SHOUT OUT
Celebrating the Wins That Lift Us All
Nonprofit certification boosts credibility and demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of management. It builds trust with donors, partners, and volunteers while enhancing accountability and stewardship.
— Andrea Krieger PSC’s Executive Director of Institutional Development
Rishy and I support many not-for-profits. This certification creates a gold standard in quality. Organizations that are certified will be seen very favorable by us in the decision on where to donate.
— Quint Studer
The Value of Accreditation
PSC Certification Program Elevates Nonprofits, Strengthens Community Impact
Pensacola State College’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Philanthropy is raising the bar for nonprofit organizations with its prestigious certification programs. Designed to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while promoting the highest standards in nonprofit management, these certifications are a game-changer for organizations aiming to amplify their impact.
Led by a team of dedicated PSC staff, nonprofit experts, and community partners, the program equips nonprofit professionals with best practices in critical areas such as board governance, strategic planning, fundraising, risk management, human resources, and financial management.
Certified organizations gain access to a host of benefits, including grant opportunities, research resources, and templates designed to enhance their mission’s impact. Certification also signals professional
Accreditation benefits your organization, board of directors, and stakeholders by providing: A MARK OF QUALITY
Showing a commitment to accountability, competence, and excellence.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Assures board members, funders, and stakeholders that policies and procedures include necessary safeguards.
growth and team development, empowering nonprofits with cutting-edge skills and knowledge.
“These certifications open doors to incredible projects and collaborations,” said Andrea Krieger, PSC’s Executive Director of Institutional Development. “They position nonprofits as transparent, ethical, and forward-thinking—qualities that attract funders and partners.”
Krieger emphasized that certified nonprofits often stand out in competitive grant processes, with funders prioritizing organizations that demonstrate compliance and excellence.
“We’re thrilled to support nonprofits that enhance the vibrancy of our wonderful community,” she shared.
Through PSC’s certification programs, nonprofit professionals can transform their organizations and strengthen their impact.
BENEFITS VARY BY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
Whether enrolled in Organizational Excellence, Core Competency, or a Subject Matter Certificate; accreditation provides expert instruction to help train your team and improve individual and organizational efficiency.
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winners losers
LOUSINDY MITTON The University of West Florida (UWF) cybersecurity student has made history as the university's first recipient of the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship. The prestigious program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides $43,500 annually in funding. Mitton earned her bachelor's in cybersecurity from Miami Dade College and serves on UWF's Graduate Student Advisory Board. Her credentials include multiple industry certifications such as CompTIA Network+, Security+, ITF+, Project+, CRISC, ISC² CC and Salesforce Administrator. Upon completion, she will serve as a Diplomatic Technology Officer in the Foreign Service.
WES REEDER The president of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon has joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). As a Board Certified Construction Law specialist by the Florida Bar Association, Reeder brings extensive experience in construction and commercial litigation. Before his legal career, Reeder served for over 24 years as a Naval Reserve Officer. His military service included time as a crewman with the Blue Angels. Reeder maintains community involvement through leadership roles in various organizations, including the Naval Reserve Officer Association, Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce and Gulf Breeze Rotary Club.
CHADBOURNE-DEMARIA
FOUNDA-
TION Mother Clelia Morning Star High began at Pensacola Catholic High School in 2020 with 20 students. It completed a Phase 2 expansion in 2014, thanks to the Chadbourne-DeMaria Foundation's donation of $1.3 million. The school now serves 30 special needs students and broke ground last week on Phase 3.
NAVAL
AVIATION SCHOOLS COMMAND (NASC) NASC Student Naval Aviators and Flight Officers volunteered last month at the Manna Food Bank. The command, located onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, provides an educational foundation in technical training, character development and professional leadership to prepare Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, partner nation officers and enlisted students to be combat-quality aviation professionals.
DESANTIS AND E-VERIFY In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that required private employers in Florida with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm the employment eligibility of new employees. He said, "The legislation I signed today gives Florida the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country, fighting back against reckless federal government policies and ensuring the Florida taxpayers are not footing the bill for illegal immigration." However, records show that his Commerce Department issued no enforcement actions after the bill became law until last week. On Jan. 29, the DeSantis administration sent warning letters to 40 major employers over potential E-Verify violations, amid an escalating power struggle with Republican lawmakers over immigration law changes and whether Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson should oversee immigration enforcement. While DeSantis presents himself as a hardliner on immigration, questions remain about his administration's previous enforcement record and current motivations.
MANNY DIAZ, JR. Florida students posted significant declines in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading tests in 2024 compared to 2022, mirroring a nationwide trend since the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighth graders recorded their lowest math scores in 20 years and their worst reading scores in over 25 years. Fourth-grade reading fell to its lowest mark since 2003. Instead of taking responsibility and developing an improvement strategy, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz questioned the test methodology, citing concerns about computer issues and student sampling. School district officials attribute the continuing decline partly to increased student absenteeism, which remains above pre-pandemic levels. The achievement gap widened, with significant disparities persisting between racial groups in student performance.
CENTURY TOWN COUNCIL
Leaders could not decide who should fill Seat 4 on the council, which was left open when Alicia Johnson was appointed interim mayor after Luis Gomez, Jr. resigned. The council deadlocked with Kathryn Fleming, former mental health case manager, and Lizbeth Harrison, the director of Pensacola State College's Century Center, each receiving two votes. The council seat will remain vacant until after an upcoming special election set for April 29.
Lousindy Mitton, Photo Courtesy of UWF Ron DeSantis / Photo by Andrew Cline / shutterstock.com
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
SAVE UWF
A political showdown over immigration reforms has unfolded in Florida's capital between Gov. Ron DeSantis and several of his fellow Republicans: House Speaker Danny Perez, Senate President Ben Albritton and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.
Fingers crossed, the battle may boil over to Pensacola, where the community has been shocked by the governor's heavy-handed takeover of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees—a power play that resulted in the election of a Boise State professor as board chair.
The conflict began when DeSantis called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special session on immigration. The manner of his summons immediately created friction. Speaker Perez revealed that DeSantis left him a voicemail about the session and announced it publicly just eight minutes later.
The Legislature responded by passing its own version of immigration reform, the "TRUMP Act." This bill would allocate nearly $500 million for enforcement and transfer immigration oversight powers from DeSantis to Simpson.
DeSantis, who has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his political identity since losing the Republican presidential nomination, condemned the legislation as "weak" and "pathetic" during roundtables across the state.
"What you've seen, there's a difference between having a Republican majority and a conservative majority," DeSantis declared. "They're moving the Republicans in the Legislature left."
Legislative leaders pushed back. "Threatening others to get your way isn't leadership; it's immaturity. The people of our state deserve better," Perez retorted on the House floor. The bill passed with votes of 82-30 in the House and 21-16 in the Senate.
Senator Joe Gruters, a close Trump ally who worked with the White House on the bill, defended the legislation. "This is the strongest bill that's ever been passed anywhere in the country. This gives the president all the tools he needs in support of his executive orders and what he's trying to do."
The political drama has been further complicated by the shadow of President Donald Trump, with both sides claiming to be acting in support of his immigration agenda.
State Senator Randy Fine, one of DeSantis's sharpest Republican critics, easily won the GOP
primary to replace Congressman Mike Waltz only last week. He suggested the governor's influence has waned significantly. While DeSantis deployed his communications staff to attack GOP lawmakers, Fine urged colleagues not to bow to the pressure, calling out "DeSantis' Twitter troll army" as "just smoke."
