Inweekly June 6 2024 Issue

SHOWING OUR COLORS AT PENSAPRIDE

To send questions in advance with name and town, email info@wsre.org or message WSRE on Facebook.

Dialogue with the Delegation

Hosted by Jeff Weeks

Northwest Florida legislators will answer YOUR questions about local issues and legislative priorities.

MONDAY JUNE 10 7PM

winners & losers

winners losers

Live broadcast on WSRE PBS, wsre.org/livestream, NewsRadio 92.3 FM & 1620 AM and Facebook Live @wsretv

HOSPITALITY HEROES Visit Pensacola announced Ray Concannon of Pensacola Bay City Ferry, Donna Vandergrift of Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport, Evan Wheeler of Hot Spots Charters, and Shirley Thompson of Innisfree's Hilton Pensacola Beach as its 2024 Hospitality Heroes. Visit Pensacola annually recognizes outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to the hospitality and tourism industry.

LAUREN MAVITY The Navarre High School student was selected for the U.S. Navy Summer Flight Academy aviation program at Delaware State University. Mavity is one of just 28 high-performing 11th and 12th graders chosen for the elite program, which was established in 2021 by the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) to increase exposure to Naval Aviation. The Navy partners with select universities nationwide to provide flight training to the participating students. The program traditionally costs approximately $28,000 a student but is offered at zero cost to the student with no obligations. Upon completing the program, each student earns an FAA Private Pilot's license and five college credits.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA TOURISM The Triumph Gulf Coast Board unanimously approved a grant of $10.5 million to Visit Florida, benefitting Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla counties. These funds will be utilized for a three-year initiative to reach new audiences, raise awareness of the region's adventures and add resiliency to the tourism industry by promoting visitation outside the peak summer season.

GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION

The Gulf Winds Cares Foundation awarded $25,000 in scholarships this year to five outstanding students: Kenna Alverson, Edward Bridges, Garrett Hogan, William Kroger and John Pinette. Each student received $5,000. Eligible applicants are members of Gulf Winds Credit Union or the children or grandchildren of members. Applications are evaluated based on academic achievements, community involvement, personal essays, letters of recommendation and financial need.

JANICE GILLEY On March 29, 2021, the Escambia County administrator stood with Sheriff Chip Simmons and the Board of County Commissioners to cut the ribbon for the new $142 million county jail built under her supervision. She said at the ceremony, "We are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony because it's about hope. Each of us hopes for a better day. Hoping for a better facility for individuals who do need our services and hopefully leave here in a better place than when they came. Hope for our employees to have a better environment in which to work." The county is still dealing with millions of dollars of construction defects, which must be corrected before the design of the second phase is started. Hope is not a supervision.

ESCAMBIA

COUNTY DISTRICT 4 Since late January, the district that includes east Pensacola and Pensacola Beach has yet to have a commissioner who lives in District 4 representing them after Robert Bender resigned to become the interim election supervisor. Gov. Ron "Molasses" DeSantis hasn't appointed a replacement who would serve until the November election. The governor has been notorious for being slow and deliberate with his appointments. He still hasn't made appointments to the Escambia Children's Trust board for terms that expired over a year ago.

MARIA MATTHEWS In an email sent May 15, the Florida Division of Election director forwarded a list of names to election supervisors indicating "a concerned citizen" had raised concerns about "potential interstate registered voters." NBC News reported the list came from the controversial EagleAI database. Groups including All Voting Is Local Action Florida, the American Civil Liberties Union and Common Cause said in a letter to Secretary of State Cord Byrd that the state shouldn't use "unreliable" data from EagleAI and other platforms for voter list maintenance. They said such usage could violate state and federal laws. Byrd's office had to clarify that only county election supervisors can remove people from election rolls.

Janice Gilley / Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com

Shirley Thompson / Photo Courtesy of Visit Pensacola

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

IT'S OKAY TO DREAM

Twenty years ago, editor Duwayne Escobedo and I had the idea to create a downtown map that included all the projects community leaders had discussed for years but had yet to implement. The city had hired lots of consultants to produce studies, but it seemed to us no one would ever pull the trigger on them.

The Metro Pulse in Knoxville, Tenn., had published a similar issue that generated considerable debate. The Metro Pulse tackled revitalizing Knoxville's downtown with a Beale Street-type entertainment district, Scripps media institution focusing on the company's Food Network and HGTV, a 5,500-seat amphitheater on the site of the World's Fair Park, and a Marriott convention center hotel.

We thought we could do the same, so we recruited David Alsop of Sam Marshall Architects and drew up a redevelopment plan for downtown Pensacola over beers and pretzels at Intermission under bartender Mike Ashby's watchful eye. Duwayne christened it the "Ballsy Plan," which we published May 2, 2004, under the title "Our Ballsy New Vision for Downtown P-Town."

The Ballsy Plan included a ballpark, maritime museum, University of West Florida research center, convention center, entertainment district, new downtown library, botanical garden, outdoor amphitheater, hotels and plenty of residential, office and retail spaces. Our ballpark would also overlook Pensacola Bay—but from the end of Ninth Avenue, not the Trillium site.

From 1956 to 1974, Admiral Mason Park, a 2000-seat baseball stadium at 100 S. Ninth Ave., was home to three affiliated minor league teams. Despite having a 59-60 record, the Pensacola Angels won the Class-D Alabama-Florida League championship, defeating Selma, Ala., three games to one. The league folded in 1962 for refusing to accept Black players.

Our proposed ballpark, "Pelicans' Veterans Park," would seat 4,000 and have an additional 50 picnic spots on the outfield berm. It would anchor a multi-use development, the Hawkshaw Center, which would include a hotel, movie theater, sports bar and parking garage. We would pay for the ballpark with a special-use district bond.

We wanted the Pensacola Exhibit and Convention Center on what is now the vacant Tech

Park. We wrote, "The approximately $15 million hall would generate lots of much-needed tourist development tax monies and cash for local businesses. Bring on the visitors, baby."

We suggested scrapping the Port of Pensacola and envisioned a version of Memphis' Mud Island with a maritime museum and research center, resort hotel and residential community with a mix of apartments, townhomes and condos. We weren't bright enough to think of being the home to American Magic.

To replace the Bayfront Auditorium, we wanted Deluna Park with a marina and plenty of space for the public to fish.

