A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISIANA'S CLIMATE CRISIS
winners & losers winners losers
ASHLEY MOODY Gov. Ron DeSantis selected the Florida Attorney General to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who is in line to become President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state. Moody, 49, handily defeated Democrats in her 2018 and 2022 races for attorney general. She previously worked as an assistant U.S. attorney and a Hillsborough County circuit judge. She has been a close ally of DeSantis in fights against the Biden administration on issues such as immigration enforcement. DeSantis also has a second state Cabinet appointment to make, as Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will leave office March 31. Patronis is running in a special election in Northwest Florida's Congressional District 1. Moody and Patronis had been mentioned as potential gubernatorial candidates. This could clear the way for Matt Gaetz to jump into the 2026 governor's race.
GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION During the 2024 holiday season, Gulf Winds Credit Union mobilized its branches and administrative offices to partner with local food pantries, addressing critical needs in their communities. The successful campaign resulted in over 2,000 pounds of food donations, providing more than 1,900 meals to families in need. These donations were distributed through key regional partners, including Manna Food Pantry in Pensacola; Feeding the Gulf Coast in Theodore, Ala.; Second Harvest of the Big Bend in Tallahassee; and Wakulla Giving Hands in Crawfordville, Fla.
FAMILIESFIRST NETWORK
The LifeView
Group affiliate received a $20,000 grant from Selfless Love Foundation to support adoption and foster youth services. The funding will help connect more local children with adoptive homes and provide vital resources for youth transitioning out of foster care. This continues the organizations' partnership since 2020, which focuses on supporting prospective and post-adoptive families, particularly for "difficult to place" children. In fiscal year 2024, FamiliesFirst Network served 3,574 children across Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties. The organization finalized 350 adoptions and achieved permanent guardianship for 84 more children. Their exceptional performance earned them a national Adoption Excellence Award from Children's Bureau.
OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME BUDGETS
The Escambia Children's Trust (ECT) Board is taking a harder look at the program budgets of its providers and focusing on its commitment to fiscal oversight and responsible management of community resources. At its January meeting, the board postponed ratifying Year 3 contracts for 11 Out-Of-School Time providers after board member Tori Woods raised concerns about two providers’ budgets. The situation reflects broader changes in the ECT's funding landscape, as four other providers were not renewed for Year 3 funding in December. ECT has budgeted $5.3 million for the out-of-school time programs. A recommendation on the final ratification will likely be brought to the board next month.
CUBA'S DESIGNATION CHANGE
President Joe Biden's decision to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism drew bipartisan outrage from Floridians. The state's political leaders, both Republican and Democratic, have historically opposed changes to Cuba policy that could be seen as easing pressure on the Cuban government. Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said, "Generations of Cuban Americans in Florida have told stories about the cruelty of the Castro regime and the dangers they faced in escaping to freedom in America." Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power has emphasized security concerns regarding Cuba, describing any potential easing of restrictions as "reckless and dangerous," citing the regime's position "just 90 miles off our shore."
LOCAL INPUT When he announced his appointees to the University of West Florida (UWF) Board of Trustees, Gov. Ron DeSantis betrayed the public trust by ignoring the foundation upon which the board was formed. The Board of Trustees was established to give the local community more control over the university and strengthen the bond between UWF and Northwest Florida. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed the first board in 2001, which included developer Collier Merrill, Chief of Naval Education Honor Bell, Gulf Power CEO Travis Bowden and other Panhandle residents. DeSantis chose residents of Idaho and West Virginia with no connection to UWF or Northwest Florida.
Ashley Moody / Photo Courtesy of myfloridalegal.com
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN
In what's beginning to feel like a sequel nobody requested, the University of West Florida (UWF) finds itself cast in the latest installment of "Extreme Makeover: Florida Education Edition." Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed five new trustees to UWF's board, and the Florida Board of Governors has replaced three trustees.
If you're thinking, "Hey, this plot seems familiar," you're not wrong.
Picture this: A thriving Division II university that's been crushing its performance metrics gets some surprise new trustees from out of state. If that sounds like the opening scene of what happened at New College of Florida in 2023, well ... as Yogi Berra might say, "It's déjà vu all over again."
The new appointments include Adam Kissel and Scott Yenor, both Heritage Foundation fellows who probably couldn't find Pensacola on a map without Google's help. This marks a stark departure from Gov. Jeb Bush's founding principle that UWF would have a governing Board of Trustees comprised of local leaders who know the difference between Palafox Street and Panama City Beach.
The timing couldn't be more ironic. Under President Martha Saunders' leadership, UWF has transformed from the metric system's equivalent of a participation trophy (57 points in 2016) to a powerhouse performer with 84 points out of 100. Overall, UWF is now ranked sixth among Florida's state universities—the only Division II school running with the big dogs like the University of Florida and Florida State University.
The university's achievements are impressive and tangible: 79% of graduates employed or in graduate school within a year (second in the state), a record-setting $53,000 median graduate income and an 83.5% second-year retention rate. But apparently, success isn't enough when there's an ideological playbook to follow.
American Mind published last week new trustee Scott Yenor's viewpoint titled "Tools for Conservative Education Reform," advocating for program reviews to eliminate what he considers "ideological programs." Meanwhile, fellow appointee Adam Kissel dreams of privatizing universities—because nothing says "serving the public good" quite like turning education into a corporate merger opportunity.
The Jan. 23 board meeting will be held via Zoom, meaning these new trustees won't even have to set foot on the campus they're about to help govern. It's like they are being asked to judge a symphony performance based only on reading the sheet music. They might understand the materials given to them for the meeting, but they won't know UWF campus life, its faculty and its students or its relationship with the community.
For those keeping score at home, this follows the New College playbook almost to the letter. On Jan. 6, 2023, similar appointments there led to a presidential ouster and an institutional overhaul faster than you can say "classical education." The only difference? New College had 689 students. UWF has over 14,700; that's a lot more futures hanging in the balance.
We have launched a petition on change.org, hoping our voices might matter more than outof-state think-tank credentials. After all, UWF has spent decades building itself into what President Saunders proudly calls "an integral part of our community and a major driver of economic development" in Northwest Florida.
