Inweekly Feb 6 2020 Issue

SUPPORTING THE GIRLS Independent News | February 6, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 6 | Photo by Emily Goodstein Photography

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winners & losers

outtakes

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5

news 6, 8 & 10

It kind of has a mystic power to it.

buzz

a&e

calendar

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12 publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Michael Daw

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

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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. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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February 6, 2020

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winners & losers

Troy Rafferty

winners

TROY RAFFERTY At the 2020 Living the

Dream celebration, the Pensacola attorney announced that he and his wife Ashley were donating $100,000 to create the Rafferty Academy to help inner-city children prepare for college. The donation will further expand the Rafferty Hope Scholarships and provide tutoring, mentors and hands-on help for middle school students through graduation from high school.

ROGER HEMMINGHAUS The University of West Florida announced a $200,000 gift from Roger Hemminghaus to name the Roy and Henrietta (Etts) Hemminghaus Chemistry Lab in the new Laboratory Sciences Annex. The gift will support scholarships for students in the Department of Chemistry.

Roger opted to support the annex in honor of his late father, Roy Hemminghaus, who served as senior project coordinator and general manager for the Chemstrand Corporation nylon plant, established in Pensacola in the 1950s.

ALLEN TURNER HYUNDAI Allen

Turner and the employees of Allen Turner Hyundai recently presented a check to Manna, as they do annually, bringing their total donations since 2012 to more than $185,000. Their donations are the equivalent of more than 110,000 healthy meals for neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Allen Turner Hyundai employees give back by donating via payroll through the year, and at the end of the year, Allen Turner matches their donations dollar for dollar.

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Rick Scott

losers

STEP UP FOR STUDENTS Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank have said they will not be donating millions of dollars to Florida's private school voucher program after an Orlando Sentinel investigation found that some of the program's beneficiaries discriminate against LGBTQ students. The newspaper uncovered that 156 private Christian schools with anti-gay views educated more than 20,000 students across the state with tuition paid for by vouchers. Among those schools with anti-gay views, 83 do not permit LGBTQ students to attend.

Some of the schools prohibit students whose parents are gay. Meanwhile, the Florida House is considering a bill that would relax auditing requirements for the Step Up for Students program.

COMPLETE FLORIDA PLUS Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics reported last week that the audit of the University of West Florida's alleged mismanagement of Complete Florida Plus would last through late March. The State University System Board of Governors now expects to report its findings when it meets March 24.

The university had hoped the audit would be completed by end of 2019 and before the 2020 Legislative Session ended. Let’s hope the delay doesn’t hurt the appropriations for UWF.

RICK SCOTT The Rick Scott for Senate PAC placed a Fox News-only cable buy in the Des Moines market that ran from Jan. 31-Feb. 3 as the Democrats prepared for the Iowa Caucus. No, Scott didn’t announce that he has switched parties. The Republican senator from Florida used the airtime to bash former Vice President Joe Biden.

inweekly.net

1821 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DR.

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

NEEDING HEROES For the past two months, I’ve contemplated heroism. Sheriff David Morgan helped me crystalize many of my thoughts with his speech at the ceremony that honored the law enforcement officers who engaged the terrorist at NAS Pensacola on Dec. 6.

I agree with him that our nation today needs true heroes—not fictional movie characters or politicians that tout their courage for a vote on an issue, but heroes that risk their lives for justice and freedom, not for personal gain but for honor and duty.

“We want to believe in the truth. We want to believe that there’s still justice in our nation and the world,” said Sheriff Morgan at the awards ceremony.

“We want to believe that decency still exists. There’s still those amongst us that if ever called upon to make that ultimate sacrifice that, yes, we too would answer that call.”

The stories of the men and women— military, law enforcement and civilian—who confronted the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola must be memorialized and shared.

As the sheriff said, “We need to remember that courage and sacrifice are not Republican or Democrat—not white, not black, not Hispanic or any other ethnic group. It’s about duty and honor and country. Those who wear the uniform, we know that concerns about self are to be left at the door.”

The stories of heroism on Dec. 6, 2019, have yet to be told entirely, but the ceremony, which I covered in “Honoring Our Heroes,” gave us a glimpse of the bravery of those who confronted the active shooter.

Days before the shooting, I had met retired Lt. Col. Andrew M. Del Gaudio, USMC, the former Operations Officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and who served in combat in Ramadi, Iraq. For his actions, Del Gaudio was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Purple Heart. Del Gaudio is member of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties’ Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 566 Del Gaudio shared his experience in the Marine Corps and talked about being a team leader on antiterrorism cases with the local law firm Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz. We discussed the military veterans who have struggled since they’ve returned and how the firm has assembled a team of veterans to help their fellow service members—many who are heroes that go unnoticed for their acts of courage in Afghanistan and Iraq. The conversation led to my article “Still Fighting.”

It’s vital for our nation that we remember acts of bravery and sacrifice and pass on those memories to our children and grandchildren. We need to inspire the next generation of heroes. {in} rick@inweekly.net

The stories of the men and women—military, law enforcement and civilian—who confronted the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola must be memorialized and shared.

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STILL FIGHTING

HMC Henry Gonzales, USN (FMF), Andrew M. Del Gaudio, PhD. with CWO-4 Woody Williams, USMC (Ret), WWII Medal of Honor

By Rick Outzen For team leader Andrew M. Del Gaudio and his fellow military veterans at the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz law firm, their mission is to take care of men and women like them and often people with whom they served.

“We’re still fighting,” said Del Gaudio, a member of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties’ Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 566. “We can do this for them.

They are, in fact, our mission.”

In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced that 3M Company headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., had agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly sold the dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs to the United States military from 2003-2015 without disclosing defects that hampered their effectiveness.

In the lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act, the federal government had alleged that the company covered up the fact that the dual-ended earplugs could slightly loosen, allowing hearing damage to occur. The settlement did nothing for the thousands of service members who were supplied the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs for hearing protection from close range firearms and other loud impact noises.

Law firms around the country began to 66

file lawsuits against 3M, alleging that the company designed the earplugs in a defective manner and failed to warn users of the defect or to provide proper instructions for their use. Their clients reported hearing loss, tinnitus, permanent hearing damage and deafness believed to be caused by the defective earplugs.

In April 2019, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized and transferred all the 3M Combat Arms Earplug Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2885, to federal court in the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola before Judge M. Casey Rodgers. The following month, Judge Rodgers selected the leadership for the plaintiffs in the 3M Combat Arms Earplugs MDL. Judge Rodgers named Bryan Aylstock of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Lead Counsel. Local attorneys Brian Barr of Levin Papantonio and Michael Burns of Mostyn Law were named Co-Liaison Counsel.

According to Aylstock’s co-founding partner Doug Kreis, the firm’s interest in the 3M litigation came naturally because of his HR director Donna Law and the team of veterans she has hired since joining the firm in 2012.

“Shortly after Donna came aboard as our HR, we started hiring service members,” said Kreis. “And we just really lucked into a couple of really great teammates that

came in from the local community that were Navy and Air Force. Today, we’re up to about 24 military veterans, and it continues to grow.”

When the 3M settlement was announced, the firm called together its military veteran employees. Kreis explained, “I got feedback from our staff regarding their hearing loss, their use of this product and what they were told in terms of how to use it.”

He continued, “We understood immediately after getting feedback from our people in-house that the effect of having poor ear protection in the military context is devastating. And so, immediately, we got with Donna and other teammates, and we put an all-points bulletin out to get as many service members from the local community as we could from all branches. And we’ve been so fortunate to have put together the team that we have.”

HELPING FELLOW VETERANS

On a recent Thursday, Kreis had eight of his team meet with Inweekly to discuss their work. As Kreis had mentioned, Donna Law has handled HR for the firm for eight years.

“Prior to that, I was in the military for four years active, two years national guard, United States Army military intelligence,” Law shared. “The reason why I chose to come to work for the firm is because when you’re in the military, you rely on the things

that are issued to you. So if they fail, why did they fail? And who’s responsible for that? And I have a passion for helping people and holding people accountable for their actions. And so that’s why I’m here.”

Marine Corps veteran Robert Williams said, “I’ll say the most important thing I love about working in the 3M case here is it helps me help my other fellow veterans.”

He continued, “I’ve talked to tons of guys with PTSD and depression. They really didn’t even want to do this. It gives them flashbacks, and just to be able to sit down and have a conversation with someone whose been through what you’ve been through really helps me out, and it also helps them out, so I just love giving back.”

“I did four years as an Army CBRN officer, which is chemical biological, radiological, nuclear,” said Michael Wells with a smile. “Sounds super fancy. It’s just a lot of like testing.”

Wells remembered members of the service talking about the 3M case when he was in the Army.

“We’re all talking about how bad everybody’s hearing is and all the problems that go along with it,” he said. “So immediately, I knew it was something that I wanted to get into. I started on the 3M team and then have since migrated over to the anti-terrorism team where I deal with a lot of guys that I worked with in the military, a bunch of guys that had some really terrible experiences. It’s nice to help them through this stuff.”

Air Force veteran Jennifer Lose works in the communications department.

"A lot of people have a hard time trying to figure out the right way to ask these veterans questions because of what they’ve been through." Jennifer Lose “We’re pretty much the first ones that talk to the majority of our clients, especially when it comes to the military side with 3M and antiterrorism,” Lose said. “A lot of people have a hard time trying to figure out the right way to ask these veterans questions because of what they’ve been through.”