On the Trillium site, we had the Five Flags Amphitheater and the Bayshore Corporate Center. We batted around the idea of a casino with a megahotel, but we were reminded gambling wasn't legal. We wanted to recruit a major corporation to move its headquarters. We wrote, "Send all the business development headhunters some pictures of Pensacola Bay so they can see the view from their offices."

In 2006, the Main Street Sewage Treatment Plant was still stinking up downtown. We wanted it gone and replaced with a waterpark named for ECUA's former executive director and engineer. The Van Dever-Dahl Waterpark & Botanical Gar den fit the site perfectly.

We suggest a state-of-the-art library on North Palafox Street. Citing studies Pensacola had one of the worst public libraries in Florida, we wrote, "No wonder our kids are having trouble reading and are failing the FCAT when our local governments spend so little on the public library system."

The final recommendation was the creation of the Seville Entertainment District with Rosie O'Grady's as the cornerstone. We wanted to boost Pensacola's nightlife.

$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

After the issue hit the stands, I faxed an invoice for $150,000 to City Manager Tom Bonfield, figuring we should be paid as much as Ray Gindroz. It's still outstanding.

The Ballsy Plan opened people's minds to the possibilities of what downtown Pensacola could be. We weren't right about most of the locations, but we enjoyed seeing our daydreams come to life. {in} rick@inweekly.net

INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY NEARING REALITY

By Tom St. Myer

Sports officials in West Monroe, La., and Rock Hill, S.C., found the famous "Field of Dreams" movie line, "If you build it, he will come" to be true. Only instead of baseball diamonds, they built multi-use indoor sports facilities that attract thousands of visitors annually.

Their 100,000-plus-square-foot facilities host basketball and volleyball tournaments on the weekends and local youth sports activities on the weekdays. Both of their communities prosper handsomely from the facilities.

West Monroe spent $22 million to build its 112,000-square-foot facility and its annual economic impact is $23 million. Rock Hill built a 170,000-square-foot facility and organizers wish they built a facility twice that size, said John David, the CEO and president of Sports Events & Tourism Association.

"The beauty of these types of facilities is if you build something and you build it right, you're going to be successful," David said. "Friday through Sunday is how you pay for things, and the weekdays are when you open it up for your local community. It's such a winning formula."

A potentially similar economic boon for Escambia County awaits completion of a feasibility study. The study is examining the prospects of an indoor sports facility next to the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park, a 103-acre regional park heavily used for soccer and softball.

SPORTS MECCA

The county owns the property and is partnering with Pensacola Sports to potentially build a facility at whatever size the feasibility study indicates is appropriate for this market.

come to fruition," said Michael Rhodes, the director of Escambia County Parks and Recreation.

Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry is anxious to see what the study reveals. The property is located in his district. Results will be presented to county commissioners after the study is completed in the next few weeks.

"I'm hoping to confirm what I think most of our citizenry knows, and that's that we have the market for this kind of activity in Escambia County," Barry said. "So many of us have friends who are traveling elsewhere in the Gulf Coast for basketball and volleyball tournaments."

The rule for sports facilities is that one basketball court serves as two volleyball courts. Barry said the market could indicate Escambia County only needs a facility with two basketball and four volleyball courts or potentially 12 basketball and 24 volleyball courts. He is betting the study will indicate somewhere in between.

Pensacola Sports President and CEO Ray Palmer envisions a 100,000-square-foot facility with a minimum of eight basketball and 16 volleyball courts and a variety of multi-purpose rooms including locker rooms, referee rooms and a meeting space.

Basketball and volleyball would be the main attractions, but the facility could potentially house other sports including wrestling, boxing, pickleball, table tennis, badminton and weightlifting.

"There are a lot of things that need indoor space that we're not touching," Palmer said.

Escambia County Public Schools and local youth sports leagues stand to benefit from access to such a facility. Barry, Palmer and Rhodes each said the facility would be open on the weekdays and anticipate partnering with the school district and youth leagues to host programs.

Orange Beach, Ala. The first tournament in Escambia County broke the attendance record for the SEC's 37-year history of women's soccer. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has Brosnaham Park as its new home for the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship. The initial term of the agreement is two years and will conclude after the 2025 NAIA Women's Soccer Championship in December.

Palmer said providing athletes access to a state-of-the-art indoor facility at the complex would further enhance the outdoor products.

REGIONAL IMPACT

Beneficiaries of such a facility expand beyond the directly impacted athletes. The whole region stands to benefit. West Monroe and Rock Hill are hardly the exceptions. A national study by the Sports Events & Tourism Association indicates communities that host travel tournaments generate significant revenue.

In 2023, direct spending on sports-related travel topped $52 billion, resulting in over $128 billion in economic impact. Sports traveler volume increased by 7% and spending by sports travelers increased 11% year-over-year.

Palmer said a state-of-the-art facility ranges anywhere from $30 million to $100 million depending on the amenities. The fact the county already owns the property reduces some of the expense.

Barry said a mechanism is already in place to pay for the facility.

"We're comfortable we're going to make it work with bed tax revenue," he said. "It's ideal for citizens as long as we make it work, largely paid by out-of-town visitors."

"So many of us have friends who are traveling elsewhere in the Gulf Coast for basketball and volleyball tournaments." Steven Barry

Palmer described the property as close to ready as possible. Pensacola Sports has conducted surveys since 2009 about a potential facility. One of the constant hang-ups has been where to build the structure. Palmer is baffled by why they never thought of the Brosnaham Athletic Park. He considers the park to be the perfect venue.

The park hosts the SEC soccer tournaments and already attracts hundreds of athletes through outdoor youth leagues. Last year, the Escambia County Commission spent $2.7 million to add new locker rooms and a multipurpose building to the park. The project was completed in time for 2023 Women's Soccer tournament last October.

In 2022, the Southeastern Conference moved the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament to Brosnaham Park after spending 18 years in

Lodging accounted for more than $10.5 million in economic impact. Over 60% of the markets reported sports as the leading generator of room nights. An estimated 54% of all sports travelers spent the night in the event destination, generating over 73 million room nights in 2023.

Hotel taxes funded the majority of sport destination organizations in 2023. Half of all destination organizations operated with a budget of $500,000 or less and 20% operated with a budget exceeding $2 million. Approximately 77% of venues increased their budget between 2022 and 2023, with an average increase of 21%. Destination organizations averaged hosting 69 events last year.

In 2023, the economic impact of sportsrelated travel created nearly 760,000 jobs, and the sports tourism sector generated nearly $42 billion in total personal income.