The question now is whether that community connection matters more than ideological renovation plans drawn up in Tallahassee, Washing ton D.C. and Boise, Idaho.
When this newspaper hits the stands on Jan. 23, UWF will be at a crossroads. On one side: continued excellence in serving its students and community. On the other: becoming the latest laboratory for educational experiments that nobody local requested. The university that has excelled at teaching critical thinking now faces its own critical moment.
For a school that's done everything right by the state's own metrics, it seems the reward is a board makeover that threatens to fix what isn't broken. As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. Or in this case, no good performance metric goes unreformed.
$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
The UWF community now watches and waits, hoping their success story doesn't become another cautionary tale in Florida's ongoing higher education drama. Because if there's one thing worse than failing to learn from history, it's being forced to repeat someone else's failure.
To sign the petition, visit bit.ly/uwffuture. {in} rick@inweekly.net
WHAT ABOUT AN ICE RINK ON OLF-8?
Commissioners selected Beulah Town Center, LLC as the developer for the OLF-8 property, seven residents urged decisionmakers to consider building an ice sports complex on the 540 acres.
Ice availability is relatively nonexistent in the panhandle with limited time at the Pensacola Bay Center as the only option. The result is hockey and figure skating programs bursting at the seams and turning away children.
In 2023, Populus presented the county with three options for the Bay Center's future. The cost of upgrading the arena ranged from $14.8 million to $66.5 million. The consultant also proposed a practice ice rink that would be part of the larger $69.8 million Plaza District to be built on the arena's east side, which currently serves as a parking lot.
Unfortunately, there was little support on the Tourist Development Council or Board of County Commissioners for the Plaza District. The practice ice rink alone would have cost $21 million.
SKYROCKETING DEMAND
Northwest Florida Youth Hockey League is at capacity with 230 registered players. League secretary Jennifer Burkhart manages two of its teams, and finding ice time for the players is a painstaking process.
"We can't grow because we have nowhere
Chairman Dan Settergren said ice availability at the Bay Center limits his club to 120 players. He could easily double that number with a complex in the county. Settergren envisions a complex that hosts travel hockey tournaments and attracts teams from across the southeast. The closest rink to the Bay Center is about 245 miles away.
"You would not believe how popular it could be, not only for the local citizens—and by local, I mean from as far away as Biloxi to Panama City," he said. "We can bring in players from Tennessee, from Kentucky, from Alabama, you name it, Louisiana, to come down here for tournaments. That's bringing in tourism dollars, that's bringing in money to the economy here."
Pensacola Junior Ice Flyers 8U Coach Carlos Villa said the demand for hockey in the region and state is skyrocketing. Nearly 600,000 children participate in USA Hockey and Florida has increased its number of players more than any state.
The growth in players is primarily in Central and South Florida with leagues in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Miami, St. Petersburg and Tampa. Villa said the panhandle is ripe for leagues and that the OLF-8 property is perfectly located for travel teams.
"It's right off the highway, which will attract people from around the surrounding areas like Alabama, Biloxi out there, as well as people
popularity. In 2023, the number of skaters aged six and older totaled nearly 11.5 million nationally according to the Statista Research Department. That marked an increase of about 1.5 million from the previous year and the highest amount since 2011.
"Skating is not only a physical activity, but artistic as well and offers a way for kids to express themselves," Albarran said.
WHY PUT THE RINK AT OLF-8?
Albarran lives in Beulah and said, "There's nothing here for our youth." She said an ice sports complex could benefit the community as a whole, not just hockey players and skaters. She envisions the complex hosting birthday parties, field trips and weekend family activities.
Fred Hemmer of Beulah Town Center said an ice sports supporter approached him about the possibility of building a complex on the OLF-8 property before the county meeting last week.
County commissioners voted in favor of Beulah Town Center as the developer with its revised bid of $50 million for the 540 acres. Hemmer is negotiating with County Attorney Alison Rogers and her staff on a final sale agreement. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement within 30 days, the commissioners will have the option to continue negotiations or select another bidder.
the benefits from tourism with the hotels that are around that area."
Burkhart said the county misses out on potential revenue from visiting and local teams. Her Northwest Florida Youth Hockey League teams travel to Dallas, Nashville, Tenn., Jacksonville, Fla., Huntsville, Ala., and Savannah and Columbus, Ga. for games; parents sink their money into hotel rooms and restaurants that generate revenue for those cities.
Ice skaters encounter the same problems as hockey players. Ice availability at the Bay Center is too limited for the children to hone their craft.
"Skating is not a seasonal sport," Greater Pensacola Figure Skating Club Director Kristie Albarran said. "We have a saying in figure skating: 'If you don't use it, you lose it.'"
Her skating club is at max capacity with over 300 members. Parents bring children from as far as Mobile and Panama City to skate in the program.
Club treasurer Sharon Gobert said, "We operate with wait lists, and we've been begging for ice for years. The lack of and reduced amounts of ice at the Bay Center continues to force us to take money to other communities and discontinue programs such as our Special Olympics and adaptive skating. We have six days of ice and days doesn't mean full days; it means two and a half hours for six days."
Similar to hockey, ice skating is increasing in
The commissioners considered two other bids at the meeting last week from Tri-W Development and Beulah Ranch, LLC. Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger motioned to negotiate with Chad Henderson and Tri-W. Fellow Commissioner Steven Barry seconded the motion but without support from Lumon May or Steve Stroberger, Tri-W withdrew its bid of $42.5 million.
The motion approved by the commissioners requires that the DPZ Master Plan for the property be included as a deed restriction. The DPZ Master Plan includes 271 acres for a light industrial district, 61 acres for residential and 47 acres for a mixed-use center.
Beulah Town Center and its partner Metro Development scheduled meetings this week with DPZ to review what Hemmer considers an outdated plan. Commissioners approved the plan by ordinance in July 2021.
"They acknowledge the plan needs to be updated," Hemmer said of DPZ. "There's an opportunity for Metro and DPZ to work together."
The current DPZ Master Plan allows for an ice sports complex to be built in the 271 acres set aside for the light industrial district. Hemmer said there should be another ice rink in the county, but he questioned whether that is the best use of space on the OLF-8 property.