The dispute represents a stunning turn of events for DeSantis, who has faced little opposition from his party in the Florida Legislature since taking office in 2019. As he enters his final two years in office, the governor finds himself in an unprecedented position: at odds with Republican legislative leaders who are increasingly willing to challenge his authority and work independently with the Trump administration.
Adding to the tension, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to use his Florida Freedom Fund (FFF) PAC to defeat Republicans next year. He posted on social media, "For the 2026 cycle, the FFF will raise even more resources (1) to ensure support for a strong conservative gubernatorial candidate and (2) to support strong conservative candidates in legislative primaries. We need to elect strong leaders who will build off FL's success and who will deliver on the promises made to voters."
And then, there is the University of West Florida—a high-performing Division II university and critical player in Northwest Florida's economy, setting records in enrollment and winning conference, regional and national championships.
With the help of the state Board of Governors, DeSantis has inserted eight new trustees, replacing local leaders and alums with out-ofstate Heritage Foundation fellows and his politi cal operatives. UWF appears to be on the path to becoming New College 2.0 and another trophy for the Heritage Foundation.
That is unless Sen. Don Gaetz, Rep. Michelle Salzman and Rep. Alex Andrade speak out and ask Albritton and Perez to fight for our university and stop the hostile takeover of UWF.
$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger
Gov. DeSantis' mojo is weakening. His spokesman claims the governor has a "mandate" to reform Florida's universities, but Pensacola voters did not elect DeSantis to a second term so that he would destroy our university and local economy.
We need the Florida Legislature to stand up to DeSantis and save UWF. {in} rick@inweekly.net
FOILING WEEK'S IMPACT
By Rick Outzen
Pensacola will further cement its status as the Sailing Capital of the U.S. in March by hosting the sailing extravaganza known as Foiling Week.
Launched in 2014 in Malcesine and Lake Garda, Italy, the global event features fast foiling boats and boards, their sailors, designers and manufacturers. We Are Foiling founded the event with plans to expand to every continent. The nonprofit organization selected Pensacola as the North American location, with Sail Pensacola as the local organizer.
Foiling Week comes on the heels of Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves referring to the city as the "Sailing Capital of the United States of America." Reeves made that declaration last February when he and American Magic Skipper Terry Hutchinson signed a lease for the Port of Pensacola to be the American Magic home for 10 years. In September, American Magic fell short of qualifying for the Louis Vuitton Cup Final, but its appearance introduced Pensacola to an international audience with the word "Pensacola" etched in white letters on its black sail.
An international audience will be reintroduced to Pensacola during Foiling Week. The events will generate notoriety and money for the region, but that is a mere pittance compared to the possibilities for long-term sustainable economic growth.
Over 20 foiling industry executives will travel to Pensacola for the festivities. Sail Pensacola
President Timothy Ryschon said the city is potentially on the verge of securing a commitment from one of the companies and then the dominoes will fall.
The executives will tour the region with stops at the University of West Florida, Pensacola State College and IHMC, among others. Other activities for the executives include a business conference, panel discussion and a social hour followed by a dinner with We Are Foiling Founder Luca Rizzotti as the keynote speaker.
"They are coming here to check out the business climate of Pensacola and see if this is where their U.S. footprint should be," Ryschon said. "We're leveraging this event and future events to continually put industry eyes on Pensacola as the window to North America. We have the port and a great airport. There's no downside to being here."
"We could be the foiling mall of North America if we can pull this off." Timothy Ryschon
Ryschon continued, "We have to develop some more infrastructure to support it, and by 'we,' I primarily mean Sail Pensacola. This could be the landing zone for foils of the world. We could be the foiling mall of North America if we can pull this off. We're the right town, right scale, right community and this comes on the heels of American Magic. It just makes Pensacola the most logical place of any place in North America."
EXPANDING FOILING'S FOOTPRINT
Part of expanding the footprint includes potentially establishing a We Are Foiling office in Pensacola. Chris Platé, FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance CEO, said the agency is in the early discussion stages with We Are Foiling.
"If they're looking to have an expansion to the United States, we definitely feel with American Magic that this is an ideal location for a U.S. operation," Platé said.
One potential partner for the city is Nautor Swan, a Finnish producer of luxury sailing yachts. In January, American Magic and Nautor Swan announced a joint venture that will initially focus on developing the ClubSwan 28 regatta series, a new competitive platform for sailors and yacht owners. Rizzotti said he is unsure if Nautor Swan will send any representatives to Pensacola for Foiling Week.
Platé plans to engage with Rizzotti and industry executives during Foiling Week. Rizzotti is a powerful ally in the foiling industry. He not only founded We Are Foiling and Foiling Week. Last year, he founded The Foiling Organization, an accelerated networking path towards foiling development for builders, designers, universities, clubs, events, classes, teams and sailors. In April, the organization hosted the first World Foiling Congress in Genoa, Italy. Rizzotti serves as the president of the organization.
Foiling Week is the marquee showcase for Rizzotti. Malcesine hosts Foiling Week each year, in addition to events held on other continents. Pensacola is the first location other than Mal-
cesine to host Foiling Week since Jeddah, Saudi Arabia hosted in 2022. Newport, R.I. in 2016 and Miami in 2018 mark the only other cities in the U.S. to host the event.
"Pensacola is the perfect foiling destination with a land-protected bay for flat waters and amazing beaches facing the ocean side," Rizzotti said. "It's not too big of a city where it's difficult to go and talk to the local community and stakeholders, and it's not too small where it doesn't have the right resources."
Marcus Lynch, high performance director of U.S. Sailing Team, called Foiling Week a "worldclass program" and Pensacola "a foiler's paradise."
Foiling Week races in the Pensacola Bay and Gulf of Mexico will attract their share of sailing enthusiasts, but Ryschon said the event is designed to be a festival and will be similar to other festivals that occur in Pensacola.
"On the shore, we'll have a very elaborate community engagement piece," Ryschon said. "We'll have exhibitor booths, a green team, DJ, beer garden, food trucks."
The exhibitor booths will include new products, services and technologies. Maritime Park will be the site for the Foiling Week Village. The village will include an expo showcasing the latest high-tech nautical equipment and apparel. Visitors will hear music performances and discussions on the evolution of foiling. Sustainability, inclusivity, clinics, youth and women's coaching and technical workshops will be highlights of the program.
Foiling Week tests and trials will be open to experienced sailors and beginners with the opportunity to sail the latest foiling boats, boards and gears. A VIP cruise on March 1-2 will be part of the festivities. The cruise will depart from the Ferry Terminal at 750 Commendencia St. and include live commentary, a welcome drink, snacks and a paid bar onboard.
The Foiling Week crowd will arrive in time for Mardi Gras activities. Sailors will be on floats for the parades in downtown Pensacola and on Pensacola Beach.
"It'll be a really cool spin on the thing," Ryschon said. "Half the people coming are not from the U.S. and the other half have no idea about Mardi Gras culture."
Pensacola will host two other marquee sailing events in the next three months. The GL52 Southern Series will hold races in Pensacola from March 20-23 and April 10-13. The series is for Transpac 52 yacht owners to compete in similarly configured boats in a group of buoy races.
"We are just scratching the surface of the economic potential of American Magic's presence in Pensacola," Reeves said. "I believe a way of proving that is to see an increased presence for American Magic and sailing organizations from all over the world." Reeves continued, "The bread and butter of this relationship with American Magic is these types of events that can give us more exposure locally and internationally."