David is familiar with the Pensacola market. He described the market as a tourist attraction with its beaches, museums and downtown vibrancy. All of those tourist attractions lend themselves to winning bids for AAU basketball and volleyball tournaments and other sporting events.

"In the southeast, there aren't an incredible amount of indoor facilities," he said. "There's a shortage. I have no doubt that would be a marquee facility in the region."

Palmer is confident that "If you build it, he will come" applies to Escambia County. Yes, indoor facilities exist nearby, but in smaller communities without the same attractions.

"We see the success of Foley, Panama City, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores," Palmer said. "Not to take anything away from them, but they don't have the community appeal of Pensacola. We just have a different level."

To learn about sports tourism, visit sportseta.org. Information on Pensacola Sports can be found at pensacolasports.org. {in}

Photo Courtesy of pensacolasports.org

EXTRAS

June 13, 2024 8:00 am - 12:15 pm

The Rex Theatre, Downtown Pensacola

Unlearn & Relearn:

3 Steps To Unlocking The Keys To Mental Wealth

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS TRAINING:

• Identify and challenge limiting beliefs that hinder personal and professional growth.

• Gain practical tools to prevent burnout and cultivate mental wealth.

• Interactive role-playing exercises, mimicking real-world scenarios, including boundary-setting.

County grand jury issued a "No True Bill" in the investigation of Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh's text messages that were stolen off the county's server.

Despite allegations made on social media and in the county's public forums that Bergosh violated Florida's Sunshine Laws and should be removed from office, the grand jury found that the evidence presented didn't persuade them there was probable cause the commissioner committed a crime.

Bergosh took a victory lap on WCOA and made it known that his political enemies would have to deal with him.

"They wanted to take a kill shot at me, Rick. They knew that. Had I even been indicted for this misdemeanor, the governor would have removed me from office, and I more than likely would've lost my day job. So they were taking a financial and political kill shot at me," Bergosh said.

"When I say 'they,' Mike Kohler, Steve Stroberger, and Pam Childers, but they took a kill shot, and they missed. Now they got to a deal with me, and it's going to be a problem."

Stroberger is District 2 Commissioner Mike Kohler's aide and has filed to run against Bergosh. Childers is the county clerk and has made cutting remarks about the county commission when she addresses jury pools.

"Last election cycle, I had the District 2 commissioner (Doug Underhill) run his secretary (Jonathan Owens) against me. That was a belly flop from the high dive for those guys. They got smashed. They're doing the same thing again," Bergosh said.

"When you see these other districts and now other constitutional officers coming to destroy a different commissioner, you got to scratch your head. If you're a District 1 constituent, you have to say, 'Why does District 2 want to have so

are smarter than that. I don't think they're going to play along with that, especially now, given the facts that have come out."

Bergosh questioned why State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden hasn't asked a grand jury to look at Owens for possessing stolen information, which included financial records and health information.

"I went through that crucible. I came out the other end. I was not guilty because I don't break the law," Bergosh said. "But how come we haven't done that for Jonathan Owens that admits possessing this personal identification information?

It's more than 12 citizens, full color, pictures of passports, driver's licenses, bank account information, access codes to houses, medical stuff on former county employees."

He added, "They send me to the grand jury for a second-degree misdemeanor that I did not commit based on one commissioner (Kohler) and his secretary (Stroberger) trying to take me out politically. But meanwhile, this guy (Owens) admits it on the radio, and nothing happens."

Madden also hasn't convened a grand jury on Owens' boss.

"The same thing with Doug Underhill, the federal judge said, 'Yeah, these are public records. Hundreds of them. You didn't turn them over for four years.' I see no grand jury looking at that. So, I tend to think, Rick, that rather than it being an impartial, unbiased process, people are picking winners and losers."

Underhill is appealing an Ethics Commission fine, and Owens has an administrative hearing on probable cause that he violated the state ethics law.

NAVIGATORS FUNDED On Tuesday, May 14, the Escambia Children's Trust board approved awarding the Children's Home Society of Florida

(CHS) $3.9 million over three years to help fund its Social Services Navigator Program. Since 2019, the Navigator Program has operated under an agreement between Escambia County School District and CHS to employ navigators in 32 schools. The program provides essential support such as food, clothing and additional services to students and their families.

Federal pandemic relief dollars funded the program, but those funds expired this summer. The Trust grant will fund 17 navigators for 19 Escambia public schools for three years. Additionally, the School District will pay for an additional four navigators to serve the Community Partnership Schools and the north-end schools in

Leah Harrison, CHS' regional executive director, described the navigator as a social services coordinator in the school. "They really are there to eliminate barriers to both academic and life success. And that can be anything from food and security, or maybe somebody just needs

Harrison said, "As we talked about this program and looking for the funding, I sat in a room with all of our navigators and heard their stories and the things that they're doing to come alongside these families and these kids. It's really powerful. So yes, it can be something like, I need a meal tonight, but it can also be something like coordinating services for families who are at risk or already homeless."

One measurable improvement CHS has been in school attendance. She said, "We want our kids in school, and in most of our schools, we've seen an increase in attendance. It's been incredible. Last year, we served about 6,500 students, providing about 35,000 services in the 35 schools."

To learn more, visit chsfl.org/donate.

DEMOCRAT FILES Don Gaetz will face a challenger in the race to fill State Sen. Doug Broxson's seat this fall. Lisa Newell, the owner and publisher of Gulf Breeze News and Splash! Magazine, has stepped up where no other Democrat would, hoping to make a difference in Senate District 1's political landscape.

"Typically, in Northwest Florida, there are no options other than Republicans for the races because this area is what is known as reliably red," Newell said. "The problem with this method is that voters are told who will represent them in this election, and in the next and the one after that. In many races, there is no debate, no need to campaign."

She continued, "Candidates can just put their name on a ballot and take their seat as the county officer, state representative or state senator. Then, you can put your son on the ballot for a seat in the same district."

Newell's opponent was elected to the Florida Senate in 2006, and his son Matt was elected to the Florida House in 2010. When the father was terming out of office in 2016, the son initially pre-filed to run for his father's seat but shifted to the congressional race after Rep. Jeff Miller announced his retirement. Matt Gaetz has repre -

sented this district in Congress since 2017 and is up for reelection.

The Gulf Breeze resident said several issues motivated her to run, including limiting women's health care options, sky-high insurance rates, the lowest-paid teachers in the U.S. and the complete denial of climate change.