"My son plays in a couple of [hockey] leagues and travels around the state, mostly the Tampa area, and ice time is precious," he said. "As a developer, though, you have to think about what is your investment in the land, and does it make sense for that? It takes up a lot of money for not a lot of people." {in}
Greater Pensacola Figure Skating Club/ Courtesy Photo
to repair and maintain Pensacola's parks and recreational facilities across all seven districts over the next two years.
The initiative, which echoes a similar program from 40 years ago called "Direction 85," will impact at least 54 of the city's 94 parks. Projects range from major renovations to smaller improvements like adding park benches and water fountains.
"When a kid goes to a park, I don't want them to grow up like I did, assuming that the water fountain's broken," said the mayor. "I want them to grow up to assume that the playground's not rusty, the slide works and the water fountain works. That's a more than reasonable request of our citizens."
Notable projects include a $9.4 million renovation of the Fricker Center, $2.4 million for Bay Bluffs Park, and $1.4 million each for Sanders Beach and Wayside Park. Eleven sites are slated for multiple amenities or infrastructure upgrades.
"Our goal here is to say, we're taking a cohesive citywide look and addressing what we believe with our expert opinion, our council's opinion and the citizens' opinion are the greatest needs that we have," Mayor Reeves said. "Instead of worrying about the whack-a-mole version, which is, 'What's the thing that breaks next?' I want to get out of that game, and I want to get into a holistic approach."
He discussed the deliberate approach his administration has taken: "We didn't have a complete list of every facility we owned on one piece of paper. We assessed each of them. Then our awesome parks and rec staff and facility staff said, 'Hey, in our expert opinion, here's things that have been on lists for 10 years that haven't been addressed,' so we cobbled all that together."
Then, the mayor and his staff met with each council member and shared the list not only for their district but also for the entire city. "We made sure that everybody's on the same page. And so, after those very valuable meetings, we made tweaks and changes."
Mayor Reeves said, "That formulated into what's in front of the Parks and Rec Board. The
"By reconnecting Pensacola's communities to the waterfront, we're not only addressing decades of physical and social division but also creating pathways to opportunity, sustainability and equity for generations to come."
The project targets areas facing significant challenges, including limited transportation access and environmental concerns. Data shows that more than half of residents in the project area are classified as "disadvantaged" by federal standards, with approximately 4,400 households lacking vehicle access. Park access is also limited, with only 17.8% of Ferry Pass residents and 38.2% of West Pensacola residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park.
The initiative complements Bluffline's existing efforts, including a pending $20 million EPA Community Change Grant application that would create a 70-acre public park and greenway at Jackson Lakes. The organization plans to work closely with local communities to ensure the project addresses their needs and priorities.
Sluggo's across from Southtowne. But he didn't deny it.
Mayor Reeves joked, "I don't know if they've made it public, and maybe they have, and I didn't see it. But I could tell you that it feels like a location's been picked. I want to make sure I get my mail on time, so I'm not going to share where."
In other developments, Reeves announced he will be attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington D.C., where he will serve as chair of the mayors' committee on jobs, education and workforce development. He also reported positive growth at Pensacola International Airport, with December traffic up 7.3% year-over-year and significant increases in cargo traffic.
The mayor concluded by highlighting recent grant successes, including $5 million in additional funding for the Hollice T. Williams Park project, bringing total funding to $35 million for the longplanned greenway and stormwater project.
MILITARY ECONOMY
we feel really confident moving forward."
The Pensacola Parks Revitalization project is spread across the city, including six in District 1, four in District 2, seven in District 3, four in District 4, 13 in District 5, 14 in District 6 and six in District 7. The parks covered include Allen Park, Bay Bluffs Preserve, Gull Point Resource Center, H.K. Matthews Park, Henry T. Wyer Park, Hitzman-Optimist Park, Miralla Park, Pintado Park, Sanders Beach Park, Tippin Park and William E. McNealy Sr. Park.
The project is funded by multiple sources, including the General Fund, Local Option Sales Tax, grant dollars and the Community Redevelopment Agency. Reeves emphasized that much of the funding is restricted in its use and cannot be redirected to other city priorities. The grants already received total $12,968,517.
The projects will be implemented in phases over the next two years, with the Parks and Recreation Board set to review the complete project list.
"We're trying to pay it forward to the next administrations," Reeves said, expressing hope that future mayors won't face the same maintenance challenges his administration inherited.
The mayor said the Direction 25 plan will be unveiled at the February Parks and Recreation Board meeting.
BLUFFLINE GRANT
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program has awarded Bluffline, Inc., a Pensacola-based nonprofit organization, a $1.2 million grant to study waterfront access improvements along Escambia Bay.
The Escambia Bay Waterfront Access Study will examine potential connections from the University of West Florida campus to Chimney Park and Corry Station, with plans to develop multi-use paths, pedestrian overpasses and water transportation networks.
"This grant allows us to take meaningful steps toward fulfilling our mission of reuniting people with their environment and one another," said T.S. Strickland, Director of Strategy for Bluffline.
RED
To learn more, visit bluffline.org.
LIGHT
VIOLATIONS
In the first nine days of January, Pensacola's new red light cameras captured 509 violations at just two major intersections, Mayor D.C. Reeves revealed in his press conference on Jan. 16.
The most problematic locations were East Gregory Street at Ninth Avenue, which recorded 143 violations, and Bayou Boulevard at Ninth Avenue with 123 violations. The data was collected from January 1-9 at nine different approaches.
"We have a problem, flat-out," Reeves said. "We're putting our neighbors' and our visitors' and our residents' lives in danger, and this is why we have to address it even when it's not comfortable."
The mayor presented video evidence of several egregious violations, emphasizing these weren't close calls but blatant red-light runs. "Sometimes the narrative when change causes anxiety is that we focus on the millimeters," Reeves said. "This is what we're concerned about ... this is what's going to hurt and kill people."
The city is currently in a grace period, sending warning letters to violators before beginning to issue citations on February 1. The mayor noted that all camera locations are clearly marked with "photo enforced" signs, suggesting the actual number of violations might have been even higher without these warnings.
"If this was about money, we wouldn't be talking about it," Reeves emphasized. "The best check I could ever write is if we have to compensate the vendor because no one's running red lights— that's a check I'd be happy to write."