She continued, “So it’s one thing that I’ve kind of been striving to do better—trying to find the right way to talk to these people and get their information so that we can help them.”

Bradley Ermi spent six years in the Air Force as a crew chief on fighter jets. He and Marine Corps infantry veteran Dustin Turner help the team and give input on what would be best questions for the veterans to answer. inweekly.net

“How we could help them and how they would understand the terminology, because a lot of the terms are very confusing,” said Ermi. “Being able to help with the questionnaires has made it a lot easier for us to communicate with the veterans. And they’re not so frustrated because a lot of them have PTSD and other things.”

Michelle Press, a Coast Guard reservist, deals with clients referred by other law firms. She said, “I haven’t been on other legal teams here, but this one it seems like it’s more of a friendly relationship with the clients because we can talk the language and can understand what they’ve been going through.”

“I like the way the firms also set up different ways for you to flag a case,” Press shared.

“If something is going on with that person, like there’s a gentleman that only wants to talk to so and so every time he calls, so we can flag the case and identify that.”

Press and the team strive to help their fellow veterans through the process.

"And just knowing that we have different avenues for them to complete this process is really helpful." Michelle Press “We’ve had a couple of people that, because of the PTSD, they get frustrated by the text or just trying to complete the paperwork,” she said. “But if you can actually talk to them and say, okay, you don’t have to do it by yourself, I’ll walk you through it over the phone—that has really calmed a lot of people down. And just knowing that we have different avenues for them to complete this process is really helpful.”

THE HUMAN CONNECTION

The firm has also filed lawsuits against Iran on behalf of soldiers and their families for life-altering injuries or deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan caused by advanced weaponry that was supplied by Iran.

“The Anti-Terrorism Act defined certain battles where if a soldier was injured by, for example, an IED or a mortar or you can establish that that person was shot by a sniper who was trained by groups backed

by Iranian money, those soldiers meet the initial qualifications for having a claim that is brought in the federal court in D.C.,” explained Kreis.

If the lawsuit is successful, the soldiers and their families are compensated from the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund, which was established by banks that participated or facilitated money laundering from Iran to terrorist organizations that bought weaponry and munitions to carry out terrorist attacks on American service members.

“The soldiers who come to us have very significant injuries,” said Kreis. “These are individuals that were in the zone of danger, near or right under an IED—people with lost limbs, broken backs, paraplegics and quads.

We also represent families of deceased service members.”

February 6, 2020

The anti-terrorism lawsuits are timesensitive, according to Kreis. He said, “The Congressional Act that requires the six banks to fund annually sunsets in 2026, and so the urgent situation we find ourselves in today is that it takes several years to bring this case and we are up against 2026 … sounds like a lot of time, but it’s only six more years.”

Kreis added, “We don’t have a lot of time because it’s a tremendous effort to do all the fact-finding.”

Retired Lt. Colonel Del Gaudio, USMC, handles the Gold Star family cases on the anti-terrorism side. Del Gaudio is the former Operations Officer of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and served in combat in Ramadi, Iraq. For his actions, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” and the Purple Heart. Gold Star families are the immediate family members of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict.

“With our Gold Star families, it is a very, very different dynamic because every time you talk to these folks, you are going to elicit taking them right back to the day they got handed a folded flag,” said Del Gaudio.

“Often, I’ll make contact with them via text or by phone, and then I’m going to go see them personally because you want to talk about that which is most personal where they’re going to be comfortable.”

He continued, “You want to talk to them about not only their son or their daughter’s sacrifice but relate to them in a way that they know that you know what you’re talking about.”

According to Del Gaudio, it usually doesn’t take much time to find a connection. He might know the Marine’s captain or lieutenant or where they served. He said, “It’s that human connection that allows us to help them—not only helping them with the lawsuit but also helping them get to the point that they can even talk about what happened. So there’s a certain cathartic aspect for not only them but for us as well.”

He added, “We have some way that we can talk to them—being able to make that connection and to use the relationships that we’ve developed over a course of years to get to the point that we can have a discussion with them about that. It’s invaluable for everybody.”

Williams reiterated the point about the value of having a team comprised of service members from the military branches. “We’ve been through what you’ve been so there’s no need to feel and know that pressure because by being able to relate to them on a fellow brother and sister level,” he said about the firm’s clients. “It makes things just a lot easier to know that someone cares about you, and we’re here for you.”

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"It makes things just a lot easier to know that someone cares about you, and we’re here for you." Robert Williams He added, “Some people after they get out the Marine Corps, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, they bottle a lot of things in, and if that bottle doesn’t open to release that pressure, things can go wrong. And I think there’s been plenty of phone calls that have helped a lot of people out. So we care.” {in} 7

HONORING HEROES

Photo courtesy of Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

By Rick Outzen Last Friday, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan held a special ceremony at Marcus Point Baptist Church to honor the law enforcement officers who confronted the shooter in the terrorist attack at NAS Pensacola in early December.

Sheriff Morgan presented Purple Heart awards to ECSO Deputy Jonathan Glass, Deputy Matthew Tinch and DOD Police Captain Charles Hogue. All were shot while engaging the shooter.

Medals of Valor were also awarded to Glass, Tinch, Hogie, DOD Capt. Robert Johnson and ECSO Sgt. Mike Hoyland, Senior Deputy Grant Lopez, Deputy Matthew Housam and Deputy Matthew Keebler.

Before he read the citations for the officers, the sheriff recognized and thanked U.S. Attorney Larry Keefe and all the federal and state agencies that helped the day of the shooting and with the investigation of the incident. He also had a message for his troops.

“The history of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office over the last several years is one that is distinguished and is second to none, to any sheriff’s office in the state of Florida, and quite possibly this nation,” said Sheriff Morgan. “You should hold your head high in the wearing of the uniform of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office because when our citizens look at you, they see all of this, and you rightfully have a claim to that because you are a part of this organization.”

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He added, “For those of us that responded that morning, it was an amazing thing to see all these various parts integrate and work to the common good and the successful resolution of a difficult situation.”

He reminded all in attendance why the ceremony was significant.

"For those of us that responded that morning, it was an amazing thing to see all these various parts integrate and work to the common good and the successful resolution of a difficult situation." David Morgan “We came here today to see a living example of what you read about in books and you see in movies, and those are heroes—something that we always all want to aspire to,” he said. “And I will tell you that our nation, especially today, needs heroes.

We want to believe in the truth. We want to believe that there’s still justice in our nation and the world, and these young men have become the embodiment of that.”

The sheriff continued, “We need to remember that courage and sacrifice are not Republican or Democrat—not white, not black, not Hispanic or any other ethnic group. They’re about duty, honor and country. Those who wear the uniform, we

know that concerns about self to be left at the door. So, why are we here today? To memorialize their extraordinary acts and to set the standard for all who follow.”

The Medal of Valor is awarded for an act of gallantry, courage and compassion above and beyond the call of duty. The Purple Heart is awarded for injuries received in the line of duty while in the act of preventing death or great bodily harm.

“Dec. 6, 2019, at approximately 0650 hours Central Standard Time is a day in the history of Escambia County that will be remembered and written about as a day which changed us from a family-friendly tourist destination to a community dealing with the realities of a world in conflict,” said the sheriff as he read the citation for the recipients.

“Unbridled hate was loosed upon innocents, going about their daily routines, planning holiday visits, schooling, dating, graduation and life,” he continued. “This was an attack upon active duty military personnel assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola.”

The attack resulted in the deaths of Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Mohammed S. Haitham and Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Cameron S. Walters.

“The day instead was a date with destiny, their young lives violently and tragically ended by someone they thought to be an ally, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani of the Royal Saudi Air Force,” read the sheriff. “The attacker could not have known that although these young sailors were unarmed, he was confronting American grit and determination, manifested by those that wear the uniforms of our country and our community. These young men bought precious seconds, at the cost of their lives, allowing NAS Police, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement and emergency service agencies to respond to a ‘shots fired call’ at Building 633.”

Sheriff Morgan said Capt. Johnson and Capt. Hogue, NAS Police, led the first entry into the building. Shots were exchanged, and Capt. Hogue was struck in the thigh. Capt. Johnson took cover and concealment, and within minutes, deputies from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office began to deploy in and around the building.

Escambia County deputies Glass and Tinch were the first Escambia County personnel to confront Alshamrani. They exchanged gunfire with the shooter in a stairwell, returning fire upwards to the second floor. Both were wounded in that exchange.

Motor Deputy Lopez was the first Es-

cambia County Deputy to hit the suspect, striking him in the chest before his weapon jammed. The suspect continued to fire, pursuing Deputy Lopez into a hallway as the deputy attempted to clear his weapon and seek cover.

Sergeant Hoyland, Deputy Keebler and Deputy Housam entered Building 633 through the front entrance, tactically deploying with two long guns and a semiautomatic handgun. They fired the final shots ending the active shooter incident.

Sheriff Morgan asked Airman Ryan Blackwell to stand. Blackwell was shot several times while shielding a female colleague with his body. The audience gave him a standing ovation.

“From this tragedy, we who are shipmates, fellow officers, deputies and civilians, who we are came through in crystal clarity,” said Sheriff Morgan, “We are Americans, and by God’s grace, we are the land of the free because of individual acts like those which occurred on Dec. 6, 2019. Therefore, in recognition of these selfless acts of heroism above and beyond the call of duty, they reflect great credit upon themselves and the ‘profession of law enforcement.”

After awarding the medals, the sheriff closed the ceremony with the poem “The Watch.”