For further information on Foiling Week, visit foilingweek.com/landing/pensacola-2025. {in}
Photo by penofoto / shutterstock.com
education system, North Idaho College's (NIC) turbulent journey through political upheaval and near-loss of accreditation serves as a stark warning of how partisan battles can threaten academic institutions.
"We found a board majority that was elected with agendas that they never shared completely. It was an agenda of chaos, not really conservatism," explained Christa Hazel, a former school board member and NIC student body president. Hazel witnessed the transformation of her alma mater from a respected community institution to a battleground for political ideologies.
The crisis began in 2020 when the college's diversity council issued a statement supporting social justice demonstrations following George Floyd's death. This caught the attention of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, which then began endorsing candidates for the college's technically nonpartisan board elections.
The resulting turmoil nearly destroyed the 90-year-old college. A board majority, led by chairman Todd Banducci, who claimed to be fighting against a liberal "deep state" at the college, created a governance crisis that triggered multiple accreditation warnings and eventually led to a "show-cause" status in February 2023— meaning the college had to prove why it should keep its accreditation.
"I'm a believer in transparency and accountability," Hazel noted, "and there wasn't transparency; it was very difficult to get accountability using policies in place in hopes that board chairs would honor them. What we discovered is board chairs just didn't honor policies."
The financial toll was devastating. The college overspent its 2022-23 budget by more than $1 million, largely due to leadership turnover and skyrocketing insurance costs. After trustees fired President Rick MacLennan without cause, the college's insurer dropped them, forcing them to find new coverage at more than double the cost—$1.2 million versus $515,000.
Hazel observed how external political groups contributed to the chaos. "The Idaho Freedom Foundation is the largest super lobby group in Idaho," she explained. "They rate our legislators on an Idaho Freedom index … they've been effective in moving, marching our legislators
farther right." Meanwhile, what she calls "zombie papers"—propaganda websites—emerged to paint college defenders as "Biden-loving, DEI, Antifa fans."
The situation threatened both the college and the broader community. "We realized our community college brought $60 million into the economy," Hazel said. "If we were to lose accreditation and not be able to get it back, that started to look akin to a natural disaster."
According to Inside Higher Ed, the situation began to improve around May 2024 when trustee Mike Waggoner emerged as a swing vote, leading to more normalized board meetings. The return to normalcy accelerated when Banducci and Waggoner chose not to seek re-election, and board chair Greg McKenzie lost his re-election bid.
Hazel emphasized that the crisis wasn't about traditional conservative values. "I've been a lifelong conservative," she said. "I affiliate with North Idaho Republicans because I don't affiliate with some of these crazy groups. Why? Because in my view, they have some views that just are too far for me or something that I don't believe is reflective of my community."
The case has relevance for Northwest Florida, where similar dynamics are emerging at institutions like the University of West Florida and New College of Florida. As Hazel observed, "Elections have consequences, and unfortunately, it sounds like you're starting to go through that."
The toll extends beyond immediate costs. Enrollment at NIC declined, with tuition collections falling $500,000 below projections. Staff turnover exceeded 18% in 2021-22, nearly tripling over three years. Donor support plummeted, impacting scholarship availability and program support.
"You want members of your community that really understand your community, that are looking out for your community when they're in these leadership positions," Hazel emphasized, "as opposed to think tank groups and people who just newly relocated and they're running from something, but they won't tell you what."
As NIC awaits its final accreditation decision, its experience stands as a warning about the real costs of political interference in higher education. While the institution appears to have pulled back from the brink, the damage to its finances, reputation and community trust will take years to repair.
"If DEI is a problem in a university, show where it is and be willing and courageous to have a community discussion," Hazel concluded. "Rational people just say, 'What's the plan?' And when others don't offer that in a rational way … that's also the problem."
HAND UP The City of Pensacola has awarded a $100,000 grant to the Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) to launch "Hand Up for Youth," a program addressing the community's critical issue of youth homelessness.
The timing is crucial, as Escambia County
faces growing youth homelessness challenges. Recent data from the Florida Department of Education shows 1,913 homeless youth in the county during the last school year, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
Children's Home Society Executive Director Leah Harrison said, "This partnership with the City of Pensacola is a critical step in addressing the urgent needs of our local homeless youth. Of the 245 children we served last year, the situations that have led to homelessness vary, but this gift from the city directly responds to two of the largest challenges they face: access to safe, stable housing and a path to independence."
The "Hand Up for Youth" program will focus on two main initiatives: supportive permanent housing for youth ages 18-23 and host homes for those aged 16-17. The supportive housing component will provide up to six months of rent assistance and 18 months of case management, aiming to help at least 15 young people secure stable housing. The host homes initiative will focus on recruiting families to provide safe, temporary housing for younger teens.
"Solving homelessness isn't one-size-fitsall, and there are many facets to consider," said Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves. "Our partnership with the Children's Home Society of Florida reflects the city's commitment to exploring diverse solutions, including addressing the needs of our area's 'invisible youth.' To improve our residents' quality of life and reduce homelessness, we need local community leaders, businesses and charities to unite for a real chance at making lasting change."
"Solving homelessness isn't onesize-fits-all, and there are many facets to consider." D.C. Reeves
The program aims to create sustainable solutions by providing not just housing but comprehensive support services to help young people achieve independence. Those interested in supporting the initiative or becoming a host home can contact Kelli Foster, Director of Homeless Youth Programming, at kelli.foster@chsfl.org.
DISSECTING THE FREEZE
Last week, the Trump administration had ordered a temporary funding freeze for government programs. Under the directive, federal agencies were given until Feb. 10 to provide detailed information about programs, projects and activities affected by the pause. The memo explicitly stated that assistance provided directly to individuals, such as Medicare and Social Security, would not be impacted by this freeze.
However, before the freeze was set to go into effect at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, a federal judge temporarily blocked it. By noon the next day, the Trump administration rescinded the directive.
The reversal didn't come without a fight. At her first official press briefing on Jan. 29, White
House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the directive. "This is not a blanket pause. Social Security benefits, Medicare benefits, food stamps, welfare benefits and assistance that is going directly to individuals will not be impacted by this pause."
After the judge's ruling, the White House also pushed back against the criticism, labeling any claims that the pause meant an end to Medicaid, food assistance and other individual assistance programs a "hoax."
The White House wrote, "Individual federal assistance programs—such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP and other important programs—are explicitly excluded, as was made clear by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and a memo from the Office of Management and Budget. Only unnecessary spending—such as DEI, the Green New Scam and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest—are included in President Trump's directive."
However, Medicaid, HeadStart and numerous other programs do help millions of Americans, but the federal government distributes the money to state and local governments and nonprofits, such as the Council on Aging and Opening Doors, not to individuals.
The Council on Aging's Alesia Macklin and Emily Echevarria said the freeze would have left thousands of vulnerable seniors and children without critical services in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The affected services include Meals on Wheels, case management, adult daycare and senior volunteer initiatives.
"All of that goes away," emphasized Macklin, President of Florida AmeriCorps Seniors, describing the immediate impact on homebound seniors who rely on daily meal deliveries and wellness checks.
ECONOMIC ENGINE The University of West Florida (UWF) has been a significant economic engine for Northwest Florida across multiple economic indicators.
UWF contributes approximately $703 million to the region's gross domestic product and supports 11,592 jobs directly or indirectly connected to the institution. The university's presence generates nearly $1.2 billion annually in local incomes and wages.