The cameras are currently operating at two full intersections: Ninth and Bayou, and Ninth and Airport, plus one approach on Gregory Street. Additional cameras will be installed at Fairfield and Davis, and Fairfield and Ninth Avenue intersections.
NEW POST OFFICE The mayor wouldn't confirm the rumor that we've heard that the new downtown post office location will be the old
Recently, the FloridaCommerce Office of Military and Defense and the Florida Defense Support Commission published the Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis and the Florida Military and Defense Economic Impact Summary.
"Military and defense is the second-largest industry sector in Florida; protecting Florida's 20plus military installations and supporting Florida's military communities is imperative for our continued economic prosperity and national security," said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly.
Military and Defense is one of Florida's most significant industry clusters; it accounts for over 865,000 direct and indirect jobs and commands an annual economic impact of $102.6 billion—an increase of nearly 6,000 jobs and 6.2% in economic activity from the previous study, respectively.
Escambia County has Naval Air Station Pensacola, Corry Station and Saufley Field. These plus defense-related industries make up 19.5% of the county's economy. However, like the greater Northwest region and the state and nation as a whole, the county has generally seen its workforce become less defense-oriented in recent years.
Naval Air Station Pensacola, known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation," is the initial primary training base for all Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aviators, and is home to the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) and other tenant units.
Corry Station hosts the headquarters of the Center for Information Warfare Training, which is responsible for the development of education and training policies in areas such as cryptology and cyber.
Saufley Field is a joint-use facility and home to several DoD and other U.S. government organizations, including the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support, Naval Reserve Center and Bureau of Prisons.
In Escambia County, defense-related expenditures generated 31,651 jobs, 40% of which were indirect or induced. These jobs, in turn, produced $2.9 billion of labor income. In
total, the economic impact of the military and defense industry amounted to $4 billion. Nearly $130 million of state and local tax revenues were the result of defense-related activities that occurred in the county.
The study divided impact into three categories: the federal military, National Guard and Coast Guard. Of the $4 billion in total economic impact, $3.7 billion stemmed from the federal military. Similarly, expenditures associated with the federal military created 29,560 of the 31,651 direct, indirect and induced jobs. The National Guard directly or indirectly generated 79% and 78% of the remaining economic impact and jobs, respectively.
The private sector is making some in-roads. The military has consistently accounted for a higher percentage of earnings in Escambia County than in the state or nation as a whole, as well as the greater Northwest region. However, the military's share of total compensation in the county has declined from its 2013 peak of 16.1% as the local economy has diversified. In a departure from the statewide and national forecasts, Escambia County—much like the greater Northwest region—is expected to experience a marginal increase in the military's share of total compensation through 2040.
IHMC WINS AGAIN Three innovative projects from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) received funding at The Takeoff: 2024 Northwest Florida Pitch Day. The event, hosted in partnership with Space Florida, showcased emerging technologies and attracted venture capital firms to the region.
"The Takeoff showcased IHMC's growing commercialization interests and Florida's prominence as a hub for cutting-edge technology, investment and entrepreneurship," said Dr. Morley Stone, IHMC's Chief Executive Officer, highlighting the region's "critical role in shaping the future of innovation."
Each IHMC project received $5,000 in funding support. The winning projects included a tactile glove technology for improved in-flight control systems, developed by Dr. Jeff Phillips for the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. Another breakthrough came from Andy Bellina's work on portable electromagnetic sensing technology, designed to be lightweight enough for deployment on small, unmanned aircraft while maintaining adaptability for wearable applications.
The third IHMC innovation, presented by Daniel Duran, introduced the KENNEL Threat Detection System, a cost-effective perimeter defense solution for protecting critical infra -
structure and military personnel through networked sensors capable of monitoring multiple environmental factors.
Private sector companies also secured significant funding at the event. ATOR Labs from Panama City earned the largest award of $20,000 for their respiratory protective device testing technology. Two other regional companies, RSAE Labs of Lynn Haven and Piersica of Tallahassee, each received $7,500 for their innovations in logistics and battery technology, respectively.
Rob Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, elaborated: "Through strategic programs like The Takeoff that bring together industry leaders, investors and government, Space Florida and our partners are driving the commercialization of cutting-edge research, positioning the region as a node in the network of technology research and development."
The event was additionally supported by TechFarms Capital and Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund.
MORE HOUSES FloridaCommerce has been awarded the City of Pensacola $608,200 through the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program to develop affordable housing near Naval Air Station Pensacola. The project aims to help military
personnel and their families while supporting economic development in the city.
The initiative specifically targets the housing affordability challenges faced by junior enlisted personnel at NAS Pensacola. The city plans to identify and develop strategic locations to reduce commuting times and ease financial pressure on military families.
"I am grateful to Governor DeSantis and his team for recognizing the value of NAS Pensacola to our community," says Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves. "This is a huge win for our Grants and Economic Development staff. We now begin the search for the right location so we can make a difference for our young heroes. This is a project representing a partnership between Pensacola and NAS Pensacola to ensure service members can thrive both on and off duty."
The project, designed to address rising housing costs in the region, will focus on creating sustainable, affordable housing options for service members. Construction is scheduled to begin July 1, 2025, with completion expected by April 1, 2026. Pensacola's project is one of eight initiatives funded in this round of the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program.
For more information about the City of Pensacola's affordable housing initiative, visit the Housing Department on cityofpensacola.com. {in}
A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF LOUISIANA'S CLIMATE CRISIS
By Dakota Parks
Viewing the world through photographer Ben Depp's lens can make the natural landscape feel alien and otherworldly—and that's exactly the point. For the past decade, Depp has flown up to 10,000 feet above Louisiana's bayous and wetlands in a powered paraglider, camera in hand, capturing striking images of the region's rapidly eroding wetlands and vanishing ecosystems. This disorienting aerial perspective draws viewers into the beauty of the remote landscapes and the haunting reality of the climate crisis.
Depp's latest exhibit, "Rising Tide," which features his most comprehensive view of South Louisiana to date with 30 prints and two large wall wraps, is currently on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through early April. The show is laid out in two rooms: one depicting the natural beauty of the landscape and the other showcasing human interventions in South Louisiana, including both those that have contributed to its destruction and efforts toward restoration.