“For year upon year, our armed forces and first responders have stood the watch.

While we were in our beds at night, our armed forces and first responders have stood the watch. While we were in school learning our trade, our armed forces and first responders have stood the watch.

“Yes, even before some of us were born into this world, our armed forces and first responders have stood the watch. In those years when the storm clouds of civil unrest were seen brewing on the horizon of history, our armed forces and first responders have stood the watch.

“Many times, they would cast an eye towards home and see many family members standing there needing their guidance and help, needing that hand to hold onto during those hard times. But still, they stood the watch.

“They stood the watch year upon year.

They stood the watch to see that we, our families and our fellow citizens could sleep soundly in safety each and every night, knowing that our armed forces and first responders stood the watch.”

The sheriff continued, “Today we are here to say to those faithful brothers and sisters that came before us, the watch stands relieved. Relieved by those that you have trained, trained with, guided and led.

Ensign Joshua K. Watson, Aircrewman Mohammed S. Haitham, Aircrewman Cameron S. Walters, you stand relieved. We have the watch. Thank you.” {in} inweekly.net

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SUPPORTING THE GIRLS mistaken. Since the original I Support the Girls was founded, more than five million bras and menstrual products have been collected and distributed. And that number continues to grow.

“Our main mission is providing dignity,” said Moore. “No one should have to go to work or go to school and worry about leaking through their clothes. We provide access to that dignity.” {in}

GALENTINE’S DAY PARTY

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 WHERE: Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave. COST: Donation of new or gently-used bra, sealed package of pads or tampons, or suggested $10 donation.

DETAILS: facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola

HOW TO SUPPORT THE GIRLS Dana Marlowe, founder I Support the Girls / Photo by Emily Goodstein Photography

By Jennifer Leigh If you are a woman experiencing homelessness in Escambia County—or in any community—it’s likely you’ll be able to find a hot meal quicker than a tampon.

That’s where I Support the Girls comes in. The Maryland-based nonprofit has more than 50 affiliates around the world, including a local chapter serving the Pensacola area, that host drives to collect menstrual products, bras and underwear for women in need.

Audrey Moore started the Gulf Coast chapter last July and has since collected 78,000 individual items to be donated to organizations in Alabama and Florida, including Planned Parenthood, PACE Center for Girls, schools, shelters and even UWF Argo Pantry.

“The main reason I started the chapter was because I felt no one should have to choose between a hot meal and a box of pads,” said Moore. “People tend not to think about it. We donate suits and blazers for women at local churches, but we don’t think about bras and underwear.”

There are more than 219,000 women experiencing homelessness in the United States, and they make up 39% of the U.S. homeless population. However, shelters are not required to distribute menstrual products. And these products can be expensive, especially in states that still tax them.

Florida was one of the states to eliminate the so-called “tampon tax” in 2017.

Lack of access to menstrual products 010 1

can be a public health issue for any woman and can lead to issues such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections and vulvar contact dermatitis, according to a 2017 article from the Rhode Island Medical Journal.

“Recently, a homeless patient told me that she also would wrap toilet paper around her underwear during her menses,” the author wrote. “She spoke about the expense of tampons and sanitary pads. Her shelter provided only two pads per cycle, whereas the average woman uses approximately 20. Her inadequate options were toilet paper, reused cloths or ruining her only pair of underpants.”

Along with menstrual products, I Support the Girls also collects gently-used and new bras and new underwear to provide another level of care. The organization got its start in bras when the founder, Dana Marlowe, was getting fitted for a new bra at a SOMA boutique. She asked the saleswoman what she should do with her bras that no longer fit, to which the saleswoman replied, “Homeless women need bras.”

In July 2015, Marlowe posted on her Facebook page asking friends to donate their gently-used bras, along with unopened boxes of menstrual products, which she donated to a local shelter.

Part of the mission to provide these items is about eliminating the stigma but also providing individuals with some self-care. Moore said she likes getting donations from businesses like Third Love, where the bras are a bit of a luxury. Everyone likes to wear something pretty every now and then, said Moore.

“It’s also nice to be able to provide women with a quality bra that will last since it could be the only one they have,” she added.

Moore points out, too, that these items are

donated to serve all menstruating individuals.

“It can be nerve-wracking for a transgender individual to get menstrual items or buy their first bra,” she said.

While there is a lack of access, it’s not for lack of care. It’s simply about education, Moore said.

“People have been so quick to be generous,” she said. “And I’ve had so much support from people in the community. From businesses like Dolce and Gelato to Junior League of Pensacola … this wouldn’t be what it is.”

On Thursday, Feb. 13, Dolce and Gelato will host the first-ever I Support the Girls Galentine’s Day Party, with a breakfast for dinner theme that Leslie Knope would be proud of, complete with Waffle House waffles. Bring a bra, or a sealed package of tampons or pads, or even a suggested $10 cash donation for entry. Items collected will be donated to the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

Jails and detention centers are another space where women and girls can be vulnerable.

“The products provided are basically panty liners, which aren’t always effective,” said Moore. “One of the main problems is that you can only get so many (pads) a month, and it’s not really regulated.”

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, incarcerated individuals are sometimes bargaining with staff for menstrual products.

This happened at the Tutwiler Prison for Women in Alabama, where certain correctional officers would withhold menstrual products for sexual acts.

So, if you didn’t think a pad or tampon could make a big impact, you were

If you are unable to attend the Galentine’s event, you can donate online at isupportthegirls.org or send gently-used and new bras and sealed menstrual products to P.O. Box 1781, Pensacola, FL 32591 (Attn: Audrey Moore). You can also donate in person at these local businesses:

ESCAMBIA COUNTY Muse Salon 416 E. Belmont St. Old City Market Inc. 140 S. Jefferson St. Dolce and Gelato 2050 N. 12th Ave. Chizuko 506 W. Belmont St. OASIS Florida 25 E. Wright St. Wild Lemon 2000 N. 12th Ave.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge 33 Gulf Breeze Parkway Okaloosa County OASIS Florida (Fort Walton) 1825 Hurlburt Road SoPaw (Miramar Beach) 11275 Emerald Coast Parkway W #5 Shabby to Chic Dog Grooming & Boutique (Santa Rosa Beach) 2282 W. County Highway 30A, Ste. 5 inweekly.net

Chappie James Museum Presents: General Daniel “Chappie” James Fundraiser event in celebration of his 100th birthday

When: February 9, 2020

Where: Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center 913 South “I” Street

Time: 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Semi-Formal Attire | $65 per person Purchase tickets at the museum:

1606 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Dr. | 850-542-4721

This face was once masked by pain.

Now, it’s a face that sees the light.

We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.

850.912.8383 • BrightBridgeMinistries.org

February 6, 2020

11

tribute to this place by focusing on county efforts. To begin with, she’s focusing on “people, policy, process and plans.”

In addition to listing off some county goals—including items like improving customer service and restoring public trust—and county accomplishments, like maintaining infrastructure and workforce development efforts, Gilley also nodded toward the “elephant” in the Saenger. She was brought on board to put out fires, as the county was in the midst of a mass of high-level resignations and a state investigation into its Emergency Medical Services.

"I literally spend six to 10 hours a week reading resumes, and one of the things I find very encouraging is that a lot of people want to come and work in our community." Janice Gilley

DEATH PENALTY MOTION State Attorney Bill Eddins announced last Friday that his office has filed a Motion for Reconsideration in the case of State of Florida vs Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. The motion asks for the court to reinstate the previously imposed sentence of death for the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. This motion is based upon the recent Florida Supreme Court Opinion in State v. Poole. In the Poole decision, the court receded from their previously issued opinion in Hurst. The court had held that a death sentence may be imposed by the judge if a jury has found unanimously that an aggravating circumstance exists.

Prior to 2016, Florida law required that a majority of the jury make a recommendation to the judge on whether to sentence a defendant to die. The judge then issued a final ruling based on that recommendation.

At the time, Florida was one of the few states that didn’t require a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty.

In 2016 ruling in the State v. Poole case, the Florida Supreme Court struck down that law. The Florida Legislature then changed state law to mandate a unanimous jury. Last month, the court reversed its position. However, the state law requiring a unanimous jury is still on the books.

Stay tuned.

CITY-COUNTY ROAD SHOW As part of the first CivicCon event of the year, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson and Es212 1

cambia County Administrator Janice Gilley last week provided updates and projections for the city and county.

Mayor Robinson’s presentation focused on accomplishments, as well as laying out a vision for 2020.

“I think we have so much momentum and things going positive for us,” he said, before introducing the CivicCon crowd to the city’s recently formalized mission statement of providing the “highest quality of life.”

Mayor Robinson went through a series of accomplished or at least embarkedupon goals—established during the transition team process shortly after he took office—including conducting an employee engagement survey and formulate succession plans for key roles within the city.

Other accomplishments touted included improvements to a mile and a half of city sidewalks, replacement of city gas pipes, increased training for police officers and bringing an aviation maintenance-repairoverhaul (MRO) facility to the Pensacola International Airport.

The mayor praised the airport’s successes. He said, “That airport is growing all the time, and every month we see new records set upon new records.”

Robinson also highlighted upcoming municipal efforts and activities. He pointed to a workshop in February where the Pensacola City Council plans to mull the best way to spend $17 million within the downtown urban core, as well as improvements coming to Garden Street. He also

discussed a road diet slated for Spring Street and a roundabout to calm traffic on Langley Avenue.