In her announcement, Newell claimed the reports show Don Gaetz doesn't live in the district and contrasted his finances with hers.

"Unlike Don Gaetz, I am not a millionaire," she said. "I am just a regular person who struggles to keep ahead of my bills when prices are rising all over. I got tired of hearing (Ron) DeSantis say Florida is 'where woke goes to die.' I think it is time to wake up and take care of business."

Newell asked voters, "I hope you will join me in my quest and reach out to let me know how we can put the Florida senate back to work for its residents. After all, we, the voters, are the boss."

To learn more, visit newell4florida.com.

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

Two days before Newell emailed her campaign announcement to local media, Don Gaetz appeared on WCOA to discuss what voters were telling him.

"What I hear as I move around Northwest Florida is that it's all sort of conjoined in one issue, and that's inflation in the economy," Gaetz said. "Somebody said to me yesterday, 'No matter how you feel about Donald Trump or Joe Biden, what you have to understand and acknowledge is that if you were holding on to a Donald Trump dollar on the last day that he was president and then you had that same dollar today, it would be worth 78 cents.'"

He continued, "What I'm hearing from business people, from people who work for business, people from folks who are seniors and savers, is it's the economy. It's the ability to stretch the dollars they have—fewer than they had three or four years ago—to cover expenses that seem to be costing more."

While lawmakers have tried to reduce property insurance costs, little progress has been made. He said, "We have hurricanes, and then we have insurance companies that pay slowly or don't pay or go out of business or raise rates."

He said the insurance problem is more than premium increases. The claim process is troublesome, too.

"People who have a claim try to get the insurance company to pay attention and pay in a timely fashion, and some insurance companies are very good, but some are very bad. They try to string you out and hope you'll take pennies on the dollar," Gaetz said.

He has a plan to improve the system. "That's one we can tackle in the Senate. We can haul these guys in and take apart the methods by which they do claims processing and make sure that if it's a clean claim, it's paid in a specific number of days. And if it's not, interest and penalties begin to accrue because we're beating people out of their businesses and homes sometimes, not because they don't have insurance, but because they can't get the claim paid."

Jeff Bergosh / Photo Courtesy of myescambia.com

Gaetz believes in school choice in education. However, he wants more accountability for any school that receives state funds—public, charter or private.

"I am afraid that what we have begun to develop are really two systems, a standard conventional public education system where we demand an extraordinary amount of accountability. Maybe too much, maybe not enough," he said. "And then we're paying over money in vouchers to educational institutions, some of which are doing a remarkable job and giving people a new opportunity to live, be educated, and get a real job. But some of those educational institutions that take vouchers may be taking advantage of the lack of accountability."

Another issue he wants to tackle is adding more affordable housing. "I want to attack housing from the standpoint of the availability of land and the availability of money in a tight interest rate market to see what we can do to sort of break loose affordable housing. Not just for our first responders, though I voted for every one of those bills. But also, just for ordinary folks who are the assistant manager at the department store that you visit, the people who take care of your needs, your kids, your houses, those people also ought to have the ability to live where they work and not have to drive forever."

He added, "These are the issues that I've been focused on, I care about, and I'm working on finding solutions for now."

To learn more, visit electdongaetz.com.

GCKH APRIL STATS During April, Gulf Coast Kid's House (GCKH) served 247 children. The Department of Children & Families (DCF) child protective investigators opened 59 new investigations of child sexual abuse, severe physical abuse or neglect. The DCF reports 77 child victims were identified.

GCKH's Child Protection Team assessed 66 children and provided forensic medical examinations. Lutheran Services Florida's Sexual/Physical Abuse Treatment Program provided 173 therapy sessions attended by children and non-offending caregivers. Twenty-three children were referred to Lutheran Services Florida for treatment in response to sexual/physical abuse.

The demographics of child victims break down to 49% boys and 51% girls, with 40% age 6 or younger, 36% ages 7-12 and 24% age 13 or older. For more information on Gulf Coast Kid's House, visit gulfcoastkidshouse.org.

CITY PRESSER NOTES Mayor Reeves managed up the city's police and firefighters for making Pensacola the nation's fourth safest city, according to U.S. News World Report.

"We're well over $2 million in investments in public safety since I've been in office," he said. "The PPD (Pensacola Police Department) substation at PSC (Pensacola State College) should be getting the technology set up there any day now. We're adding two more officers to have a total of four in our CRA downtown."

Mayor Reeves continued, "We've been

thrilled with the progress so far with our mental health caseworkers and our non-responder model with the Pensacola Police Department in terms of how many interactions we're seeing and helping people looking for opportunities to get off the street."

He added that PPD should get its first Bearcat tactical vehicle for SWAT in the next two months and touted the addition of technology upgrades such as ShotSpotter. The mayor also praised the Pensacola firefighters.

"The Fire Department continues as they have been to be one of the top 1% fire departments in the United States," Reeves said. "The protection classification of ISO 1 is not only great for your safety, but secondarily, it is great for the cost of your homeowner's insurance and the reputation that you live in an area with such a good fire department. And also, we've handed over 600 smoke alarms out in the community in less than a year."

Adams Sanitation has been selected to negotiate an opt-in curbside recycling option to be launched in the city. However, the mayor was reluctant to mention any specifics until the negotiations were completed.

"Their proposal may not be exactly what we end up deciding to do," he said. His staff will look at several options, such as offering the option weekly or biweekly.

"I'm very excited to get a Recycling 2.0," Reeves said. "You can be assured that whatever version the opt-in will be, one thing you can surmise is that it will be a much more limited scope of what you can put in that can. It'll be more than likely very similar to what we're doing in the drop-off right now."

He outlined the next steps. "We will work out internally and externally with Adams on what the new 2.0 recycling will look like. And at that point, we will have at least 90 days and maybe more of onboarding."

The onboarding process includes an information campaign explaining how the service will work and will give people time to sign up. Before the city returns recycling cans, it will place stickers with the correct information about what can be recycled on them. The onboarding process may take six months.

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW WSRE PBS invites the public to submit questions for state lawmakers for its "Legislative Review: Dialogue with the Delegation" during a live broadcast 7 p.m. Monday, June 10. The program, hosted by Jeff Weeks, will be simulcast on WSRE PBS public television and NewsRadio 92.3 FM and 1620 AM. WSRE PBS will also post a live feed on the station's Facebook page.