Recent data indicates even stronger economic performance, with UWF now generating approximately $1.5 billion in total annual sales throughout eight Panhandle counties: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Bay and Gulf.
Beyond its broad economic influence, UWF plays a crucial role in job creation through several strategic initiatives. The Office of Workforce Development serves as a vital bridge between education and employment through its UWF Talent Catalyst program, which connects students with part-time paid positions at local businesses. This initiative not only enhances student employability but also provides businesses with early access to skilled talent.
The university's Center for Entrepreneurship further strengthens the regional economy by supporting startups and small businesses. Through educational programs, mentorship and networking opportunities, the center equips aspiring entrepreneurs with essential skills for launching successful ventures, contributing to job creation and innovation within the local economy.
The Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund (IRDF) program, administered by UWF, exemplifies the university's commitment to economic development. This initiative has approved incentive funding for projects projected to create 685 new jobs and generate more than $91 million in capital investment in Northwest Florida. The IRDF program specifically targets the eight Northwest Florida counties most affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, aiming to foster sustainable, high-paying jobs across diverse industries.
UWF's Haas Center provides crucial economic data and labor market analysis that inform regional workforce development strategies and help businesses understand labor trends and hiring needs.
The university's overall economic efficiency is particularly noteworthy, with UWF returning $14.22 to the state economy for every dollar of state support received. This impressive multiplier effect underscores UWF's position as a crucial catalyst for economic growth and development in Northwest Florida and beyond.
Will the new Board of Trustees chair Dr. Scott Yenor's plans to make sure Gov. Ron DeSantis' reforms are "deeply embedded into the fabric in Pensacola" end up derailing our economy?
BEACH ALERT Two new dining concepts will join Pensacola Beach's culinary landscape this spring. The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company and Hideaway Beach Bar will officially open on March 8 at the former Whiskey Joe's Pensacola Beach location.
The Wharf Fish & Oyster Company offers upscale dining in a family-friendly atmosphere. Its menu showcases Gulf Coast flavors, featuring locally sourced ingredients from Northwest Florida vendors. Signature dishes include Gulf Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Boil and the Gulf Grouper BLT.
Executive Chef Kara Mardell leads the culinary vision for both establishments. Her journey began on a Kentucky farm, where she developed a passion for sustainable cooking using homegrown ingredients. Since becoming a resident of Northwest Florida in 2019, she has focused on melding her Kentucky roots with Gulf Coast cuisine, emphasizing locally sourced ingredients and rotating seasonal flavors.
"Our goal is to intertwine incredible southern and Gulf Coast flavors with every dish," said Mardell. "We're proud to source our ingredients from local purveyors, offering the freshest fish and beef, and produce in ways that are both creative and approachable."
Located beneath The Wharf, the Hideaway
Beach Bar offers a more relaxed atmosphere with its food truck, volleyball courts and fire pits. The menu features their signature 50/50 Double Smash Burger—a blend of 50% bacon and 50% Angus beef—alongside beach-inspired cocktails like the Beachfront Mojito and Getting Barrelled, served in souvenir cups.
"Hideaway is all about fun and relaxation," said Jake Rossman, Director of Operations. "Whether you're here for the cocktails, live music or just to hang out with friends, Hide away is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the beach."
The official grand opening celebration is scheduled for March 13-16. It will feature live music and a punch card passport system that encourages guests to explore the property. The celebration will also include a partnership with a nonprofit organization that supports post-9/11 veterans through various assistance programs.
For more information about menus, events or employment opportunities, call (850) 706-5300.
CARE MINI-GRANTS The Escambia Chil dren's Trust (ECT) announced a funding initiative designed to strengthen local youth services through its new Community, Access, Resilience and Empowerment (CARE) MicroGrants program.
The CARE Micro-Grants will provide up to $50,000 in one-time funding to qualified local organizations, focusing on programs that demonstrate excellence in advocacy, training and community engagement. Selected programs will operate within a 12-month project period, beginning no earlier than May 1 and concluding by April 30, 2026.
pensacola grand mardi gras parade
brought to you by
march 1st, 2025 downtown pensacola | 2pm
"Through the CARE framework, we're investing in programs that build resilience and create lasting positive change for our youth," ECT Communications Coordinator Michael Moore stated. "These micro-grants represent our commitment to supporting organizations that share our vision for a stronger, more empowered community."
Eligible organizations must demonstrate:
•Established presence in the local community
•Fiscal responsibility and sound management
•Proven track record of high-quality service delivery
•Alignment with ECT's mission to serve at-risk youth
•Focus on key areas, including health, education and environmental sustainability
The application process is now open, with submissions due by 5 p.m. on March 7. Interested organizations can access detailed information through the RFP/ITB tab at escambiachildrenstrust.org.
BUZZ HISTORY Twenty years ago, Randy Koch's pleas for mercy and screams of agony after being shocked ruthlessly by a Pensacola Police officer with a Taser echoed across the country on Air America Radio's "Unfiltered," a week after the Independent News' Feb. 3 issue about Tasers, "Gotcha! Crimefighters' New Toy." {in}
2/28 Krewe of lafitte illuminated parade downtown pensacola | 7:30pm
3/2 krewe of wrecks beach parade pensacola beach | 2pm
3/4 fat tuesday celebration seville quarter
the 2025 pensacola mardi gras season presented by
grand parade opening ceremony sponsored by inc
FACES
Justine Williams Roper starts her day by centering herself, prioritizing her mental well-being through music, prayer, preparing breakfast or training for her next race—provided the temperature allows.
No matter what, her day always starts with her.
"What I've grown to learn is that if I don't prioritize myself, I'll feel resentful at the end of my day—like I put everything else first but myself," Roper said. "Then I get angry, and it'll build up over time, and it just won't look good."
The Pensacola native seems to have the quote "Life's a marathon, not a sprint," encoded into her DNA—and not just because she strategically runs one marathon a year in the fall. It's because the founder and CEO of InHer Physique Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Wellness, a DPT (doctor of physical therapy), speaker, author, overall wellness guru, wife, dog mom, philanthropic crocheter— you name it—lives her life with an intentionality most of us aspire to.
Referring to a quote from Shonda Rhimes, what helps Roper is knowing she can do it all, but not all of it at once.
"There's always times where one area is neglected; it's just inevitable that one thing will not get all your effort," Roper said. "So I just try to balance the best I can … I will wear myself out, and I'm not perfect at it either, but I think you have to be intentional with creating ease in your life. It's not like, 'Hey, you just stop caring about everything and everything becomes easy.' No, you create ease by creating systems within your life that really work."
A DAY IN THE LIFE
While Roper always meets her body and soul's needs first thing in the a.m., the day will take on a life of its own, whether that means computer work and Zoom meetings, clinic days where she treats patients or a speaking event. The week of her Inweekly interview, she's slated to speak about goal-setting to Survivor-Led Solutions (an antitrafficking organization), get interviewed about her run journey at Running Wild and run a half marathon in Miami.
All of the hats Roper wears, though, are tied to her life's purpose: educating and propelling change. She's not joking around when she says her biggest dream is to appear as an educator on "Sesame Street."
"Any time that I'm doing anything, whether it's talking or teaching or treating patients, my goal is to allow for a space for a light bulb to go off or a seed that's planted in someone's brain that prompts them to make a change in their life for the better—and it doesn't matter what that looks like," Roper said. "My hopes are that people realize that you don't have to make huge changes in your life in order to see something change."
