaurants, that's not my fault," she said. Some of Chu's more PG-rated cookie messages include, "You are capable of great things. But all you do is look at your phone all day. You won't be that great sorry! #ladychu" and "The year of the snake bears good fortune! Your divorce is coming soon." She said she'll "take out the profanities and be creative" with her next order.

OOPS! The Lee County (Florida, where else?) Sheriff's Office is investigating after a Feb. 7 incident involving an allegedly intoxicated man riding on a lawnmower, WESH-TV reported. A video camera caught the mower plowing into a mailbox along the street; the man went heels over head and stumbled away from the mower, then returned and drove off, apparently hitting multiple other mailboxes along the way. Matt Clardy, whose mailbox was among the victims, called it "absolutely disgusting" but admitted, "It's so funny. I can watch it 100 times." The man left behind a Pittsburgh Steelers hat and sunglasses at one of the scenes; police are still trying to identify him.

IT'S A DIRTY JOB Nath Wyld is a star at Magic Men, a strip club in Prahran, Australia—or at least, he was, until he discovered a more lucrative line of work. Metro News reported on Feb. 10 that Wyld makes about 20,000 pounds a year by posting videos of himself passing gas on TikTok. The onetime carpenter joined OnlyFans in 2017 and soon made enough with his X-rated videos to quit his daytime job. About two years in, he got a request for a fart video, which he initially refused. "I was blown away (no pun intended) by the demand and I have been making them ever since," Wyld said. "Some want to see my facial expressions; others just want to see me from far away," he said of the custom videos he makes. Wyld said he "starts bloated—kind of part of the process—and go through the video until I feel lighter by the end. ... I've been doing this long enough to know that everyone's into their own thing, and that's cool." {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2025 Andrews McMeel