Questions may be submitted by emailing info@wsre.org or messaging WSRE via Facebook. Each question must include a name and city of residence.

The legislators scheduled to participate are Sen. Doug Broxson (District 1) and Reps. Michelle Salzman (District 1), Alex Andrade (District 2), Dr. Joel Rudman (District 3) and Patt Maney (District 4). {in}

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SHOWING OUR COLORS AT PENSAPRIDE

Whoever made the decision to put Pride month during the hottest time of the year was homophobic. There, we said it.

But heat-intolerant folks can rejoice because this year, Pensacola's biggest Pride event—PensaPride—is happening indoors.

PensaPride is returning for its fourth year, this time at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds Expo Hall, and we expect it to be their biggest and best festival yet.

With over 100 vendors, plus a packed performance schedule, nonprofits, food trucks and children's activities, there's something for everyone at PensaPride—well, except for the homophobes. And with last year's anti-drag laws tied up in the courts, the festival's drag shows are all-ages once again. Air conditioning and drag queens? What more could you ask for?

Tara Grant, PensaPride board member and Safe Spaces Coordinator, says she is most excited about the growth PensaPride is anticipating.

"This is going to be probably the largest turnout that we've had since PensaPride started," said Grant. "I'm also very excited about the event space and being at the Fairgrounds, due to safety and comfort reasons."

When PensaPride announced they were headed indoors, some worried that the festival was taking a step back by no longer being in a public space. But repeated protests from religious extremists had become a logistical issue for the outdoor event.

"We're not hiding," said PensaPride organizer Marri Salt. "It's just a nice change to see where we can grow. It feels like a big growth to us. Next year, we'll reassess and decide what direction we'll go for 2025."

Speaking of growth, PensaPride's organizing board has grown significantly since 2023.

"We've added new board members since

At PensaPride, you can find them outside in the food court zone serving their famous biscuits and gravy plus other comfort foods.

This year is the first time owner and chef Eric Michael and operator Kyree Whitehead are participating as vendors at PensaPride. "PensaPride is important because they carve out space for those who would otherwise be marginalized," said Whitehead. "Whether you're a small restaurant like ours trying to get our food out there, or an artist looking for places to sell your work, Pride events like PensaPride invite those from our community and beyond to a place where we can have the most number of eyes at a single time."

TropiCow Creations

@tropicow_creations

Another new-to-PensaPride vendor is TropiCow, a graphic designer with a "passion for all things cute and tropical." Tropicow specializes in customized clothing and accessories from Pikachu-embroidered overalls to pink Axolotl keychains to tropical stationery.

Lachlan Woodson, Poet for Hire

Queer artist Lachlan Woodson brings a unique and interactive element of on-the-spot, custom poetry to every event they attend. This will be their first time vending at PensaPride, but you might have seen them and their typewriter at Pensacola Arts Market.

RETURNING VENDORS

Sanders

Oddities

the last PensaPride from our local community that include artists, activists and professionals," said Grant.

In addition to a beefed-up security plan and indoor location, Grant and other Safety Squad members will provide a sensory-friendly calm-down area to assist those experiencing sensory overload.

In a similar vein, the PensaPride Safety Squad will also be handing out a "Mental Health First Aid" zine created by Maylin DiRienzo, a Safety Squad committee member. Created with the assistance of other community mental health providers and artists, the zine will provide information and resources designed to help attendees.

While these specific safety measures are new, they fall within the long-time ethos of PensaPride as a sober all-ages festival.

"It's nice to provide a happy, sober space because a lot of people are in recovery," said Salt. "And that's important."

From artists to beauty products to gender-affirming care providers, there will be over 100 vendors at PensaPride 2024. Unfortunately, we don't have the space to tell you everyone vending at this year's event. But we rounded up a few to talk to and shout out, just to give you a small taste of what to expect at the festival. You can see the full vendor list broken down by category at pensapride.org/vendors.

FIRST TIMERS

Steel Pony Chef

@steelponydiner

Popping up since July 2023, Steel Pony Chef is a gay and Black-owned pop-up restaurant serving Southern comfort food with Portuguese flair.

Creations. Armin's art includes wearables, sculpture, abstract paintings and more, all of which are a reflection of their emotional state and influences from the world around them. They strive to create art at accessible price points so that there is something for everyone.

"Events like PensaPride are so important, especially these days, to show everyone who is not part of the LGBTQ+ community that we are such a resilient community rooted in love and support for one another. It's so important for the people who don't personally know a lot of queer people to have a realistic idea of what our community is about—not what damaging politicians, leaders or corporations make us out to be."

Hair For Every Betty @hairforeverybetty

Returning to PensaPride for their second year, Hair For Every Betty will offer free trims, transformation consults and hair accessories, plus information about their "HeadClub," which is a sliding scale gender-affirming haircut program. Owner Kendall Whitley says PensaPride offers a unique space that is affirming and safe for all.

"I love that PensaPride is more than a market and brings people out to hang and enjoy the whole day. Being in a space that exudes acceptance and love of all forms is an experience in itself. Personally, I tend to get overwhelmed in large group settings, but the energy at PensaPride is so welcoming you feel at ease being surrounded by people."

ACTIVISM & ADVOCACY GROUPS

@sanders_oddity

Sanders Oddities returns to PensaPride for their third year, showcasing elegant and whimsical art made with ethically-sourced animal bones and other oddities. Co-owner Hope Sanders is a fan of PensaPride for its "overwhelming sense of community."

"This event really is so special," said Sanders. "I've seen so many people, young people specifically, be able to finally be their true selves with no judgment. Even if it's just for a few hours, for them to be surrounded by love and acceptance is so incredible."

Asher & Bee

Apothecary + Botanica

@ashernbee

Asher & Bee is a repeat attendant of PensaPride, returning again this year to provide the community with tinctures, teas and natural remedies. Asher & Bee specializes in responsibly sourced plant-derived products that are fully vegan and cruelty free.

The Pretty Bear's Bakery

@prettybearsbakery

Specializing in authentic handmade Chinese and Asian-style treats, The Pretty Bear's Bakery uses locally sourced ingredients and small-batch baking to ensure the highest quality product. The Pretty Bear's Bakery is unique to the Pensacola area and we get excited every time we see them at a local market, especially this one.

Alarmin Creations

@alarmincreations

Al Armin, our fab cover model this week, is a returning PensaPride vendor, showcasing their eclectic work under the business name Alarmin

Gulf Coast LGBTQ+ Center, Inc.