The mayor spoke a bit about the Florida Department of Transportation’s plans to make safety improvements along West Cervantes Street. Local officials have criticized the FDOT plan for cutting off the street grid and its lack of focus on pedestrians.

“It certainly was not perfect,” Robinson said of FDOT’s plans.

But, the mayor continued, he believes that the state is open to discussing a road diet for the area—viewed as a more pedestrian-centric option—just not yet.

The problem is, he explained, the road diet concept has yet to be listed in the city’s priorities and submitted to the regional transportation planning agency.

“You’re looking more at seven, eight years,” Robinson said of a realistic timeframe for the road diet plans. “I think that’s going to be too long to tell the people on Cervantes that there’ll be no safety improvements.”

Gilley, on the job as Escambia’s top administration official for about half a year now, began her presentation with a keyword—"place.”

“I can’t emphasize how much place, place, place matters,” she said. “Place is what is connecting us. And that connection is whether you were born here or you’re a newer resident. Whether you were assigned here, dragged here or you chose here, you’re here; this is your place.”

Gilley said that she intended to con-

“I literally spend six to 10 hours a week reading resumes, and one of the things I find very encouraging is that a lot of people want to come and work in our community,” Gilley said, naming some recently filled positions, like EMS and Emergency Management directors, and also some she’s looking to fill, like assistant county administrator.

The first question from the audience presented to both Robinson and Gilley pertained to the potential for consolidating city and county services.

Robinson said he understood some benefits associated with the concept, but that he doubted there was an appetite for consolidation at the city—“At this particular time, I don’t think politically we’re at that particular space where that’s going to happen. It’s more something you see communities come to when they either have some kind of an ethics scandal or challenging economic times.”

Gilley was more open to the concept— “I don’t think everybody should be afraid of a consolidated service from a theoretical standpoint, or a conversation. I think that it always brings out healthy conversation and dialogue whenever we have it.”

LOCAL NAMED SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT Pensacola native and UWF

graduate Harrison Peters has been appointed the superintendent of schools for the Providence, R.I., school system.

Peters is the deputy superintendent, chief of schools, for Hillsborough County Public Schools and was passed over the superintendent position last month. He grew up in Pensacola and was raised by his grandmother, who only had a second-grade education.

Peters received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of West Florida, his master’s degree in eduinweekly.net

cation leadership from Nova Southeastern University and his specialist’s degree in school transformation from the University of South Florida.

He began his teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Apopka, Fla. Since the classroom, he has served in many leadership roles as dean of students, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent.

As chief of schools on the Southside of Chicago, Harrison is credited with significantly increasing ACT scores, third-grade reading, math proficiency and graduation rates, according to his LinkedIn page.

As a chief school officer in Houston, he was part of the leadership team that led a majority vote in favor of a $1.9 billion bond, the largest in the history of the state. While in Houston, he was also awarded the “Outstanding Educator” award by Zeta Tau Lambda.

FUTURE VOTER GRANTS Teaching Tolerance, an initiative of the Southern Poverty Law Center, is funding nonpartisan voter registration projects in areas of the U.S. with long histories of voter suppression. To help encourage voters to register in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, Future Voter grants ranging from $500-$2,000 are being offered to educators in those states. These funds support school community members and students to host voter registration drives at their schools and in their communities.

Award amounts are determined by the size of your school or district population.

Funds support the purchase of materials needed to host a nonpartisan voter registration drive such as tents, printing and mailing costs, transportation and promotional materials. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Sept. 15. For more details, visit tolerance.submittable.com.

BBBS PARTNERSHIP On Wednesday,

Jan. 22, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida spent the day at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred

Heart with 20 Littles from Pensacola High School for their first day of School to Work.

The School to Work program is a twoyear program for high school students that starts when they are juniors and continues until their graduation day. The students are matched with a volunteer mentor employee, also known as a Big. For four hours once a month, the students meet with their mentors, where they get an insight into career path goal-setting, soft skill development and motivation to graduate with the added support of a one-to-one friendship.

“Without someone to consistently help in stressing the importance of education and sharing the do’s and don’ts of this critical transition from high school to the next steps in life, our Littles often get a bit lost,” said Paula Shell, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. “The School to Work project aligns perfectly with our community’s emphasis on increased high school graduation rates, postsecondary completion rates, and overall employment & prosperity.”

“Joining the School to Work program was something we immediately knew we wanted to get involved in,” said Cat Outzen, Director of Community Relations & Children’s Programs of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. “We care for children every day, so being able to take the next step with them and walk them through these critical transition points that will affect their future is overwhelming, and we are so excited to watch each and every one of them grow and succeed.”

To learn more, visit bbbsnwfl.org.

LEAP NOMINATIONS The Pensacola Chamber Foundation has opened the nominations process for the Leadership Pensacola (LeaP) Class of 2021. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 28.

Started in 1983, LeaP continues to provide the programming that develops the future leaders of Pensacola. A program of the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, LeaP

is intended to help participants acquire an understanding of the issues facing our local community and gain the leadership skills necessary to resolve them. Applicants are sought from a variety of business sectors as well as different political, career, educational, social and cultural backgrounds.

“Leadership Pensacola provides our local leaders of today and tomorrow the opportunity to learn about all aspects of our community and the key issues that will shape our future,” said Todd Thomson, President & CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber.

Individuals accepted into LeaP will participate in day-long retreats, educational seminars and a community project for which the class uses its resources and talents to enhance the Greater Pensacola region.

To nominate yourself or someone else from the Pensacola community, visit pensacolachamber.com/leadership-pensacola/. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, Feb. 28. Following the close of nominations, all nominees will receive an electronic application via email.

For additional information, contact Natalie Ales, Director of Programs and Special Events, at nales@pensacolachamber.com.

SUNDAY’S CHILD Sunday’s Child, a

Pensacola-area nonprofit which promotes LGBTQ inclusion and equality, held its annual kickoff event on in late January to celebrate the completion of their 2020 membership drive.

For 2020, the organization raised $100,000 among 168 members. Those dollars will be awarded to Pensacola Bay Area nonprofit organizations that place value on diversity, inclusion and equality. Over the past six years, the organization has raised over $536,000. One hundred percent of dollars raised have funded projects that impacted areas such as child welfare, animal welfare, hunger issues, LGBTQ+ issues, health, adults with disabilities and the arts.

“Pensacola and the surrounding area are served by some amazing nonprofit organizations,” said Gary Rhodes, board

president of Sunday’s Child. “Our members recognize not only the importance of supporting local nonprofits but also the importance of creating an accepting and inclusive environment for all of our citizens, including our LGBTQ citizens.”

Sunday’s Child will award four grants of $25,000 in June. Letters of intent may be submitted now through Wednesday, Feb. 19. Visit sundayschild.org for more information.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Escambia County Commission will meet 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox. Open forum begins at 4:30 p.m.

A Heart for Life, a community heart health event hosted by the Baptist Heart & Vascular Institute, will be held noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the center court of Cordova Mall. This family-friendly event will feature fun activities and education for all ages.

Pensacola City Council Agenda Conference will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, Pensacola City Hall, Hagler/Mason Conference Room, 222 W. Main St. DIB Finance Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, Bowden Building, Room #2, 120 Church St. Continuum of Care on Homeless Assistance will meet 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, Opening Doors Northwest Florida, 1020 N. New Warrington Road.

The Florida SBDC’s “The Profitable Marketing System” workshop will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, Synovus, 125 W. Romana St. Speaker will be Lance Cook, Online Marketing Agency. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

Fee is $20. To register, visit sbdc.uwf.edu and click on “Training & Events.”

Escambia County Committee of the Whole will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 S. Palafox.

Pensacola City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Pensacola City Hall, Council Chambers, 222 W. Main St. {in}

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13

How valid is the survey and its results?

The 800 Escambia County residents surveyed accurately represent the demographic breakdown of our community; i.e., the ratios of the respondents’ gender, race, age, political affiliation, and area of residence mirror the county’s real statistics. Also, the high number of respondents provides a strong degree of confidence in the results; according to Mason-Dixon Polling: “The margin for error, according to standards customarily used by statisticians, is no more than plus or minus 3.5-percentage points.” This means there is a 95% probability that the ‘true’ figure would fall within that range if the entire population were sampled.

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Quality of Life Survey Summary

2008 - 2019

Right Direction or Wrong Track?

1. Generally, do you think that Escambia County is heading in the right direction, or are things on the wrong track?

2. And generally, do you think that the city of Pensacola is heading in the right direction, or are things on the wrong track?

63% 55%

63%

54%

63% 52%

33% 23%

22%

24%

29%

27%

13%

21%

14%

25% 9% 9%

RIGHT DIRECTION

WRONG TRACK 2008

2014

NOT SURE

2019

This shows that more and more residents over the past 11 years feel that Escambia County is headed in the right direction.

RIGHT DIRECTION

WRONG TRACK

2008

2014

NOT SURE

2019

This shows that more and more residents over the past 11 years feel that the City of Pensacola is headed in the right direction.

What is the Quality of Life Survey?

Q

uality of Life survey is an independent survey tool that was developed by Mason-Dixon. They study communities around the country and came up with the categories and characteristics that people perceive as having the most impact on the quality of life.

Quality of life is defined as an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture, community, and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns.

The survey includes standardized batteries of questions concerning the factors that contribute to and define the quality of life in the community—economic conditions, job security, educational opportunities, availability of cultural displays and entertainment, safety,

clean and healthy environment, a sense of community and welcoming, a shared vision and understanding of future plans for community and economic development, and effective, competent government and community leadership that plans and executes.