"I was initially drawn to photography out of an interest in storytelling and as a means to connect
with people and places around the world," Depp explained. "This work—the solitude of working from a powered paraglider, the beauty of South Louisiana and connecting to the natural world— has also been healing for me personally after many years of working as a photojournalist."
After studying photography in college and living in his car to pursue a photography career debt-free, Depp was drawn into the fast-paced and emotionally turbulent world of documenting disasters. He cut his teeth working for newspapers, freelancing for magazines and nonprofits across a number of countries before a five-year stay in Haiti shifted his focus to environmental issues. There, he covered the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, the cholera epidemic and political unrest.
When Depp moved to New Orleans in 2013, he set out to document Louisiana's coast, the largest U.S. wetland and the fastest-eroding coastline. Over the past 80 years, Louisiana has lost 2,000 square miles of wetlands due to factors like rising sea levels, oil and gas development and
the engineering of levees, dams and canals which prevent sediment from replenishing the land. These wetlands, which provide a critical buffer against hurricanes and storm surges, protect 70 percent of the state's population.
"Louisiana's wetlands support huge fisheries, provide homes to people and untold numbers of birds and animals, play a vital role in bird migrations and much more. The loss of this ecosystem also represents the beginning of the kind of climate chaos impacts that will radically alter life on this planet," Depp said. "I hope my work raises the profile of this issue. Most of Louisiana's wetlands will erode no matter what interventions are made, but some areas can likely still be protected. I hope that humans can still make the changes necessary to avoid the worst climate change impacts."
Depp's photos are as much a call to action as they are an act of documentation. As a resident of New Orleans, just a short distance from the Mississippi River and the eroding wetlands, Depp has witnessed the impacts of climate change firsthand.
"Living here made me keenly aware of how quickly climate change impacts are setting in," he noted. "Our streets flood more often than they used to. We have more intense heat waves and drought. It seems that we are getting a '500-year' or 'thousand-year' level storm every few years. Homeowners insurance has become nearly unaffordable. Extensive wetlands used to protect South Louisiana from the impact of hurricanes. We are rapidly losing that buffer."
The inspiration for Depp's aerial photography struck during a commercial flight above New Orleans, where the view from above revealed the intricate details of the wetlands. Determined to capture this perspective, Depp learned to fly a powered paraglider, embracing the unique vantage point it provided.
"South Louisiana is flat, so to get any perspective on the landscape, it helps to be able to get off the ground," he said. "A powered paraglider is maybe the world's smallest aircraft. I wear a motor on my back with a propeller on it and have a paraglider wing overhead. Each flight is still
Photos by Richard Rodriguez / Courtesy of Pensacola Museum of Art
ing airborne a few hundred feet over the wetlands at sunrise and watching the colors change in the marsh as the sun comes up. By flying low and slow, I can see all the textures and detail in the grasses, flowers and trees below me."
Depp's images are rich in color and texture, depicting retreating shorelines, migratory birds flocked in abstract shapes, decaying oak trees with fishing lines wrapped in their branches, sunken ships and the swirling contrast of water and marsh grass blowing in the wind.
"For viewers of my photographs, the aerial perspective is disorienting," Depp said. "This abstraction creates a sense of otherworldliness. I want viewers to be forced to really examine my photographs as they question what they are seeing. This draws them into the landscape in a way that they would not be otherwise."
While his artistic process embraces spontaneity, Depp's years of immersion in the landscape have sharpened his ability to capture its story.
"I try to stay very open-minded about what is important enough to photograph," he said. "Coming from a photojournalistic background, I used to have more rigid ideas about what was worth documenting in a photograph. This perspective prevented me from photographing a patch of grass or ripples in the water. But, slowly, after spending years in this landscape, I came to view each blade of grass as part of the story of this place. Although I've been a photographer for almost 20 years, I've found my photographic voice through this project. The photographs I now make reflect my increased connection and sensitivity to this place."
This method of aerial photography is not without its challenges, however. Weather conditions—such as thunderstorms, wind speed and wind direction—can keep Depp grounded for days at a time as he camps along remote stretches of Southern Louisiana. After years of exploring accessible parts of the coast, Depp built a 19-foot wooden sailboat to reach Louisiana's barrier islands, allowing him to pack and transport the paraglider to more remote locations.
"Because I am usually in remote areas, I carry a GPS spot beacon in case I need to call for a rescue. Hopefully I'll never need it," he added. "The spot beacon also allows me to send GPS coordinates to my wife while I'm flying, which I sometimes remember to do. I wear an inflatable personal flotation device because I'm often flying over water. When it's cold I wear a drysuit. I'm always aware of how far I am from dry land and navigable water. I also carry a reserve parachute with me."
sion, Depp remains hopeful. He has witnessed the migration of land as the Mississippi River has begun to create new land in certain areas, offering a glimmer of hope for the future. His work, especially his book "Tide Lines: A Photographic Record of Louisiana's Disappearing Coast," seeks to raise awareness of these issues and inspire action before it's too late.
"Over the past decade, there has been a steady stream of inland migration, both of people and land. I've seen several small coastal communities mostly disappear. I'm seeing beaches across the coast retreat inland," he said. "It has also been exciting to watch a few places on the lower Mississippi River where the river is building new land. This gives me hope that parts of this coast can regenerate and survive into the future."
This fragile balance between destruction and renewal is central to Depp's work. His pho tographs reveal the haunting interplay of beauty and devastation that defines South Louisiana's landscape and serves as a stark reminder to all coastal communities of the looming threat of climate change.
"The wetlands that remain in Louisiana provide a glimpse of what used to exist here. I don't have to work very hard to capture both the beauty and the destruction of this place, because the beauty and destruction coexist.
There is no part of South Louisiana untouched by human enterprise—oil wells, canals, abandoned industrial infrastructure. Although I strive to make interesting photographs, in some ways I am simply just capturing what I see, and what I see is the slow degradation of a hauntingly beautiful landscape." {in}
RISING TIDE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN DEPP
WHAT: An exhibition featuring aerial photography of the rapidly changing coastline of Southern Louisiana
WHEN: On display now through Friday, April 4
WHERE: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St.