@gulfcoastlgbtqcenter

The Center's mission is to "enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, asexual, intersex, queer, nonbinary and questioning (LGBTQIA+) population of the Gulf Coast." They accomplish this mission by providing resources, activities and education to LGBTQ+ people in the Gulf Coast region. They are repeat attendees at PensaPride and great folks to talk to or get fun swag from.

Free Mom Hugs

This national organization of allies works in all 50 states to provide accepting and positive support for LGBTQ+ youth. The premise is simple—these volunteers are on site to provide free hugs and maternal support to people who may not have that love and support in their lives.

OASIS Florida

@oasis.florida

OASIS is an NGO with the mission of providing free and easy access to HIV and syphilis testing. They are a repeat vendor at PensaPride and are on site to provide non-judgmental tools and information to encourage safe sex.

PENSAPRIDE

WHAT: Pensacola's annual, family-friendly Pride fest with an arts market featuring more than 100 vendors, plus live performances WHEN: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, June 15

WHERE: Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 6655 Mobile Hwy.

COST: $1

DETAILS: pensapride.org, @pensapride

PRIDE CALENDAR

Some people consider Memorial Day Weekend the end-all-be-all of Pensacola Pride, but locals know there's much more to come in June.

Inweekly has compiled the best Pride events in the city so you don't miss a single moment of queer joy, celebration and culture. Whether you're looking for kid-friendly activities like PensaPride or something a bit more spicy, we've got it all here for you.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

WANDA AT ALGA BEER CO. Queer-fronted group The Wanda Band is playing a free allages show at Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave., from 6-8 p.m. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for details.

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

LGBTQ TRIVIA Join Strive for a fundraiser and play queer/trans-focused trivia. There will be two games—5 p.m. and 7 p.m.—and it's $7 per person to play. Details at facebook.com/ socialisttransinitiative.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

PENSAPRIDE WEEKEND DRAG SHOW

This show will feature special guest Joan Jullian (who holds the title of Chicago's Miss Glamorous 2021), plus Dee Ranged, Lauren Mitchell, Kendyll Michaeles, Angelique Young and Zaniyah D. Iman. Showtimes are 10:30 p.m. and 12 a.m. at The Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

PENSAPRIDE The fourth annual PensaPride celebrates LGBTQ+ culture with live performances, food trucks, craft vendors and more from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $1 and this year's location is the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 6655 Mobile Hwy. For more details, visit pensapride.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

CTRL ALT DRAG A drag show hosted by Terrah Card at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Andy Rodginous, Alastina, Chocolat Dubois, Bell Fire and Thotberry Shortcake will be performing. Details at handlebar850.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19-

SUNDAY, JUNE 23

PRIDE WEEK POP-UP Perfect Plain, Garden & Grain, The Well and Perennial Patio Bar are celebrating Pride June 19-23 with events each night. There will be bingo Wednesday, June 19 and a Pride-themed market Thurs -

day, June 20 at Perfect Plain; a ticketed drag brunch Sunday, June 23 at The Well; plus an ICON night with live music and DJs at all locations on Friday, June 21. Details at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

PRISMATIC GALLERY NIGHT Once again, the June Gallery Night theme is "Prismatic," which celebrates Pensacola's LGBTQ+ community. The featured artist is Nate Schweigert, and the event will take place from 5-9 p.m. downtown. Details are available at gallerynightpensacola.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

PUPS FOR PRIDE WolfGang presents their annual dog-friendly Pride event, which includes brunch, a dog parade and karaoke from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Details and tickets are available at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.

ROAN VS. RAPP This event, hosted by The Sapphic Stage, will honor pop queens Chappell Roan and Reneé Rapp. It will include a sapphic costume contest, drag performances and a dance party, all kicking off at 8:30 p.m. at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. For more information, find @thedragkinggoblinbabe on Instagram.

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

HOT GIRL SUMMER DRAG SHOW A summertime-themed drag show from local drag performer and host Terrah Card at Alga Beer Co., 2435 N. 12th Ave. Details are available at facebook.com/thefunhouseball.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

LIBERATION! PRESENTS: TRUE COLORS

The popular drag show and dance party returns for their Pride edition at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. The show will feature special sets from DJ Tristan Dufrene and performer Thotberry Shortcake, plus DJ Brody, DJ J.Mike, Andy Rodginous, Wyntier Kandiey and Vantasia Divine. For details, find Liberation! Pensacola on Facebook or Instagram (@liberationpensacola).

ALL MONTH

FREE GENDER-AFFIRMING HAIRCUTS In honor of Pride, the team at Salon San Carlos is offering free gender-affirming haircuts for the LGBTQ+ community throughout June. Find @salonsancarlos on Instagram for more information. {in}

Photo Courtesy of WolfGang

Arts & Entertainment

nobody downtown had French fries," Zepp said. "I was making a joke basically that I was gonna fight one of my friends if I didn't get French fries, which obviously is not true. It's funny it's a song name, because I don't remember some of that."

"You Wanna Fight and I Want a French Fry" is featured on Spiral's EP "Promo." William Faucett (guitar/vocals) explained how the intentionally long song title ties to their band's mission to have a good time.

"We were kind of looking at the way people used to write songs in the MySpace days like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Panic at the Disco, of course," Faucett said. "We were just like, 'Let's have fun with this.' That's our main thing, if we're not having fun, we don't want to do it."

And it's working. The upbeat track with a "boxing wrestling type theme" has become their favorite—and just about everyone else's too, Zepp said.

"The last show we played, the whole room was singing some of the lyrics, and that was

for what I am doing now."

Even cooler, though, she gets to be frontwoman of a group of inclusive, nonjudgemental musicians who care about each other and have fun—sans drama, she said.

"There's always gonna be that one scene that makes you feel so uninvited, whether you like whatever it is or not, and there's nothing more alienating than to feel like you can't be involved in something you like," Zepp said. "That's not what we're about. We want everyone to feel like they can be at our shows—be however they want to be, be whoever they want to be. We just want people to have a good time."

"We want people to know us for inclusion in the music scene. Fun and bringing people together would be big things I'd like to say we stand for," added Zach Roberts (bass/vocals).

ON BECOMING SPIRAL

Spiral wasn't always on the heavy side of rock music.