What inspired her to specialize in pelvic floor therapy was, in fact, a gap in education. Little is shared about the pelvic floor, but it's always working—while sitting, breathing, during sex, just about everything, Roper said.
"A big misconception now is that everyone should strengthen their pelvic floor, when in reality, people need to figure out the state their pelvic floor is in and then go that direction," Roper said. "The majority of women actually have excessively tight pelvic floors because we use them so much, especially athletes … [there are] a lot of TikToks about kegeling to a song or to a beat, not realizing that when, as a clinician, I'm doing a pelvic floor exam, how many people actually have a tight one. That doesn't mean it's not weak at the same time, but you want to get rid of the tension first before you build the strength."
She loves teaching women, especially athletes, how to engage their core, engage and disengage their pelvic floor properly while exercising and breathe in coordination with both.
"Doesn't matter if you run marathons, you're a powerlifter, gymnast … once you know those things, you're able to use it to your advantage and become a 10 times more powerful athlete as a woman," Roper said.
Roper ties pelvic floor health back to overall wellness, something that became increasingly important to her along her run journey. What we eat, how we move and our stress levels can all influence our pelvic health, she said.
Roper educates on just about all things
wellness, but if she had to narrow it down to two tips for the general population, the first would be about the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency.
"It can be preventative for a lot of diseases and illnesses," Roper said. "So if you're vitamin D deficient, which the majority, especially women of color, are, one of the biggest things is to go get your blood work done, see your levels and supplement and prioritize vitamin D."
The other tip lies within the mental health space: don't be afraid to use your resources.
"There are so many resources that are available to us, whether they're free, through our insurance, within our community, within our networks, that we underutilize," Roper said. "Whatever it is that you need—whether it's mental health help, organizational skills—there are resources out there if we type it in ChatGPT or Google, it's there for us. I think we sometimes have these mental blocks that stop us from using resources, whether it be pride or fear, or it may be feeling like a really, really big thing that we feel ill-equipped to attack; but using your resources in your community, it helps a lot with wellness."
HIGH PERFORMANCE
When it comes to her own health, Roper said people might be surprised to know she was overweight for much of her young adult and teen years. Growing up, she did cheer, lifted weights and loved fitness and movement, but still faced her own struggles with wellness.
"My mother was our first female AfricanAmerican judge here … she's a high performer. You have to be a high performance woman to achieve those types of things, and I watched her go in and out of health and wellness," Roper said. "[There] would be some times where she was really active, she would walk and we ate clean, and the other times, it was fast food all the time. So there's grace, still, for lack of knowledge, of where you are in your life. But if we think long term, even just making small changes now and being intentional about them can create a longer, happier life."
Roper noticed her body changed as an adult when she started to focus on performance as an
athlete, business owner and family member. She defines performance as waking up, putting your feet to the floor and moving through your life.
"You perform whether you're a stay-at-home mother, whether you work an office job, whether you're an athlete—we all are performing in some form or another," Roper said. "I started to shift my focus from what I looked like to how I felt and what I felt purposed to do in my everyday life. Once I made that mental shift, diet started to change, what I exposed myself to started to change."
Roper was a self-described "coffeeholic" until recently, when she realized how anxious it made her feel. Her health goals this year include finding inner peace while fighting the worry that comes with fibroids, running five half marathons, continuing to grow the team at her second clinic location in Gulf Breeze and convincing her family to run a 5k with her.
Family is understandably important to Roper, who explained she had 17 family members from Pensacola and Washington D.C. travel to watch her run the New York City Marathon. It's one of many reasons Pensacola will remain her home base.
"We made it a big family trip, and that's what I want to be an example for … I want my life to inspire other people to do things that they may not have done before," Roper said. "Some of my family members would never have gotten on a plane and flown to New York City, but I was able to create that environment for them to do something different. My family has shown up for me way more than I could have ever asked for, so I just know some people have my back, and I love that."
Wherever the day leads her, Roper will come home to her husband Dee, who she calls a serial entrepreneur (he helped brainstorm the business name InHer Physique), and her 6-year-old American Pitbull named Blue. They might play the hidden paper towel game with Blue, prepare a meal, listen to an audiobook, watch a movie and then she'll do it again the next day—no sprinting necessary. {in}
BY SAVANNAH EVANOFF
Photo
Arts & Entertainment
Elevating Ceramic Art Through Dark Themes
If you've spent much time at arts festivals and markets around town, you're familiar with the outstanding ceramics artists we have in the region. These artisans can be seen offering hand-shaped bowls, mugs and other art you can use in your daily life.
Recently, popular ceramicists have begun to incorporate hand painting into their works, creating a fusion of art styles that has potential to elevate the medium from daily-use to special-occasion.
By Sydney Robinson
sity of West Florida (UWF), Campagna combines the hands-on medium of pottery with the delicate art of painting.
"My art is definitely heavily inspired by my past. I use [art] as a way to explore nostalgia and confront my fears, my insecurities and things like trauma and mortality. It's kind of like exploring childhood through a darker lens."
way of getting to know myself better and also relating to other people who might have had similar experiences to me."
"Art was a major coping mechanism for me [growing up]," they added, "and it offered me an outlet to explore different things in my life."
Campagna knew they wanted to be an artist from a very young age, but they discovered their true passion for creating during their time at Gulf Coast State College, where they were taught and mentored by two professors, Tammy Marinuzzi and Pavel Amromin.
"They became, sort of like, my art parents during my time there," said Campagna. "They had a major effect on my development as a creative."
"When I transferred to UWF, that's when my love for ceramics really blossomed, because I realized I could blend my passion for painting with sculptural elements. That was a major game changer for my practice," said Campagna.
"I feel like ceramics are therapeutic in a way that painting isn't," they added. "It's more like a physical release than a mental release for me, and it's nice to have both of those tools to use for my expression."
Campagna's paintings and ceramics offer meditation on coming-of-age, the loss of innocence and fierce protection of the vulnerable. Their work features elements of nature, from roly-polys and centipedes to the bared jowls of a dog, newborn lambs and children's hands stained red with blackberry juice.
goal to create an in-house artist space where they and other creatives can come together.
"A major goal of mine is to work with my artist friends to build a little collective here at my house where we can share a studio space, materials, resources, tools, all that stuff, where we can work together and kind of have an artistic environment," said Campagna.
By collaborating together, the young artists can learn with and from one another.
"Working in a group, I feel, is very, very beneficial to new ideas and new perspectives," said Campagna.
In a time when the open expression of queerness is becoming more dangerous through antitrans executive orders and bans on gender-affirming care, Campagna finds it's more important than ever to keep creating.
"Art has always been an important part for me, for exploring my identity, and I know it is a huge part in other people's lives as well—especially young queer people," said Campagna.
Adrianna Campagna is one such artist. A 2024 graduate of the Fine Arts program at the Univer-
Campagna says growing up as a queer person in a small town has inspired some of their darker thematic explorations and they hope to connect with others through their art.
"I want to explore those darker themes as a
Now a graduate and working artist, Campagna has been selling their work at local markets and small art shows in their own home.