DETAILS: pensacolamuseum.org
Depp will give an artist talk and sign books at the museum on Friday, April 4 at 6 p.m.
To explore more of his work, visit bendepp. com or follow him on Instagram @deppphoto or Bluesky @bendepp.
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
AMERICAN SPIRIT: A BENEFIT FOR THE PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY Benefit
concert featuring Claire Lautier and Blake Riley
3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at Palafox House, 196 N. Palafox St. Admission is cash donations or purchasing items from the Amazon wish list. Details at pensacolahumane.org.
PENSACOLA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 2025 WOMEN BUILD OPEN HOUSE
Kick off Women Build 2025, learn more about Habitat and tour homes 9-11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at 2695 Massachusetts Ave. Admission is free. Reserve your spot by Jan. 27 at secure.qgiv.com/ for/2025womenbuildopenhouse.
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 ADOP -
TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
UWF GULF COAST CULTURE SERIES PRESENTS TRUE SOUTH: A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN T. EDGE Event begins 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 with a reception. The lecture will begin 7 p.m. Located at the Museum
of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. Event is free but registration is required. Sign up through the link on the Facebook event at facebook.com/uwf.cassh.
PENSACOLA OPERA: THE MARRIAGE
OF FIGARO Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.
JANUARY MEWVIE NIGHT: THE ARISTOCATS Coastal Cat Café Mewvie night is 7-9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. The café is located at 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $32 per person which includes popcorn, hot chocolate, hot tea or coffee. Register online at coastalcatpcola.com.
ADULT/TEEN WORKSHOP: COLLAGE & LAYERING TECHNIQUES Learn to play with layering a variety of materials and with different techniques with instructor Marcia Wagner 11 a.m.2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Cost is $40-$45. All materials and supplies included. Register online at pensacolamuseum.org.
SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE
Pensacola Little Theatre presents Short Attention Span Theatre, a series of one-act plays by local playwrights. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 24 and 31; 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 25 and Feb. 1; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. Shows at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
GROWN-UP BOOK FAIR AT ODD COLONY
Shop independent booksellers and local artisans at Odd Colony 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 and 11 a.m.-6p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Free admission. Reserve time slots through the link in the Facebook event at facebook.com/oddcolony.
JAPANESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION The Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida (JAS) will usher in the "Year of the Snake" with its 31st annual Japanese New Year Celebration 12-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Free admission for JAS members. Tickets for non-members are $10. Details at jasnwfl.org.
BROWN BAG OPERA Visit Pensacola Opera, 75 S. Tarragona St., for an hour-long perfor-
mance from artists in residence. Next date is 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28. For more dates, visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera.
PAJAMA PAWTY AT COASTAL CAT CAFÉ
Get comfy and cuddle with adoptable cats 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $20 and includes a hot drink of your choice, snacks and an hour of cat cuddles. Details at coastalcatpcola.com.
IHMC LECTURE: MOON TO MARS Lecture from Dr. Pascal Lee, a planetary scientist with SETI Institute, The Mars Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. Event is 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at IHMC classroom, 40 S. Alcaniz St. Lectures are free. Register at ihmc.us/life/ evening_lectures/pensacola-lecture-series.
EXTREME PRECIPITATION WORKSHOP
Pensacola MESS Hall adult program is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30. Attendees will explore the social, economic and environmental impacts of extreme precipitation, work with others to recommend resilience strategies, and learn about how participating in community science can help inform scientists about which communities are at risk for extreme precipitation. Admission is free. Details at pensacolamesshall.org.
WOMEN'S MARCH OF PENSACOLA Rescheduled date. March and rally is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Graffiti Bridge. Details at facebook.com/pensacolawomensmarch.
RIVERDANCE 30: THE NEW GENERATION Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4 and Wednesday, Feb. 5 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.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 ten years, photographing the visual clues that tell the story of this place and its destruction. Exhibit on view through 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 Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
a&e happenings
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
GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANT WEEK
Through Jan. 26 enjoy a select menu of three courses for $33 at The Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, Jackson's Steakhouse, 5 Sisters Blues Café and Angelena's. View menus at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
LUNCH AND LEARN: NAAN BREAD
Class is 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. More details at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.
DARK BEER FEST Sip from a selection of specialty brews 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
WESTERN MURDER MYSTERY DINNER
THEATRE Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at Heritage Hall, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $65. Choice of two menu items. Details and registration at eventbrite.com.
BOURBON, BACON & BREWS AT O'RILEY'S Attendees can sample select
bourbons and beers paired with optional cigars and gourmet bacon 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $35. Purchase online through the link on the Facebook event at facebook.com/orileysirishpub.
'FUN'DAMENTALS: DUMPLINGS FOR DAYS Pensacola Cooks cooking class 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 located at 4051 Barrancas Ave. Unit C. Cost is $50 per student. Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classes-and-events.
CHILI COOK-OFF WITH GULF COAST
KID'S HOUSE Head to Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St., for a chili cook-off benefitting Gulf Coast Kid's House 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
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
happenings
the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain. com/upcoming-events for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS
Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT
AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m.-midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9-11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
FEISTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge. com for details.
TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN
Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER
HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.
LIVE MUSIC
THE BAND FEEL, THE RETROGRADE Show
is 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
TOBY MAC Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
FLYING RACCOON SUIT, RUNAWAY
RICOCHET Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH, MOURNING
GLORIES Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
TOO MANY ZOOS & MOON HOOCH Show is 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Purchase tickets at vinylmusichall.com.
PENSACOLA SONGWRITER SERIES With Nick Grocholl, Runi Salem, Nate Clay, Katie Dineen and Michael Magno. Show is 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
A1A JIMMY BUFFETT TRIBUTE SHOW
Show is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.
SYDNEY SPRAGUE, COLOR THE VOID, SNOW HALO Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.
DEAD REGISTER, INSOMNIAC Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
SHOUT OUT
Celebrating the Wins That Lift Us All
What is an Early Learning City?
An Early Learning City is a community dedicated to creating environments and opportunities that support the development of young children from birth through school age, with a focus on school readiness.