Participants that are interviewed are randomly selected from commercially available phone-matched voter registration lists that included both landline and cell phone numbers. Quotas were assigned to reflect voter registration of the jurisdiction being surveyed.

The number of residents surveyed accurately represent the actual demographic breakdown of a community; i.e ., the ratios of the respondents’ gender, race, age, political affiliation, and area of residence mirror the county’s real statistics.

The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

Survey Summary

Quality of Life

2008 - 2019

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

3. How would you rate the overall quality of life in Escambia County?

44% 44%

48% 39%

44%

2008

36%

12%

7% 8%

10%

EXCELLENT

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2014

5% 4%

2019

0% 0.3% 0%

POOR

DON’T KNOW

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that Escambia County residents have an increasingly positive perception of the overall quality of life in Escambia County. More than half would rate the quality of life as good or excellent.

4. How would you rate economic conditions in Escambia County?

45%46% 43% 31%

43%

33% 37%

20% 19%

13% 1% 3% 2% EXCELLENT

5. How effective do you think the growth of Pensacola’s waterfront, including the Maritime Park and baseball stadium, have been in improving economic opportunity for the City of Pensacola?

22% 13%

0% 1% 1% GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

53% 48% 42%

DON’T KNOW

9%

VERY EFFECTIVE

2019

SOMEWHAT EFFECTIVE

10%

1%

NOT TOO EFFECTIVE

2012

23%

17% 14%

2014

7%

NOT AT ALL EFFECTIVE

2019

5%

1%

UNDECIDED

First asked in 2012.

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that the percentage of residents who believe economic conditions are favorable (excellent + good) has more than doubled in the past 11 years. However, 65% still report the economic conditions as poor or only fair.

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that more and more residents believe the growth of Pensacola’s waterfront has contributed to improved economic opportunities. Almost 80% said the waterfront was somewhat or very effective at improving economic opportunities for the City of Pensacola.

6. How concerned are you about the security and future of your own job, or the jobs of any close family members in Escambia County?

7. In your opinion, does Escambia County offer the kind of advantages and opportunities to attract and keep young people and talented people in the area?

33%

31%

30% 31% 26%

21%

59% 26% 18%

21%

20%

22%

10%

VERY CONCERNED

SOMEWHAT NOT TOO NOT CONCERNED CONCERNED CONCERNED

2008

2014

36%

4% 3% 5% NOT SURE

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that fewer residents are concerned about the security and future of their jobs or their family members’ jobs. However, over half of people surveyed (52%) still reported feeling very or somewhat concerned.

5% YES

NO

2019

NOT SURE

First asked 2019.

This shows that a majority of residents believe we need to offer more/different advantages and opportunities to attract and retain young and talented people in the Pensacola Bay area.

The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

Survey Summary

Quality of Life

2008 - 2019

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

8. Please tell me how you rate Escambia County as a place to live for recent college graduates looking to enter the job market.

9. Please tell me how you rate the availability of affordable housing in Escambia County.

44% 39%

59%

47%

44% 47% 31%

EXCELLENT

25% 16%

9% 6%

1% 1% 3%

GOOD

33%

32%

29% 27%

29%

22%

0% 1% 1%

27%

ONLY FAIR

2008

POOR

2014

DON’T KNOW

7% 8%

4%

EXCELLENT

1% GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2019

2008

POOR

2014

4% 5%

DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows a steady increase in the percentage of residents who believe Escambia County is a good or excellent place for recent college graduates to enter the job market. However, 75% still feel Escambia County is poor or only fair for recent college graduates looking to enter the job market.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. This shows that, over time, fewer residents believe the availability of affordable housing is good or excellent - only 31% in 2019.

10. Please tell me how you rate Escambia County as a place to live for entrepreneurs and people starting new businesses.

11. Please tell me how you rate the availability of cultural opportunities, such as theater, museums, and music in Escambia County.

40% 39% 25% 20% 5% 6%

46%

45% 33%

14%

11%

EXCELLENT

33% 33%

26% 27% 6%

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

2% 3%

DON’T KNOW

45% 40% 27% 15% 13% 12%

22% 14% 7%

1% 2% 0%

EXCELLENT

GOOD

2019

ONLY FAIR

2008

POOR

2014

DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that more and more residents perceive Escambia County as a good place for entrepreneurs and new businesses.

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows an increase in residents’ perceptions of the availability of cultural opportunities. 60% of respondents rated the availability of theater, museums, and music as good or excellent.

12. Please tell me how you rate having a vibrant nightlife with clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. in Escambia County.

13. Please tell me how you rate the public safety and low crime in Escambia County.

45%43%46%

44% 33% 29% 25%

33% 27% 17% 19%

12% 11%

7% EXCELLENT

5%

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

25%

21%

POOR

10% 8% DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that more and more residents over time believe Escambia County has a vibrant nightlife - 63% rated Escambia County nightlife as good or excellent in 2019.

27%

26%

34% 24%

18% 3% 4% 4% EXCELLENT

0% 1% 0% GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

DON’T KNOW

2019

ABOUT THE SAME. While perceptions have fluctuated a little bit over the years, there is not much change: 70% of residents report poor or only fair ratings of crime and public safety in 2019.

The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

Survey Summary

Quality of Life

2008 - 2019

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

14. Please tell me how you rate the availability of quality health care in Escambia County.

15. Please tell me how you rate being able to get from place to place with little traffic in Escambia County.

43%

50% 41%41% 26% 27%24%

19% 18% 14%

EXCELLENT

GOOD

29% 24% 24% 19% 13% 8%

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

1% 2% 0% DON’T KNOW

4%

8%

33%

39%

31%

36%

24%

5%

EXCELLENT

1% 1% 0% GOOD

2019

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. There has been an increase in the number of residents who rate the availability of quality health care in Escambia County as excellent or good.

ABOUT THE SAME. The perception of the ability to get from place to place with little traffic in Escambia County has remained fairly consistent across the past 11 years. 67% of residents reported poor or only fair ratings in 2019.

16. Welcoming and inviting to people of diverse backgrounds, ethnicity and culture

17. Please tell me how you rate Escambia County as a place to live for families with children.

44% 35%

15%

34%

29%

26%

18%

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

6%

2% 1%

DON’T KNOW

47%

44%

26%

23% 13% 10%

8%

EXCELLENT

43%

40%

34%

36%

14% 16% 10%

9% 10% 10% EXCELLENT

2019

0% 1% 0% GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

POOR

2014

DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. We have seen a large increase in the ratings of Escambia County as welcoming and inviting to people of diverse backgrounds. Now, a majority (61%) of residents report that Escambia County is good or excellent at being welcoming and inviting to people of various cultures.

ABOUT THE SAME. The perception that Escambia County is a good place for families with children to live has not changed much over the past 11 years. In 2014, we saw the lowest percentage of favorable ratings (36%), and in 2015 we saw the highest percentage of favorable ratings (60%). In 2019, 54% of respondents rated Escambia County as a good or excellent place to live for families with children.

18. Please tell me how you rate the quality of the public schools in Escambia County.

19. Support or oppose Children Service’s Council.

Do you support or oppose an increase in the ad valorem tax not to exceed one-half per mill, or an average of $40 a year per household, in order to establish a local Children’s Services Council in Escambia County to better fund, manage and address the needs and well-being of Escambia’s children?

46% 44% 33%

36%

31%

27% 23%

1%

6% 3%

6% 5%

EXCELLENT

74.4%

22% 18%

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

22.4%

1%

DON’T KNOW

2019

RIGHT DIRECTION. Gains have been made in the past 11 years in the perception of the quality of public schools in Escambia County. However, 62% of residents in 2019 still believe Escambia County schools are of poor or only fair quality.

3.3%

SUPPORT

UNDECIDED

OPPOSE 2019

Only asked in 2019.

What this means is that nearly 3/4 of residents would support an increase in taxes (at roughly $40 per household per year) to establish a local Children’s Services Council to help improve outcomes for children in Escambia County.

The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

Survey Summary

Quality of Life

2008 - 2019

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

20. I am familiar with and confident in the vision, plans, and leadership for economic development for Escambia County.

47%

21. I am familiar with and confident in the vision, plans and leadership for the revitalization of the City of Pensacola.

43% 44%

41%

37% 31%

30%

11% 7% 9%

21%

31%

20% 13% 13%

8%

STRONG SOME WHAT SOME WHAT STRONG AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE 2008

2014

11% 2%

NOT SURE

2019

28%

34% 24%

20%

14% 11% 11% 9% 4%

11% 8% 10%

STRONG SOME WHAT SOME WHAT STRONG AGREE AGREE DISAGREE DISAGREE 2008 2014 2019

NOT SURE

RIGHT DIRECTION. What this means is that the percentage of residents who report they are familiar with and confident in the vision, plans, and leadership for economic development for Escambia County has increased over time. In 2019, over half of respondents (56%) reported that they are somewhat or very familiar with the vision, plans, and leadership for economic development in Escambia County.

RIGHT DIRECTION. What this means is that the percentage of residents who report they are familiar with and confident in the vision, plans, and leadership for economic development for the revitalization of the City of Pensacola has increased over time. In 2019, over half of respondents (54%) reported that they are somewhat or very familiar with the vision, plans, and leadership of the City of Pensacola.