Outside the collaborative world of college, Campagna and other young creatives find themselves yearning for a supportive artistic environment. With that desire in mind, Campagna has a
"It's important to make art to be able to explore different parts of yourself and maybe experience things that you wouldn't have before. That's why I try to create art for other people as well. I want people to be able to look at things that they can relate to and connect with the local community," said Campagna. "Even though there's obstacles, and people are trying to censor queerness and things like that. We've always been here. We will always be here. We're always going to be making things and connecting with people like us." {in}
ADRIANNA CAMPAGNA @acampagna.art etsy.com/shop/acampagnaart
Adrianna Campagna / Courtesy Photos
a&e happenings
VALENTINE'S DAY EVENTS
GALENTINE'S PAWTY Celebrate Galentine's at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St., from 7-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 with candle painting, a slice of cotton candy cake and cuddles with adoptable kittens. Tickets are $28 and available at coastalcatpcola.com
GALENTINE'S DAY BRUNCH Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
PALENTINE MIXOLOGY EVENT Bring a pal and learn to make your own hand-crafted cocktail 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Casks and Flights, 121 S. Palafox St. Details at casksandflights.com.
THE EX-FACTOR NIGHT Head to Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. for a casual evening of fun where you can "bash your ex" at the Ex-Factor night, which includes Speed Mingle. Bring photos or documents related to your ex to throw darts at or shred in our paper shredder. Event is 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
GALENTINE'S AT CELESTINE BED AND BREAKFAST Enjoy gourmet bites with wine pairings, create a wine bottle bouquet and take home a bottle of prosecco. Event is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at 514 N. Baylen St. Details at celestinebedandbreakfast.com/events.
GALENTINE'S DAY AT CASINO BEACH BAR & GRILLE Barbie-themed Galentine's Day with trivia, themed cocktails and more starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at Casino Beach Bar & Grille, 41 Fort Pickens Road.
GALENTINE'S SUSHI ROLLING NIGHT Grab the girls and learn to make your own sushi 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at The Loft, 2 Intendencia St. Tickets are $75 and include the class and your own rolling mat. Participants will also get 20% off at Rusted Arrow Mercantile during the event. Get your tickets at rustedarrowmercantile.com.
VALENTINE'S MURDER MYSTERY DINNER Solve a mystery this Valentine's Day. Event is 6-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $65 and
include a choice of two entrees. Tickets are available on eventbrite.com.
SINGLES SCIENCE NIGHT In this interactive adult program, participants will team up with fellow science enthusiasts to tackle exciting math, engineering and science challenges that encourage collaboration, problem-solving and maybe even a spark of connection. Event is 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Pensacola MESS Hall, 418 E. Wright St. Tickets are $30 and include admission, access to regular MESS Hall exhibits, themed activities and drink tickets for adult beverages. Light refreshments will also be available. For details, visit pensacolamesshall.org.
VALENTINE'S DAY WITH AGAPI Enjoy a special surf n' turf Valentine's dinner, along with the full menu of signature dishes. Seatings available 4-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Agapi, 555 Scenic Highway. Reservations only. Call (850) 813-LOVE to make yours.
VALENTINE'S DAY AT 86 FORKS BAR +
TABLE Enjoy Chef's special: braised short ribs at 86 Forks, 11 S. Palafox St., Ste. B. Seatings are available from 4 p.m. to midnight. Make your reservations by calling (850) 607-7336.
UNE SOIREE D'AMOUR Enjoy a five-course French wine experience 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Celestine Bed and Breakfast, 514 N. Baylen St. Make your reservation by calling (850) 426-4032.
VALENTINE'S DAY AT GREAT SOUTHERN
RESTAURANTS All Great Southern Restaurants will have special menus. Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St., will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. with a special Valentine's Day menu. The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St., will have lunch service from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner service from 3 p.m. on with a special menu and Pensacon décor. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St., will be open for lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with dinner service following. The Valentine's menu will be available through Sunday, Feb. 16. Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St., will be open Valentine's Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch service and dinner service beginning at 5 p.m. The Valentine's menu will be available through Sunday, Feb. 16. Reservations are required; make yours at jacksonsrestaurant.com. Angelena's Italian Ristorante, 101 E. Intendencia St., will be open Valentine's
Day 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch service and dinner service beginning at 5 p.m. The special menu will be available Saturday, Feb. 15. Reservations can be made at angelenaspensacola.com.
BE MINE BURLESQUE The Sapphic Stage presents Be Mine Burlesque. Show is 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. For ages 18 and up. Tickets are $10 at thehandlebar850.com.
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 or older to play. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
EVOLVE: COLLECTIVE ODYSSEYS IN CLAY CLOSING RECEPTION The UWF College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities invites you to the closing reception for the Evolve: Collective Odysseys in Clay exhibition on Thursday, Feb. 6 in The Art Gallery in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts (Building 82), 11000 University Parkway. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.
PAINT AND SIP Head to Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St., for an evening of painting and sipping wine 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
MORNING AT THE MUSEUM AT NATIONAL NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM "Morning at the Museum" at the National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., includes a Chickfil-A breakfast, presentations from the Museum's curatorial staff and a movie in the giant screen theater. Guests also have the chance to win prizes. Doors open at 9 a.m. and presentations begin at 10 a.m. Tickets are $20 each. No admission for children under 4. Purchase tickets at navalaviationmuseum.org/tickets. Dates include Feb. 7, Super Human Body; Feb. 14, Butterfly Journey; Feb. 21, Cities of the Future; Feb. 25, Jerusalem; Feb. 28, Desert Elephants.
OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS
Pensacola Cinema Art will have screenings of the Oscar nominated short films 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, Saturday, Feb. 8, Sunday, Feb. 9 and Monday, Feb. 10 at PCA, located in the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Cost is $10 cash donation. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.
PENSACOLA FOO FOO FEST KICK-OFF
On Monday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m., the Foo Foo Fest Committee will conduct an in-person kickoff meeting to recap efforts from 2024 and review the plans for this year's events, including important grant application information. Located at Palafox House, 196 N. Palafox St. This year's 12-day series of events is scheduled for Oct. 30-Nov. 10. For more information, visit foofoofest.com.
PENSACOLA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY LECTURE: GETTING STARTED WITH HERITAGE MONITORING SCOUTS Mary Furlong, Executive Director of Florida Public Archaeology Network, will talk about the Heritage Monitoring Scouts program. Event is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3400 Bayou Blvd. The event is free. Details at pasfl.org.
IHMC LECTURE: WEARABLE DEVICES THAT EXTEND HUMAN HEALTH, PERFORMANCE AND TEAMING Lecture from Dr. Tim Broderick. Event is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at IHMC classroom, 40 S. Alcaniz St. Lectures are
a&e happenings
free. Register at ihmc.us/life/evening_lectures/ pensacola-lecture-series.
PENSACON Pop culture convention featuring celebrity panels and photo-ops, costume contests and more at venues including Pensacola Bay Center, Pensacola Cultural Center, Rex Theatre, Pensacola Museum of Commerce and the De Luna Event Space. The convention is Friday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 16. For tickets and information, visit pensacon.com.
RISING TIDE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN DEPP
This exhibition is part of Ben Depp's ongoing project documenting the rapidly shifting landscape of Southern Louisiana. Depp has been flying above the bayous and wetlands of Southern Louisiana in a powered paraglider for 10 years, photographing the visual clues that tell the story of this place and its destruction. Exhibit on view through Friday, April 4 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for hours.
71ST ANNUAL YOUTH ART FOCUS
The Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St., in partnership with the PMA Guild and Escambia County Public Schools, is proud to present the 71st Annual Youth Art Focus exhibition, showcasing artwork from across the Escambia County School District. The exhibition serves as a celebration of the strong artistic achievements of K-12 students and their teachers. Exhibit is on view through Feb. 23. Visit pensacolamuseum,org for hours.
KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY
Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.
SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS
Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
THE BRENT LOFTS ART EXHIBIT Exhibit of Sally T. Miller, abstract painter, and Erica Dukes, travel photographer inside The Brent Lofts, 17 S. Palafox St. Exhibit will be on display through March 30. Details at facebook.com/thebrentlofts.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scrip -
teasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook. com/downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH During the month of February, Five Sisters Blues Café will celebrate Black History Month featuring dishes inspired by Black culinary innovators. From Feb. 3-9: Thomas Downing, Oyster King of New York; Feb. 10-16: Leah Chase, Queen of Creole Cuisine; Feb. 17-23: Edna Lewis, Grande Dame of Southern Cooking; and for the entire month: John Young, Buffalo's wing king, and Nathan "Nearest" Green, the original Jack Daniels. Find more info at fivesistersbluescafe.com.
ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS Featuring Ology Brewing. Classes are 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 per person. Reservations required. Make yours by calling (850) 287-0200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.
DINNER AND AN ARIA Enjoy a special dinner at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St., with performances from Pensacola Opera on Thursday, Feb. 6 with two seatings at 5 and 7:30 p.m. For reservations, call (850) 469-9898.
CCB WINTER CIDER FEST Enjoy exclusive
CCB ciders, limited can release and build-yourown cider flights Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 9 at
a&e happenings
Coastal County Brewing Co., 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
"FUN"DAMENTALS: FLAMBÉ Learn the art of flambé 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Ste. C. Cost is $60. Purchase tickets at pensacolacooks.com/ cooking-classes.
OYSTER BASH AT O'RILEY'S Oyster Bash returns to O'Riley's 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. Attendees can purchase orders of oysters in half dozen or full dozen quantities with a choice between raw and grilled oysters. Visit O'Riley's at 321 S. Palafox St.
VINO MAGNIFICO Monthly wine tasting 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 at V. Paul's, 29 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $20 and available at vpauls.com.
LORD OF THE RINGS TRIVIA Kick off Pensacon at Odd Colony, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 260 N. Palafox St. Details at facebook. com/oddcolony.
FARM-FRESH PASTA COOKING CLASS
Bodacious cooking class 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $80 and available on Eventbrite.
BORDEAUX WINE DINNER A multi-course wine dinner prepared by Chef Daniel Watts 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets available at Eventbrite.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern. com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House,
600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain. com/upcoming-events for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9-11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
happenings
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge. com for details.
TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN
Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE
O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.
LIVE MUSIC
MAGGIE MILES, RECESS PARTY, SOFIA CAMILLE Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA The worldrenowned Glenn Miller Orchestra will perform at the National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd., 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. A preshow cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Preferred seating tickets are $65 and general admission is $40. Purchase tickets at naval-aviation-museum-foundation.idloom.events.
JUMPING THE GUN, NO COMPLICATIONS, LIGHTS WITH FIRE Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
THE BROKEN HEARTS: A TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS TRIBUTE Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.
THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PRESENTS THE BEATLES' ABBEY ROAD Show is 8
p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
BRAINBURN, DELTA HATE, PAID IN BLOOD, EYEZIN, NO SURRENDER Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
HERAKLEION, VOID, INFERNEM, HEMLOCK Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
SAM BARBER Show is 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at vinylmusichall.com.
ZULU, LIE, KNIFE WOUND, NO SURRENDER Show is Wednesday, Feb. 13 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
MANIA: THE ABBA TRIBUTE Show is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
VISION VIDEO, GRAVE CHORUS Show is 7
p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
CANE HILL, MUGSHOT, FOX LAKE, WEEPING WOUND Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: BOND AND BEYOND PSO performance with guest vocalists Chloe Lowery and Ron Bohmer 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
FEELS SO CLOSE: EDM GOLDEN ERA
PARTY Show is 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at vinylmusichall.com.
ELVIS IN PERSON STARRING MATT
STONE Elvis impersonator show 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com/
LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS Enjoy live music at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Glen Parker Band plays 6-10 p.m. Saturdays and Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD
COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/ oddcolony for details.
KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
free will astrology
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): The world's largest mirror isn't an actual mirror. It's Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni salt flat, a vast area that's almost perfectly flat. After a rain, a thin layer of calm water transforms the surface into a perfect reflector that can be used to calibrate observation satellites. In these conditions, it may be almost impossible to tell where the earth begins and the sky ends. I foresee metaphorically similar developments for you during the coming weeks. Boundaries between different aspects of your world—professional and personal, spiritual and practical—might blur in interesting ways. A temporary dissolution of the usual limits may offer you surprising insights and unexpected opportunities for realignment. Be alert for helpful clues about how to adjust the way you see things.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): From day to day, glaciers appear static. But they are actually slow-moving rivers of ice that have tremendous creative power. They can make or reshape valleys, moving tons of dirt and rock. They pulverize, grind and topple trees, hills and even mountains. New lakes may emerge in the course of their activity. I invite you to imagine yourself as a glacier in the coming months, Taurus. Exult in your steady transformative power. Notice and keep track of your slow but sure progress. Trust that your persistence will ultimately accomplish wonders and marvels.
By Rob Brezsny
important will arise in threes—except when they come in twos, in which case you should hunt for the missing third? PS: When the wild things call to you, respond promptly.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Archaeologists found two 43,000-year-old flutes in Germany. Constructed of mammoth ivory and bird bone, they still produce clear notes with perfect pitch. They were located in a cave that contains ancient examples of figurative art. Some genius way back then regarded art and music as a pleasurable pairing! I propose we make these instruments your power symbols for the coming weeks, Cancerian. May they inspire you to resuscitate the value of your past accomplishments. May you call on the help of melodies and memories that still resonate—and that can inspire your future adventures! Your words of power are regeneration, revival and reanimation.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): It's your unbirthday season, Leo—the holiday that's halfway between your last birthday and your next. During this interlude, you could benefit from clarifying what you don't want, don't believe and don't like. You may generate good fortune for yourself by going on a quest to discover rich potentials and stirring possibilities that are as-yet hidden or unexpressed. I hope you will be bold enough to scan the frontiers for sources of beauty and truth that you have been missing. During your unbirthday season, you will be wise to gather the rest of the information you will need to make a smart gamble or daring change.
mercial fisherman in Texas. By night, he created visionary paintings inspired by symbols that appeared to him in states between sleeping and waking. Other influences in his art came from alchemy, the psychological philosophy of Carl Jung and Indigenous Australian rituals. His life was living proof that mystical exploration and mundane work could coexist. I'm hoping he might serve you as an inspirational role model. You are in a phase when you have the power to blend and synergize seemingly opposing aspects of your world. You would be wise to meditate on how to find common ground between practical necessity and spiritual aspiration. Are there ways you can unite the desires of your head and heart? Of your need for safety and your longing for adventure? Of your craving for beauty and your fondness for usefulness?
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Hemoglobin is an iron-bearing protein that's crucial to most life. It enables the transportation of oxygen in the blood. But one species, the icefish of the Antarctic seas, lacks hemoglobin. They evolved other ways to obtain and circulate enough oxygen in the frozen depths, including larger hearts and blood vessels. The system they've developed works well. So they are examples of how to adjust to an apparent problem in ways that lead to fine evolutionary innovations. I suspect you're now in the midst of your own personal version of a comparable adaptation. Keep up the good work!