By age 3, 85% of the brain is developed up to
Building Brains Program
Jan. - Sept., 2024
3,437
Resource bags with instructional guides, given to new parents
45%
Increase in parental knowledge after watching video lessons
1,339
Parental sign-ups for instructional text messages
Pathway to an Early Learning City
The Studer Community Institute (SCI) is making significant strides in early childhood education, particularly through partnerships with local hospitals and community health organizations.
West Hospital
Blue Wahoos Stadium
Blue Wahoos Stadium has become an Early Learning City space, integrating fun, educational activities throughout the ballpark. Partnering with the Studer Community Institute, the stadium offers reading corners, play zones, and interactive learning stations that turn game day into a family-friendly educational experience
Early Learning Garden
Early Learning Garden at 16 W. Main St., offers families a vibrant space where children can explore and learn. With interactive stations promoting language, sensory play, and motor skills, the garden encourages hands-on learning experiences.
STUDER
FAMILY OF COMPANIES
Playgrounds
An early learning playground at Moreno Court offers a safe, engaging space where children can play and learn. The playground promotes language skills, creativity, and social development, supporting SCI’s mission to make early learning accessible in local neighborhoods.
Bookstore
At Bodacious Books, 110 E. Intendencia St., the Kids’ Corner is an engaging space where young readers can explore books and enjoy interactive learning activities. Designed to inspire a love for reading, this corner provides families with resources that support early literacy and foster curiosity in children.
5Eleven • Blue Wahoos • Bodacious Shops • Bodacious Bookstore Bodacious Brew Thru • Bubba’s Sweet Spot • Oyster Bay • Studer Properties Submit your shout out: info@quintstuder.com
free will astrology
WEEK OF JANUARY 23
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Author Anais Nin wrote, "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." I bring this to your attention because you Aries folks now have a mandate to expand your life through courageous acts, thoughts and feelings. I suggest we make the Arctic fox your power symbol. This intrepid creature undertakes epic migrations, journeying over 2,000 miles across sea ice, using starlight and magnetic fields to navigate. Let's dare to speculate that you have something in common with it; let's propose that you are equipped with an inner guidance system that gives you a keen intuitive sense of how to maneuver in unfamiliar territory. PS: Anais Nin has another tip: "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus archeologist Howard Carter made a spectacular discovery in 1922: the intact tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun, more than 3,300 years after his death. It was filled with over 5,000 artifacts, became a global sensation, and to this day remains the most famous find from ancient Egypt. A short time before he succeeded at his five-year quest, Howard Carter nearly gave up. But then his sponsor agreed to provide funds for a few more months, and he continued. In this spirit, Taurus, I urge you to keep pushing to fulfill your own dream. Renew your faith. Boost your devotion. Remember why you feel so strongly.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest telescope in space. Recently, it discovered hundreds of galaxies that no humans had ever before beheld. They are very old, too—far more ancient than our own Milky Way Galaxy. I propose we make this marvelous perception-enhancing tool a symbol of power for you. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you now have a robust potential to see things that have always been invisible, secret, or off-limits to you. Some of these wonders could motivate you to reinterpret your life story and reshape your future plans.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): One theory says that humans evolved to be afraid of reptiles because our early ancestors were frequently threatened by them. Among the most commonly
By Rob Brezsny
feared creatures in modern culture are snakes. And yet, as anyone knows if they've studied mythology, snakes have also been symbols of fertility and healing in many cultures. Because they periodically shed their skin, they also represent regeneration and rebirth. I'm hoping you don't harbor an instinctual aversion to snakes, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to call on and benefit from their iconic powers.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In the coming months, be extra creative as you enhance your network of connections and support. Encourage your allies to provide you with tips about opportunities and possibilities that you would not otherwise know about. Ask them to serve as links to novel resources that will nurture your long-term dreams. Here's an idea to energize your efforts: Get a vivid sense of how trees use vast underground fungal webs to communicate with each other. (Learn more here: bit.ly/thewoodwideweb) Knowing about this natural magic may impregnate your subconscious mind with evocative suggestions about how to be ingenious in weaving the kind of community you want.
High-grade diamonds are not as rare as public perception would lead us to believe. Yes, they are extraordinarily hard and scratch-resistant, but is that a reason to regard them as a sublime treasure? I acknowledge they are pretty in a bland way. But other gems are more intriguingly beautiful. Maybe the most important reason they are so prized is that diamond sellers have done effective marketing campaigns to promote them as symbols of love and luxury. All this is a prelude to my main message: Now is an excellent time to think and feel deeply about what is truly beautiful to you—and take steps to bring more of it into your life. For you Libras, beauty is an essential ingredient in your life's purpose.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): The way that ancient Romans made concrete was more ingenious than modern methods. Their manufacturing materials included "lime clasts," which gave the concrete self-healing qualities. When cracks arose, they fixed themselves. That's why Roman aqueducts built 2,000 years ago can still convey water today. Metaphorically speaking, I hope you will work on building similar structures in the coming weeks. It's time to create strong foundations that will last for a very long time.
I don't want to exaggerate the ways they remind me of you Capricorns, but you and they certainly have affinities. I believe these shared qualities will be especially useful for you in the coming weeks.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): I love my job as a horoscope writer. What could be more fun than analyzing cosmic signs to generate inspirational counsel for my readers? It's a big responsibility, though. I am intensely aware of how crucial it is that I craft my messages with utmost care and compassion. Having been scarred as a young adult by reckless, fear-mongering fortune-tellers, I'm rigorous about nurturing your free will, not undermining it. I want you to be uplifted, not confused or demoralized as I was. With these thoughts in mind, I invite you to take a vigorous inventory of the effects that your work and play have on the world. Are they aligned with your intentions? Are your ambitions moored in impeccable integrity?
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Why are diamonds considered so valuable? I'm skeptical.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Do you harbor a yearning to learn a new language, new skill, or new trick? The coming weeks will be a favorable phase to get serious about doing it. Have you fantasized about embarking on an adventure that would expand your understanding of how the world works? The time is right. Have you wished you could attract an inspirational prod to unleash more creativity and experiment freely? The astrological omens suggest that inspirational prod is imminent. Have you wondered whether you could enhance and fine-tune your receptivity—and thereby open up surprising sources of fresh teaching? Do it now!