22. Please tell me how you rate the effective leadership of elected officials in Escambia County.

23. How would you rate the performance of the mayor of Pensacola?

48% 46% 40% 37% 36% 31%

3% 3% 4% EXCELLENT

17% 13%

43% 40% 41%

14% 1% 3%

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2008

2014

POOR

4%

DON’T KNOW

2019

11%

14% 10%

24. How would you rate the performance of the Escambia County Board of Commissioners?

EXCELLENT

ONLY FAIR

2014

2016

27% 19%

ONLY FAIR

8%

4%

POOR

2014

10%

DON’T KNOW

2019

*Ashton Hayward

*Grover Robinson

*First asked in 2011.

First round of results for newly elected official. More than half (53%) of respondents report the mayor of Pensacola’s performance as good or excellent.

25. How would you rate the performance of the Pensacola City Council?

44% 36% 38% 35%

21% 14% 11%

GOOD

GOOD

*Ashton Hayward

42% 41% 40% 40% 35% 31%

EXCELLENT

27% 24% 3%

2011

RIGHT DIRECTION. There has been an increase over time in the percentage of residents who rate the effective leadership of Escambia County elected officials as good or excellent. However, in 2019, over half of respondents (54%) still rated the effective leadership of Escambia County elected officials as poor or only fair.

1% 1% 4%

20%

POOR

29%

25% 25% 5%

16%

10% 3%

DON’T KNOW

2019

First asked in 2014.

FLUCTUATING. This shows that the majority of respondents (51%) rated the performance of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners performance as poor or only fair.

3%

2%

6%

3%

EXCELLENT

GOOD

ONLY FAIR

2014

2016

6%

POOR

20% 13%

DON’T KNOW

2019

First asked in 2014.

RIGHT DIRECTION. This shows that more residents rated the performance of the Pensacola City Council as good or excellent in 2019 than in previous years. However, 41% of residents rate the City Council’s performance as poor or only fair, and 20% reported that they do not know how the City Council is performing.

The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

Survey Summary

Quality of Life

2008 - 2019

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Interested in learning more?

There are 65 items on the 2019 survey, including demographics questions. Of those 65, PYP chose 25 items we believe are most critical to highlight at this time. The data presented here is high-level.

The full data set including response breakdown by gender, race, voter party registration, education, income level, city or county residence, and county commission district can be found online at pensacolayp.com/qualityoflifesurvey. Additionally, PYP leaders are available to present and discuss this data with any and all agencies, organizations, and community stakeholders.

The full data set can be found online at

pensacolayp.com/qualityoflifesurvey

How are the survey questions chosen?

The overwhelming majority of the survey’s questions were established in 2008, when the original Better Pensacola Forum committee collaborated with Mason-Dixon Polling to identify metrics that would assess our citizens’ opinions regarding the City of Pensacola and Escambia County. Those original questions have remained unchanged since 2008. In 2011, a question was added to assess the job performance of Pensacola’s new “strong mayor,” and in 2014 questions were added to assess the job performance of other elected officials. PYP decides on a small number of new questions to add each year to assess timely or topical issues. There are 65 items on the 2019 survey, including demographics questions. Of those 65, PYP chose 25 items we believe are most critical to highlight at this time.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research: Mason-Dixon, based in Washington, DC, is a highly-respected independent polling firm that conducts public policy and political polling research. Mason-Dixon has conducted all eleven years of polling for the Quality of Life Survey. Our principal at the firm is Larry Harris, who can be contacted at lharris@mason-dixon.com

PENSACOLA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

The Pensacola Young Professionals is a non-profit organization comprised of 18-40 year old individuals who are on a mission to share a passion for and belief in the Pensacola Bay area.

PYP brings like-minded professionals together to act as a catalyst for change in our community.

If you are interested joining or sponsoring PYP, email: Ruthie Christie, Executive Director info@pensacolayp.com

www.pensacolayp.com Get involved membership@pensacolayp.com • facebook.com/pensacolayp The Quality of Life survey is brought to you by the Pensacola Young Professionals. Please visit www.pensacolayp.com/qualityoflife to learn more.

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inweekly.net

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6-12

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

Crate Date

By Savannah Evanoff

DJ Dad (Will Bowers)

Will Bowers isn’t above a dad joke.

The Crestview-based DJ, aka DJ Dad, behind the upcoming Pensacola Record Fair has two children with his wife Becca—Liam, 3, and Flora, 1. He’s allowed.

“I chose to do it on a Sunday because around here, nobody thinks to do stuff on Sunday,” Bowers said. “Everybody’s at church or whatever. But Sunday afternoons—they call it Sunday Funday for a reason, if you know what I’m saying.”

His DJ name is self-explanatory.

“I chose that name because, one, I am a dad,” Bowers said. “Two, I think it’s a not so serious name for a DJ to have. You have DJs out there and they’re so serious, and they’re like, ‘It’s time to dance.’ But I think that takes away from the atmosphere or the vibe a party should be having. I want people to think, ‘Oh,

you can make a joke about my name and that’s part of it.’”

Bowers’ next event—The Pensacola Record Fair—will feature vinyl vendors from Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Mobile, Birmingham, New Orleans and Atlanta.

The event will also offer other local DJs a chance to shine. They can sign up to perform on the deck at the event starting at 11:30 a.m. the day of.

Bowers based the event off the Miami Record Fair, he said. His personal interest lies in dance music culture.

“I love to make people dance,” Bowers said.

“I love to dance, too. My wife loves to dance.

We just can’t really find a wholesome place to just purely dance. That’s what I’m looking to foster with these types of events. I’d love for the platform I gain from doing this to lead to bigger

disco. He plans to perform disco, funk and and better things that are more closely related Brazilian jazz at the Pensacola Record Fair. He to dance culture.” likes to infuse disco rhythm and strings, jazz Bowers is a vinyl enthusiast himself, with horn sections and funk bass lines into his sets. a record of some 700—give or take—albums “I love the energy that disco producers in his collection. He loves to use vinyl while put into their songs,” Bowers said. “Whenever DJing today, but that wasn’t always the case.

I play those, I really feel like those energies He started DJing after being inspired by sets in a way flowing through me. Back in the day, on Boiler Room, an online music broadcastyou had full bands having to come together, ing platform. play these songs and record them all in one “I started with the absolute cheapest thing room—whole orchestras. As opposed to now, I could find, the cheapest deck I could find off even though music is still good, you just have of Craigslist, and then I bought my first sound a guy sitting at a desk. Even though producers system from a thrift store,” Bowers said. put as much energy into their stuff, it’s kind of “Started from there and just jimmied my way up. I didn’t start with vinyl. I started pulling from the past or sticking to tried and true methods.” digitally.”

Around here, “Margaritaville” is the biggest Spinning with vinyl crept its way into his crowd pleaser, he said. But Fat Larry’s Band’s sets, though, he said.

“Lookin’ for Love” also wins people over.

“It’s the way people have done it for a very “That is definitely one of my go-to dance long time, so it’s kind of honoring or showing floor heaters—if you will,” Bowers said. respect to where DJing started,” Bowers said.

Bowers doesn’t do much to prepare for a “It kind of has a mystic power to it. You can’t do that much using just vinyl, but it’s pure in a way.” performance, except match the mood.

He recently brought moody beats to fit the Using vinyl records is more challenging than vibe at the grand opening of Super Touch Vinplaying music digitally, he explained. tage, a mid-century furniture shop in Pensacola.

“DJing digitally, you can see all that you No matter where he performs, Bowneed to know about whatever song you’re ers is sure of one thing—everybody loves playing right there on the screen,” Bowers music (mostly). said. “If you’re DJing with vinyl, you have “Everybody loves the fact that vinyl is to know the song by heart basically—know coming back,” Bowers said. {in} where all the queue points are, where you want to start the song and stop the song, know where the highs are, where the climax is in the song.”

Today, he combines vinyl and WHEN: Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 digital—bringing around 20 to 25 WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox records with him to an event.

COST: Free admission His musical home base is classic DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com

PENSACOLA RECORD FAIR

Let’s Wine!

Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm

27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com February 6, 2020

21

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inweekly.net

calendar PUDDLES PITY PARTY 7 p.m. $35-$100. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! 7:30 p.m. $17.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

FRIDAY 2.7

EVER’MAN COOKS: COOKING WITH HONEY W/ BECCA FRITSCHLE 11 a.m. Ever’man

Puddles Pity Party

THURSDAY 2.6

WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8 a.m.-12:30

p.m. Every Thursday. Three miles north of Deaton Bridge Road. meetup.com/ftawesterngate YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org LA LECHE LEAGUE 10 a.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BREAKERSPACE ELECTRONICS 10:30 a.m.

Thursdays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 1 and 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com LOVE AT FIRST BITE 4-7 p.m. $25 per person.

Proceeds benefit FavorHouse. V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. favorhouse.org ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS 5 and 7 p.m. $25 per person. Reservations required. Call 287-0200. Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. greatsouthernrestaurants.com FLIGHTS AND BITES 5-7 p.m. $20 per person. Thursdays. Wine and food pairings. The District, 123 E. Government St. districtsteaks.com AWM WINE TASTING WITH ROBERT BIALE OF ROBERT BIALE VINEYARDS 5-7 p.m. Free.

Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/aragonwine

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES AND BEER PAIRING 5-8

p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco YAPPY HOUR 5-10 p.m. Through Feb. 27. 5% of proceeds benefit Escambia County Animal Shelter. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5B Via De Luna Drive. redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.com RADIOLIVE 6 p.m. $10. Dana & Susan Robinson, Jamie Anderson, Joe Crookston and Dennis Warner. Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. radiolive.org MOLINO MELODIES 6 p.m. Thursdays. Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A. mywfpl.com MEDITATION AND ENERGY HEALING 6 p.m.

Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

BUYERS AND BREWS FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR 6-8 p.m. Free. Perfect

ecary and Tea House, 3014 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/asherandbee

MAKO ATHLETICS INTRODUCTION TO FUNCTIONAL FITNESS 6 p.m. Ever’man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SELF LOVE FRIDAY 6-8 p.m. $50. Yoga workshop, massage and tacos from Tacos Mexicanos. Wild Lemon, 3000 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/beawildlemon PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS VS. QUAD CITY STORM

7:35 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION: THE ULTIMATE GUNS N’ ROSES TRIBUTE 8 p.m. $12-

$25. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox.

SATURDAY 2.8

Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco END OF THE LINE THURSDAY DINNER 6-9 p.m.

End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. eotlcafe.com PANHANDLE CONSCIOUS COLLECTIVE MEETINGS 7 p.m. Asher and Bee Apoth-

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org HAPPY HOUR COOKOUT 5 p.m. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com ACOUSTIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT 6 p.m.

Every Friday through March 27. Frazier’s Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com BLACK SPEED DATING 6 p.m. Henny Penny’s Patisserie, 4412 W. Jackson St. Email momuaye@gmail.com for event application and details. facebook.com/hennypennyspatisserie MASKED MARDI GRAS BALL 6 p.m. Free to members, $35 to non-members. Pensacola Yacht Club, 1897 Cypress St.

PARKRUN/WALK MEETUP 7:30 a.m. University of West Florida, Rec Plex North Field, 11000 University Parkway. parkrun.us/ recplexnorth OCEAN HOUR CLEAN-UP 9-10 a.m. Naval Live Oaks National Park and the Bob Sikes Bridge at Quietwater Beach. oceanhourfl.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked

goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com YOU SELL IT HERE FARMER’S MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Free admission. Every Saturday. 8600 Pensacola Blvd. facebook.com/yousellithere FROM SCRATCH: A LOCAL ARTIST SHOWCASE & CRAFT MARKET 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Shir-

ley’s Café & Bakery, 1014 Underwood Ave. facebook.com/shirleyscafepensacola HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA 10 a.m.

Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org MARDI GRAS FLOTILLA 10:45 a.m. Fleet departs from the docks at Sunset Grille, 14050 Canal A Way. FEBRUARY DAY BAY CRUISES 1-3 p.m. Select Saturdays and Sundays. $20 per person.

Pensacola Bay Cruises, 750 Commendencia St. pensacolabaycruise.com FERMENTATION SERIES 1 p.m. $15. Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 3014 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. facebook.com/asherandbee OSCAR-NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 1 and 4 p.m. $7 (cash only). Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. pensacolacinemaart.com NATURAL HEALING 2 p.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org CHESS CLUB 2 p.m. Saturdays. All levels welcome. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! 3 p.m. $33.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com DANCE PARTY 7 p.m.-midnight. $10 workshop, $10 party. No partner required.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftstudios.com PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS: FROM HOLLYWOOD: JOHN WILLIAMS AND MORE 7:30 p.m. $23 and up. Saenger

Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS VS. QUAD CITY STORM 7:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay

Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

$5 LOCAL SHOWCASE: FAKING SOLACE, OCTO-

夀漀甀爀 䴀漀琀漀爀挀礀挀氀攀 䰀愀眀礀攀爀⸀

䴀䤀䌀䠀䰀䔀匀 䈀伀伀吀䠀

䄀挀挀椀搀攀渀琀 ☀ 䤀渀樀甀爀礀 䰀愀眀礀攀爀猀

㄀ⴀ㠀 ⴀ㐀㌀㠀ⴀ㌀㘀 㘀 簀 䘀漀爀吀栀攀嘀椀挀琀椀洀猀⸀挀漀洀 倀攀渀猀愀挀漀氀愀 ⴀ 䘀漀爀琀 圀愀氀琀漀渀 䈀攀愀挀栀 ⴀ 䌀爀攀猀琀瘀椀攀眀

February 6, 2020

23

calendar BER NOIR, KONFRONT THE KHAOS 8 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com SATURDAY SWING OUTS 8 p.m. $5. Saturdays.

Breathe Yoga Studio, 505 S. Adams St. GLOW BOWL 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Every Friday and Saturday. $12 per person. Strikerz Entertainment Center, 3200 N. Palafox.

SUNDAY 2.9

FEBRUARY DAY BAY CRUISES 1-3 p.m. Select

Saturdays and Sundays. $20 per person.

Pensacola Bay Cruises, 750 Commendencia St. pensacolabaycruise.com CARD PLAYERS CLUB 1-3 p.m. Sundays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com WHAT IS HYPNOSIS/HYPNOTHERAPY? WITH GABRIELE POWELL 2 p.m. Ever’man Educa-

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

THEMED BRUNCH AT PERFECT PLAIN 10 a.m.

JEFF GLICKMAN 3 p.m. Dolce and Gelato,

TRANSMISSION MEDITATION WORLD SERVICE 10:30 a.m. Ever’man Educational

FMW AUDUBON BIRDS AND BREW TO GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE HEADQUARTERS 3-5 p.m. Gulf Islands National

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco

Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BIERGARTEN YOGA WITH BRIANNA 10:30 a.m. $12. Gary’s Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew BRUNCH WITH LIVE MUSIC 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. facebook.com/cafesinglefin ADOPTION PAW-TY 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Pets up for adoption from The Joy Committee.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco VEGAN BRUNCH 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sign up for the newsletter for menu. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com SUNDAY BRUNCH AT H20 11 a.m. $28.95 for adults. Free valet parking and 15% off with local ID. H20 Hilton, 12 Via De Luna Drive. facebook.com/hiltonpensacolabeach PENSACOLA RECORD FAIR Noon. Free. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

424 2

2050 N. 12th Ave. facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola

Seashore Headquarters, 1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway. fmwaudubon.org CLETUS BEAN PLAYS THE WINERY 3-6 p.m.

Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! 3 p.m. $33.

Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com RECORD FAIR AFTER PARTY 4-8 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony TRANSGENDER ALLIANCE 4 p.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org BEER AND HYMNS AT GARY’S BIERGARTEN

4-6 p.m. Gary’s Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. facebook.com/garysbrew PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS VS. QUAD CITY STORM

4:05 p.m. $15 and up. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com SUNSET/FULL MOON RIDE 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fort

Pickens/National Seashore, 1400 Fort Pickens Road. facebook.com/westfloridawheelmen

MONDAY 2.10

GARDENING ON THE GULF COAST 9 a.m.

Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org THE ODDLING TROT 6 p.m. Mondays. Join Odd Colony running club for a three-mile run and enjoy $2 off pints after the run.

Odd Colony Brewing Co., 260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony HANDMADE PASTA COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. $60. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 6 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com EARTH ETHICS 6 p.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org

TUESDAY 2.11

YOGA WITHIN REACH 9-10 a.m. Free. Community Health Northwest Florida, 2315 W. Jackson St., Room A. healthcarewithinreach.org OPEN STEAM LAB 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com EVER’MAN COOKS: CAULIFLOWER PIZZA 2 p.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 4-6 p.m.

Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com

VINO MAGNIFICO 5:30 p.m. $12 per person.

V. Paul’s Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox. vpauls.com FUNKY YOGA 6 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org ZUMBA WITH SHANNON AND FRIENDS 6-7 p.m. $4. Homestead Community Center, 7830 Pine Forest Road.

COUNTRY TWO-STEP DANCING 6:30 p.m. $12. Whiskey Runners Saloon, 610 E. Nine Mile Road. dancecraftstudios.com BLACK VIOLIN: IMPOSSIBLE TOUR 2020 8 p.m. $25 and up. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com LOST DOG STREET BAND 8 p.m. $15. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

WEDNESDAY 2.12

COMMUNITY PILATES 10:30 a.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org VINYASA YOGA 6 p.m. Ever’man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WINE DINNER 6 p.m. $86. So Gourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com ARCHAEOLOGY ON TAP: TURPENTINING IN FLORIDA 6-7 p.m. Odd Colony Brewing Co.,

260 N. Palafox. facebook.com/oddcolony REDNECK WINEMAKING 101 6-8 p.m. $65.

(Three-day workshop). Frazier's Country Wines, 3130 Barrancas Ave. for more listings visit inweekly.net

inweekly.net

February 6, 2020

25

free will astrology WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): You now

have the power to make connections that have not previously been possible. You can tap into an enhanced capacity to forge new alliances and strengthen your support system. I urge you to be on the lookout for a dynamic group effort you could join or a higher purpose you might align yourself with. If you're sufficiently alert, you may even find an opportunity to weave your fortunes together with a dynamic group effort that's in service to a higher purpose.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "Victory won't come to me unless I go to it," wrote the poet Marianne Moore. In other words, you must track down each victory you're interested in. You must study its unique nature. And then you must adjust yourself to its specifications. You can't remain just the way you are but must transform yourself so as to be in alignment with the responsibilities it demands of you. Can you pass these tests, Taurus? I believe you can. It's time to prove it.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): While at the

peak of his powers as an author, Gemini-born Nobel Prize-winner Jean-Paul Sartre consumed an array of mood-shifters every day.