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In recent weeks, have you stirred up any dynamic fantasies about exotic sanctuaries or faraway places or mercurial wild cards? Have you delivered enticing messages to inspiring beauties or brave freedom-fighters or vibrant networkers? Have you been monitoring the activities of longshots or future helpers or unification adepts who might be useful to you sooner than you imagine? Finally, Gemini, have you noticed I'm suggesting that everything
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Austrian playwright Elfriede Jelinek won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004, and Romanian-German author Herta Müller earned it in 2009. But garnering the world's most prestigious award for writers did not provide a big boost to their book sales. In some markets, their famous works are now out of print. In 2025, I hope you Virgos do in your own spheres what they only half-accomplished in theirs. I would love for you to gather more appreciation and attention while simultaneously raising your income. According to my reading of the astrological omens, this is a reasonable expectation.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): By day, Libraborn Forrest Bess (1911–1977) worked as a com -
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, arranged for himself to be buried after death with an army of 8,000 soldiers made from terracotta, which is a clay ceramic. Joining the gang below the earth's surface were 770 horses and 130 chariots. For over 2,000 years, this assemblage was lost and forgotten. But in 1974, farmers digging a new well found it accidentally. In this spirit, I am predicting that sometime in the next five months, you will make interesting discoveries while looking for something other than what you find. They won't be as spectacular as the terracotta army, but I bet they will be fun and life changing.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Author
Zora Neale Hurston said, "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." I will adjust that counsel for your use, Sagittarius. According to my astrological analysis, the first half of 2025 will ask questions, and the second half will answer them. For best results, I invite you to gather and polish your best questions in the next five months, carefully defining and refining them. When July begins, tell life you are ready to receive replies to your carefully wrought inquiries.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Born under the sign of Aquarius, Clyde Tombaugh discovered the heavenly body known as Pluto in 1930. This was years before he earned advanced degrees in astronomy. His early education was primarily self-directed. The telescopes he used to learn the sky were built from tractor parts and old car components from his father's farm. During the coming months, I surmise there will be elements of your life resembling Tombaugh's story. Your intuition and instincts will bring you insights that may seem unearned or premature. (They're not!) You will garner breakthroughs that seem to be arriving from the future.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): One of the world's deepest caves is Veryovkina in the nation of Georgia. At its lowest, it's 7,257 feet down. There are creatures living there that are found nowhere else on earth. I propose we make it your symbolic power spot for now. In my astrological opinion, you will be wise to dive further into the unknown depths than you have in quite some time. Fascinating mysteries and useful secrets await you. Your motto: "Go deeper and deeper and deeper."
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Here are all your longterm, big-picture horoscopes for 2025: tinyurl.com/ YourDestiny2025 {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A HOBBY In 2023, friends Boone Hogg and Logan Jugler found a nice stick on the side of a trail in Utah—it had "some excellent grain on it" and a "nice grip," they said. They liked it so much, they shared a review of it with their friends, National Public Radio reported on Jan. 23. Two years later, Stick Nation has about 3 million Instagram followers from all over the world who post pictures and reviews of their favorite sticks. Some are "modded," or altered by humans; others are "natty," left in their natural state. One poster from Antarctica wondered: "There are no sticks here. ... I found an ice stick. Does this count?" Stick Nation allowed the submission. "This is an Antarctica stick," Jugler decreed.
NOPE In November, high above Riedering, Germany, Friedi Kuhne and Lukas Irmler walked across a slackline strung between two hot-air balloons flying at more than 8,000 feet, United Press International reported. The two were awarded the Guinness World Record for highest slackline walk on Jan. 27. Irmler went first, calling the successful walk "a glorious moment." Kuhne admitted, "Watching Lukas struggle on the slackline was also very intimidating for me," noting that the balloons went up and down while they were mid-walk. "At one point we were walking kind of downhill—the next minute uphill. The tension of the line was going up and down." He celebrated by parachuting off the line.
IT'S A MYSTERY The Los Angeles Times reported on Jan. 27 that police were called to a property along the Los Angeles River where Google Earth images had captured multiple HELP signs scratched into the dirt. The land is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, and it turns out the satellite images were captured in 2023. But a KTLA-TV news helicopter flew over the property on Jan. 27 and saw that the words were still there. Jill Micek, a spokesperson for Union Pacific, said the railroad is aware of a man who has trespassed on the company's property repeatedly and who is responsible for the alarming messages. While she stressed that no one is in danger, the conspiracy theory community lit up with tales of underground tunnels: "The truth is in the tunnels," one wrote on X. But LAPD is also familiar with the individual who frequents the area, and they said he "has refused housing or a mental health evaluation. He has been at the location for a few years."
WEIRD IN THE WILD In rural Willows, Australia, a man in his 50s suffered serious injuries on Jan. 29 when a "massive" kangaroo attacked him as he walked from his house to his car, The Guardian reported. Fortunately, a neighbor witnessed the attack and was able to call for help. Rick Underhill of the Willows Rural Fire Brigade said the man encountered two kangaroos, one male and one female, and the female ran off before the "other bastard turned around and attacked him." He said the male roo was about 6 1/2 feet tall and probably weighed 220 pounds. Underhill warned community members to stay at home. "A lot of elderly people live in this little community, and
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
they like to go and walk their dogs in the morning," he said. "And that's just asking for trouble."
THE TECH REVOLUTION Twelve thousand humans, alongside dozens of humanoid robots, are scheduled to compete in a half-marathon in Beijing in April, Oddity Central reported on Jan. 29. Bipedal robots from Tesla, Boston Dynamics and 1X will have to have a human-inspired appearance and be able to move on two legs. Experts say experienced human runners have the edge over robots, partially because of battery life, but battery changes mid-race will be allowed.
THE PASSING PARADE In the name of gender equality, Chinese influencer Zhu Miaolin is calling on her male counterparts to start wearing Adam's apple covers, analogous to women wearing bras. The South China Morning Post reported on Jan. 23 that Zhu noted the Adam's apple is a delicate, sensitive area that should be protected. The covers are made from wool, leather or lace and cost between 70 cents and $3. A 2020 census in China revealed that there are about 35 million more men than women, a result of the longstanding (but now defunct) one-child policy in the country.
FAMILY VALUES Two mourning sisters from Clearwater, Florida, didn't even make it out of the church before getting into a scrape following their 95-year-old dad's funeral on Jan. 22, The Smoking Gun reported. As Kathleen Deegan, 66, delivered the eulogy for Dr. Arthur Deegan, she neglected to mention her niece, which upset Maureen Deegan, 60. After the service, Maureen allegedly chest-bumped her older sister; Kathleen then grabbed Maureen's hair and pulled her back. Maureen threw "strikes at (Kathleen's) face." Kathleen was arrested for misdemeanor battery; Maureen was charged with felony battery because her victim was over 65 years old.
NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE Fighting a cold? If you're lucky, you can find some Progresso Soup Drops—cough lozenges that taste like chicken noodle soup. Metro News reported that General Mills announced the limited-time product on Jan. 16: "What's a soup drop? Well, it's soup you can suck on, of course!" A can of 24 lozenges costs $2.49, but they sold out almost immediately, before a second batch was released on Jan. 23.
POLICE REPORT Police pulled over Elizabeth Perez of El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 24 after clocking her driving 106 mph on I-84 near Baker City, Oregon, The Oregonian reported. Why is that weird? Perez is 94 years old. She was also cited for failing to secure a child passenger, driving without insurance and failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. {in}
From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2025 Andrews McMeel