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Bristlecone pine trees grow very slowly, but they are hardy and long-lived. Their wood is so dense and strong that it's virtually immune to disease, insects and erosion. They grow in places that are inhospitable for many other trees, flourishing in cold, windy environments where the soil is not particularly rich in nutrients. For the bristlecone pine, apparent obstacles stimulate their resilience.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): In old Hawaii, it was forbidden for ordinary people to touch objects that belonged to the chiefs or to anyone with spiritual powers. Other taboos: Never walk across the shadow of an important person and never wear red and yellow feathers. Our modern taboos are different, but often equally rigid. For example, you are probably hesitant to ask people how much money they make or what their relationship status is. What are other taboos you observe? I won't outrightly advise you to brazenly break them, but now is a good time to re-evaluate them—and consider changing your relationship with them.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): As winter progresses, each day is longer and each night shorter. Most humans feel an undercurrent of joy that the amount of light in the world is growing. But as an astrologer who appreciates cycles, I like to honor the beauty and powers of darkness. That's where everything new gets born! It's where the future comes from! In ancient Hawaiian religion, the word kumulipo meant "beginning-in-deepdarkness." It was also the name of a prayer describing the creation of the world. In the coming weeks, I believe you will be wise to tap into the rich offerings of darkness.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Is your ego more advanced than your soul? If so, help your soul catch up. {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
WAIT, WHAT? In early November, Emily James, 27, of Kansas City, Missouri, underwent a most unusual and expensive ($17,000) bodyaltering surgery, the New York Post reported. The trans woman had six ribs removed from her ribcage in order to achieve a smaller waist. The recovery gave her plenty of time to think about what she wanted to do with those extra ribs— yes, the hospital gave them to her—and her options seemed limitless: Make them into dog toys, boil them down for broth, have an "Emily barbecue." But eschewing all the cannibalistic notions, James has come up with the perfect project: "I plan on having someone make a crown and, like, incorporate my bone pieces in there," she said. "Getting my ribs removed doesn't change the fact that I'm a kind, loving trans girl. It's my money, my body and I'm going to do what I want with it." Yas queen.
PRECOCIOUS A 12-year-old boy from Grand Traverse County in Michigan was charged with joy riding, operating a motor vehicle without a license, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana on Jan. 12, MLive.com reported. The boy's parents contacted the county sheriff when they realized their 2000 Chevy Blazer was missing, saying their son had taken it. They had tracked his progress south into Clare County, where deputies were alerted to be on the lookout. By the time he was stopped, he had driven more than 90 miles; officers found a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and ammunition, along with a little weed, but said there was no indication that he planned to use the gun. He did tell deputies he was unhappy at home. He was released to his parents.
COMPELLING EXPLANATION San Mateo, California, police arrested a Kentucky man early on the morning of Jan. 12 for a suspected hitand-run incident, CBS News reported. Frank Falcone, 62, told officers that he was driving northbound on Pacific Boulevard when a southbound car came toward him with its high beams on. The lights disturbed Falcone "because of the brightness and potential radiation," he said, so he rammed the other car. When it stopped, he allegedly rammed it two more times. Falcone fled the scene and told officers he evaded them because people impersonate cops. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
UM ... Nigerian gospel singer Timileyin Ajayi, 30, was arrested on Jan. 12 as he carried a bag that contained the severed head of his reported girlfriend, the BBC reported. The bag drew the attention of other people, who held him until police arrived. "The suspect was found with a fresh human head," Nasarawa police said, "and when we got to the scene, we rescued him from being mobbed." Other parts of the deceased's body were found later at his home. Abby Simon, a friend of the 24-year-old victim, said Ajayi was not her boyfriend. "Even if she was his girlfriend, she didn't deserve to die this way," Simon said.
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
YOU HAD ONE JOB Brigantine (New Jersey) police were called to a home on the Jersey Shore on Jan. 13 after a neighbor found a toddler wandering around outdoors, NBC Philadelphia reported. The neighbor recognized the child and returned them to their home, where she found babysitter Jena Davidson, 35, passed out on the floor. First responders took Davidson to the hospital, where it turned out she had "consumed a significant amount of the homeowner's alcohol to the point that she became unconscious and unresponsive," police reported. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child.
BRIGHT IDEA Toilet paper shoppers in Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Japan have a new option, GoodNewsNetwork.org reported on Jan. 14: rolls made from used diapers and other hygiene products. The cities of Shibushi and Osaki worked together to recycle disposable diapers starting in April 2024. The used items are sanitized, bleached and shredded into a pulp to be mixed with recycled paper, to the tune of 30,000 rolls in the first two months of production. They're sold at $2.70 for a dozen rolls. "Please support this eco-friendly product, which aims to promote a sustainable society by reusing local resources," said Takumi Obo, spokesperson for the Osaki Municipal Government's SDGs Promotion Council.
IRONY On Dec. 18 at the Family Dollar store in Mulberry, Florida, two shoplifters worked together to pull off a cleaning products heist, the Miami Herald reported on Jan. 10. The Polk County Sheriff's Office, referring to the couple as Mr. Clean and Ms. Dookie until an arrest is made, hatched a plan to distract employees. "The man walked around the store gathering nearly $500 worth of merchandise (like lots of Gain, Tide and Clorox products)," officers said, "whilst the woman ... (used) the restroom, without going to the restroom." While employees cleaned up the mess, Mr. Clean walked past the registers and out to a Ford van, where Ms. Dookie joined him, and they drove away. The odd couple are still at large.
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Hampton, Virginia, police officer J'ron Harry lost his job after a less-than-satisfying encounter with a prostitute on Dec. 30, WAVY-TV reported. Harry met 20-year-old Alexus "Dream" Copeland on an app and arranged to meet her that day at an apartment in Virginia Beach, police say. They agreed to shower together, but Copeland never came into the bathroom, instead lifting Harry's phone, keys, wallet and car (with police credentials). Police were able to track down the car in Norfolk; Copeland told them Harry had given her permission to borrow his car, but she was charged with grand larceny, credit card fraud and prostitution. Harry was not charged but was terminated on Jan. 7. {in}