He quaffed at least a quart of alcohol, smoked two packs of cigarettes and drank copious amounts of coffee and tea. His intake of pills included 200 milligrams of amphetamines, 15 grams of aspirin and a handful of barbiturates.

I propose that we make Sartre your anti-role model during the next four weeks, dear Gemini.

According to my analysis of your astrological indicators, your ability to discover, attract and benefit from wonders and marvels will thrive to the degree that you forswear drugs and alcohol and artificial enhancements. And I'm pleased to inform you that there could be a flood of wonders and marvels.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): I don't think I'm boring. How could I be? I have an abundant curiosity and I love to learn new things. I've worked at many different jobs, have read widely and enjoy interacting with a broad range of humans. Yet now and then I've had temporary relationships with people who regarded me as

By Rob Brezsny

uninteresting. They didn't see much of value in me. I tend to believe it was mostly their fault— they couldn't see me for who I really am—but it may have also been the case that I lived down to their expectations. Their inclination to see me as unimportant influenced me to be dull.

I bring this up, my fellow Cancerian, because now is an excellent time to remove yourself from situations where you have trouble being and feeling your true self.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Soprano Helen

Traubel and tenor Lauritz Melchior performed together in many productions of Wagnerian operas, often at the Metropolitan in New York City. Friends and colleagues but not lovers, they had a playful relationship with each other. A favorite pastime was figuring out tricks they could try that would cause the other to break into inappropriate laughter while performing. According to my quirky reading of the astrological omens, Leo, the coming weeks will be a propitious time for you to engage in similar hijinks with your allies. You have a poetic license and a spiritual mandate to enjoy amusing collaborative experiments, playful intimate escapades and adventures in buoyant togetherness.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Eighteenth-

century author Samuel Johnson singlehandedly compiled the influential “A Dictionary of the English Language,” which remained the definitive British dictionary for 170 years. We shouldn't be surprised that it was a Virgo who accomplished such an intricate and exhaustive feat. As a high-minded Virgo, Johnson also had a talent for exposing hypocrisy. In commenting on the Americans' War of Independence against his country, he noted that some of the "loudest yelps for liberty" came from slave-owners. I propose that we make him one of your role models in 2020. May he inspire you to produce rigorous work that's useful to many. May he also empower you to be a candid purveyor of freedom.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Is there a proj-

ect or situation you'd love to create but have lacked the confidence to try? Now is a time when you can finally summon the necessary courage. Is there a long-running dilemma that

has always seemed too confusing and overwhelming to even understand, let alone solve?

Now is a favorable time to ask your higher self for the clear vision that will instigate an unforeseen healing. Is there a labor of love that seems to have stalled or a dream that got sidetracked?

Now is a time when you could revive its luminosity and get it back in a sweet groove.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Was

there a more influential 20th-century artist than Scorpio-born Pablo Picasso? He was a revolutionary innovator who got rich from his creations. Once, while visiting a gallery showing of art made by children, he said, "When I was their age I could draw like Raphael [the great Renaissance artist]. But it took me a lifetime to learn to draw like they do." In accordance with your current astrological omens, Scorpio, I suggest you seek inspiration from Picasso's aspiration. Set an intention to develop expertise in seeing your world and your work through a child's eyes.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): I

know a Sagittarius man who has seen the film “Avengers: Endgame” 17 times. Another Sagittarian acquaintance estimates she has listened all the way through to Billie Eilish's album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” 135 times. And then there's my scholarly Sagittarian friend who has read the ancient Greek epic poem the “Iliad” 37 times. I have no problem with this behavior. I admire your tribe's ability to keep finding new inspiration in sources you already know well. But in my astrological opinion, you shouldn't do much of this kind of thing in the coming weeks. It's high time for you to experiment with experiences you know little about. Be fresh, innocent and curious.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

Athens was one of the great cities of the ancient world. Its vigorous art, theater, philosophy, architecture and experiments in democracy are today regarded as foundational to Western culture. And yet at its height, Athens' population was a mere 275,000—equal to modern Fort Wayne, Indiana or Windsor, Ontario. How could such a relatively small source breed such intensity and potency? That's a long story.

In any case, I foresee you having the potential to be like Athens yourself in the coming weeks and months, Capricorn—a highly concentrated fount of value. For best results, focus on doing what you do best.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): According to my analysis, the year 2020 will be a time when you can have dramatic success as you re-evaluate and re-vision and revamp your understandings of your life purpose. Why were you born? What's the nature of your unique genius? What are the best gifts you have to offer the world? Of the many wonderful feats you could accomplish, which are the most important? The next few weeks will be a potent time to get this fun and energizing investigation fully underway.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Physi-

cist Niels Bohr won a Nobel Prize for his insights about quantum mechanics. But he was humble about the complexity of the subject. "If you think you understand it, that only shows you don’t know the first thing about it," he mused. I'm tempted to make a similar statement about the mysteries and riddles that are making your life so interesting. If you think you understand those mysteries and riddles, you probably don't. But if you're willing to acknowledge how perplexing they are, and you can accept the fact that your comprehension of them is partial and fuzzy, then you might enjoy a glimmer of the truth that's worth building on.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: You can fling imaginary lightning bolts from your fingers any time you want. Prove it!

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freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2019

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news of the weird LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Matthew Davies, 47, of Dunfermline, Scotland, pleaded guilty on Jan. 17 to assault and robbery in the case of a bumbling Bank of Scotland holdup in September, the Daily Record reported. On that day, Davies charged into the bank with a meat cleaver in hand and a pillowcase over his head. Unfortunately, he had neglected to cut eyeholes in the pillowcase and therefore couldn't see—so he had to take it off. Undeterred, Davies used the cleaver to batter a glass partition on the counter and eventually took off with almost 2,000 pounds, casually wandering toward home, even stopping to pet a dog along the way. One brave customer of the bank followed Davies to his home and alerted police; there they found cash and the pillowcase, along with a stun gun. He'll be sentenced in February.

POLICE REPORT Antoine McDonald, 21, of Altamonte Springs, Florida, became famous last year for dressing up as the Easter Bunny in Orlando, but he found his costume unhelpful on Jan. 16 after ramming his motorcycle into a carport, which collapsed on a car parked there, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The motorcycle then hit a fence and flipped over, and a neighbor observed the Easter Bunny limping away from the scene. When officers caught up with McDonald, lying in the back ssseat of a car, he denied involvement in the crash: "I wasn't in any crash. I'm the Orlando Easter Bunny. Google it," he claimed. "The bunny appeared to be alive," officers reported, according to the Orlando Sentinel, and they asked him to remove the costume before arresting him and transporting him to the hospital for rib and leg injuries sustained in the crash.

PEOPLE WITH ISSUES A mystery was solved on Jan. 22 in Natick, Massachusetts, when police arrested Andrea F. Grocer, 51, of Ashland, on suspicion of defecating in front of the Natick Outdoor Store eight times over the last four months. Henry Kanner, the store's owner, had reported the incidents to police in December, and officers first thought an animal might be the culprit—until they found "toilet paper and other wipes," Natick police spokesperson Lt. Cara Rossi told The MetroWest Daily News.

Some of the incidents had been recorded by surveillance video, but police hadn't been able to identify a license plate. During extra patrols of the parking lot, they spotted Grocer at 6:51 a.m. as she prepared to leave her mark again, police said. "I have no idea who she is," Kanner said, adding that he knows of no connection she has with the store.

Grocer's lawyer described her as a "pillar of the community."

•Now-retired high school English teacher Jeffrey S. Churchwell, 60, of Elkhorn,

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

Wisconsin, apologized to Walworth County Sheriff's deputies in October and admitted that he had been defecating, sometimes several times a day, since 2017 outside and on a building in the rural Natureland Park in Whitewater. The Milton Courier reported Brent Brooks of the Walworth County Highway Shop met with deputies in October about the repeated offenses, which required parks department workers to power-wash and sometimes repaint facilities, on top of picking up used toilet paper. Trail cameras recorded the man relieving himself, and deputies caught up with Churchwell on Oct. 8. When asked why, he replied, "Stupidity," according to sheriff's office reports.

Churchwell was charged with disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay more than $6,000 in fines and restitution. He was put on leave from the Milton School District on Nov. 25; his retirement took effect Jan. 16.

OOPS! In June 2019, the city of Roubaix, France, proudly announced it had installed 187 solar panels to generate electricity for the city's library, and paid a local company about $113,000 for the "green" equipment.

But during the installation of a wind turbine to supplement the clean energy effort in December, workers noticed the solar panels had never been connected to the library's electrical network. Oddity Central reported the panels were intended to supply about a quarter of the library's needed power, but "we realized this was not the case," admitted Alexandre Garcin, the city's deputy mayor, who did not elaborate on why it took six months to figure out the oversight.

CREEPY Houston mother Emily Madonia's nightmare began in 2015, when the Elsa (from "Frozen") doll her daughter received for Christmas 2013 began reciting lines from the movie in both English and Spanish; originally it had only spoken English. Next, the doll began speaking and singing randomly, even when her on/off switch was in the OFF position. In December 2019, Madonia threw the doll out, Click2Houston reported, but she and her husband later found the doll in a bench inside their home. So they double wrapped the doll in plastic bags and "put it in the bottom of our garbage can," Madonia wrote on Facebook. Days later, her daughter found the doll again in the backyard. Finally, Madonia sent the doll to a friend who lives in Minnesota, where it remained at press time. In the meantime, Madonia has been contacted by paranormal investigators and the Travel Channel. {in}

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