It started as a two-piece folk punk band fea-

"Luna does a great job of going between the pretty singing to the harsher vocals," Faucett said. "Anytime we're at a show, it's always funny seeing people who haven't seen us, their reactions when she starts belting out some screams. It just catches them off guard."

"Growing up, I definitely felt more self-conscious to even try it or do it because I feel like there were some scenes that would almost put you down if you couldn't do it the way they wanted it done or whatever the case may be," Zepp said of screaming. "I finally just said, 'Screw it, and I tried it.' As far as I know, from other people, they like it … and screaming is fun."

Faucett thinks "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" is likely their best written song.

"I think it shows us as musicians the best," Faucett said. "It's a little more complex than our other things. So we just wanted something that was kind of a like, 'Hey, we can we can play a little more serious stuff as well, because of the themes of it are a little more serious and things of that nature.'"

Lyrically, "Breaking Up the Cold" has more

serious subject matter, Zepp said. It was written while she and Faucett were mutually going through hard times.

"I feel like it was pretty good for the both of us," Zepp said. "During this time, we were having a realization (of) who was there for us and kind of reinviting those people in our lives that we realized were healthy for us, or whatever the

Spiral's songwriting process is always collaborative, Faucett said.

"That's the one thing that I really like that we do," Faucett said. "It's very team oriented. Everybody's open to input from anybody else."

The band normally plays originals, but for their set at an upcoming Emo Night show in Mobile, Ala., they plan to cover Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Goin Down" and Simple Plan's "What's New Scooby-Doo."

"We're just enjoying making friends with other people around Pensacola because there is so many just lovely people in our scene—our friends in GLSNR and a couple other groups around here," Faucett said. "We really just want to get shows with as many of the local groups as we can."

The local music scene is having a moment, said Zepp, a Pensacola native. She largely credits The Handlebar for giving local musicians a space

Both Zepp and her mother have witnessed the potential of Pensacola's local music scene.

"My mom was in bands, and she played at Sluggo's and The Handlebar," Zepp said. "It's really cool to be able to kind of follow in the same footsteps. When I was younger, the music scene was really good, and then it kind of died out for a little bit. So it's super cool to finally be involved in that while everything is kind of starting to pick back up again." {in}

SPIRAL AT EMO NIGHT (THE REBIRTH)

WHAT: A live show featuring Spiral, BallaStella, Aliens Exist with support from Alex from NVSN, Kiss 10, Ghostling and special performance from Deadboiclique

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8

WHERE: The Merry Widow, 51 S. Conception St., Mobile, Ala.

COST: $15 in advance

DETAILS: themerrywidow.net

Spiral / Courtesy Photo

a&e happenings

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 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 at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and 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

RENT Pensacola Little Theatre presents the Tony-Award winning musical "Rent" at 400 S. Jefferson St. Shows start Friday, June 14 and tickets are $10-$38 at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

LA BELLE PERFORMING ARTS Enjoy two different performances. "Best Day Ever" is 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, and "Rapunzel" is 6 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets for shows are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

WRITERS OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Enjoy writers open mic 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at The Gordon, 306 N. DeVilliers St. Hear poets and authors read one-page pieces. This is free and open to the public. Refreshments are provided.

ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASS WITH JACQUELINE SULLIVAN Learn "Dynamic Depth & Dimension" with Golden-certified teaching artist Jacqueline Sullivan. Classes are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 10-14 at Framing by Design, 4718 N. W St. Cost is $560. Sign up at paletteproductions.net.

OPERA AFTER DARK: AN EVENING WITH NICOLE HEINEN Performance is 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13 at The Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Tickets are $25 and available at pensacolaopera.com.

SHREK RAVE Shrek-themed rave is 8 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Visit vinylmusichall.com for details and tickets.

BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE ROMANCE BOOK CLUB The Romance Book Club is 5 p.m.

Tuesday, June 18 at Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St. The club will discuss "Funny Story" by Emily Henry. Details are at facebook.com/ bodaciousbookstore.

OPERA AL FRESCA The next Opera Al Fresca is 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 at Big Lagoon State Park, 12301 Gulf Beach Highway. Present your library card to get into the park free to watch the show.

CELEBRATING 70: A HISTORY OF COLLECTING A new Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit opens June 7 and runs through Sept. 29 featuring highlights of PMA's permanent collection at 407 S. Jefferson St. Details are available at pensacolamuseum.org.

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.

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. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 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 held 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 actual 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. Following 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.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

BODY,

MIND,

SPIRIT

MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

FOOD + DRINKS

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS The next Atlas Beverage Class is 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 Barracks St. Cost is $30 a person. Reservations are required. Make yours by calling (850) 287-0200 or emailing taylor@goodgrits.com.

SIR RICHARD'S BIRTHDAY OYSTER BASH

Celebrate Sir Richard's Public House's 58th anniversary with oysters. They are available to purchase in orders of half dozen or full dozen 2-4 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at Sir Richard's, 2719 E. Cervantes St.

PIRATE MURDER MYSTERY SLEUTH

SHOW A pirate-themed interactive murder mystery show is 6:30-9 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Tickets are $30 and available at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

VINO MAGNIFICO The next Vino Magnifico is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11 at V. Paul's, 29 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $18 a person. RSVP at vpauls.com.

YAPPY HOUR AT PENSACOLA BAY

BREWERY Enjoy $5 beers with your pup 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 13 at Pensacola Bay Brewery, 225 Zaragoza St. Tickets and information are available at wolfgangparkandbrews.com.

VEGAN VIBEZ FESTIVAL Enjoy vegan food vendors, live music and adoptable dogs from Paws Crossed Dog. Event is noon-5 p.m. Satur-

Join us for our fourth-annual Pride festival to celebrate and uplift the LGBTQIA2S+ community!

Saturday, June 15, 2024 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Pensacola Interstate Fair Expo Hall

• Support LGBTQIA2S+ and ally artist vendors

• Enjoy a variety of performances

• Gather with all ages in a sober environment

Learn more at pensapride.org

Sponsorships available! Email contact@pensapride.org

/PensaPride @pensapride contact@pensapride.org

a&e happenings

day, June 15 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details are at facebook.com/garysbrew.

CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL The Fish House Craft Beer Festival is 3-6 p.m. Saturday, June 15 at 600 S. Barracks St. Tickets are $30-$40 and available fishhousepensacola.com. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.

O'RILEY'S UPTOWN TAVERN 21ST BIRTH-

DAY O'Riley's Uptown Tavern will celebrate its 21st birthday with an exclusive event featuring limited-time only drinks, commemorative t-shirts, balloon drop, prizes and more 8 p.m.-midnights Saturday, June 15 located at 3728 Creighton Road. More information is at orileystavern.com.

BRIDGERTON BRUNCH

Enjoy a Regency period-themed brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, June 16 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $50 and available at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

THE SUMMER SUPPER SERIES WITH CHEF MATTHEW OF THE FARM Dinner is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, June 18 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $90. Details are available at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS

Join Green Thumb Wines for a wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. Cost is $15, which can be applied to a bottle purchase of your choice. For more information and tickets, visit greenthumbwines.com/collections/events.

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.

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.

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.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close, 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.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S

Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.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.

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.

BAR BINGO Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for 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 on 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.

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

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.

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.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA O'Riley's Tavern hosts trivia 8 p.m.-midnight Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.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.

TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool and play bar bingo 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details at orileystavern.com.

LIVE MUSIC

BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Upcoming shows: June 11 is 12eleven, and June 18 is Float Like a Buffalo. For

a&e happenings

details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whatshappening-bands-on-beach.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.

RADIOLIVE Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6 with Certainly So, Adam Wright and The New Quintet at the Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.com.

MUTINY MAY DAY! Show featuring Nik Flagstar, GLSMR, Basilantros, Big Lo, Gnarled, and Cavae Mundi. Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, June 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com or at the door.

CERTAINLY SO, DUCKY NEPTUNE, 5 MILE BRASS Show is 7 p.m. Friday, June 7 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10-$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

NOT MILK, HOPOUT, MORNING TRIPS, MARIGOLD'S APPRENTICE Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

RED AND THE REVELER'S WITH A SUNDAY FIRE Show is 8 p.m. Friday, June 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets at thehandlebar850.com.

PEARL & COMPANY Pensacola JazzFest favorite Pearl & Company is 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 17 at Phineas Phogg's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Cost is $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and $12 for non-members. Details are at jazzpensacola.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY

Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern. com for details.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook. com/garysbrew for details.

KARAOKE AT THE HANDLEBAR Wednesdays at 9 p.m. The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

KARAOKE AT WISTERIA Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave., hosts karaoke 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.

WHISKEY WEDNESDAY KARAOKE Karaoke starts 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

KARAOKE NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S

Bring your singing talents Monday and Thursday nights at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Festivities are 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

SUNDAY KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS

Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. Sunday at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.

FITNESS + RECREATION

BLUE WAHOOS GAMES Take in a baseball game at the Blue Wahoos stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. For single, group or VIP tickets, visit bluewahoos.com.

Upcoming home games:

•6:05 p.m. Thursday, June 6

•6:05 p.m. Friday, June 7

•6:05 p.m. Saturday, June 8

•4:05 p.m. Sunday, June 9

OCEAN HOUR WEEKLY CLEANUPS Ocean Hour Pensacola hosts weekly cleanups 7:45-9 a.m. Saturdays. Follow Ocean Hour at facebook. com/oceanhourfl for more details and locations.

BIKE NIGHT Bike Pensacola presents Bike Night

6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6. Community bike ride starts 6 p.m. leaving from Emerald Republic Brewing Co., 1414 W. Government St.

FLORA-BAMA'S 11TH ANNUAL FISHING

RODEO The "every mans" fishing rodeo is noon7 p.m. Friday, June 7 at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido Key Drive. Details are at florabama.com/fishing-rodeo.

53RD PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT Pensacola Big Game Fishing hosts the annual billfish tournament June 13-17 at Palafox Pier. Details are available at pbgfc.com.

YOGA UNCORKED AT 5ELEVEN Yoga classes

Tuesdays are 5:30 p.m. at 5elevent, 511 S. Palafox St., with Disko Lemonade running the yoga class. Register for the class at diskolemonade.com.

YOGA WITH MARNI AT HA-YA Visit Ha-Ya Wellness for integrative yoga with Marni 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of the month at 4301 Spanish Trail Road. Visit facebook.com/asherandbeeapothecary for more information.

FREE YOGA IN THE PARK WITH BREATHE YOGA Enjoy a free, one-hour outdoor yoga class with Breathe Yoga 9:30-10:30 a.m. the first Sunday of the month at Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. The next date is July 7.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF JUNE 6

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): What potentials should you strive to ripen as the expansive planet Jupiter glides through your astrological house of connection, communication and education in the coming months? I'll offer my intuitions. On the downside, there may be risks of talking carelessly, forging superficial links and learning inessential lessons. On the plus side, you'll generate good luck and abundant vitality if you use language artfully, seek out the finest teachings and connect with quality people and institutions. In the most favorable prognosis I can imagine, you will become smarter and wiser. Your knack for avoiding boredom and finding fascination will be at a peak.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Since 1969, Taurus singer-songwriter Willie Nelson has played his favorite guitar in more than 10,000 shows. His name for it is Trigger. Willie doesn't hold onto it simply for nostalgic reasons. He says it has the greatest tone he has ever heard in a guitar. Though bruised and scratched, it gets a yearly check-up and repair. Nelson regards it as an extension of himself, like a part of his body. Is there anything like Trigger in your life, Taurus? Now is a good time to give it extra care and attention. The same is true for all your valuable belongings and accessories. Give them big doses of love.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Off the coast of West Africa is an imaginary place called Null Island. A weather buoy is permanently moored there. Geographers have nicknamed it "Soul Buoy." It's the one location on Earth where zero degrees latitude intersects with zero degrees longitude. Since it's at sea level, its elevation is zero, too. I regard this spot as a fun metaphor for the current state of your destiny, Gemini. You are at a triple zero point, with your innocence almost fully restored. The horizons are wide, the potentials are expansive, and you are as open and free as it's possible for you to be.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): When I worked as a janitor at India Joze restaurant in Santa Cruz, Calif., I did the best I could. But I was unskilled in janitorial arts. I couldn't fix broken machines, and I lacked expertise about effec-

By Rob Brezsny

tive cleaning agents. Plus, I was lazy. Who could blame me? I wasn't doing my life's work. I had no love for my job. Is there an even remotely comparable situation in your life, Cancerian? Are you involved with tasks that neither thrill you nor provide you with useful education? The coming months will be an excellent time to wean yourself from these activities.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I foresee two possible approaches for you in the coming months. Either will probably work, so it's up to you to decide which feels most fun and interesting. In the first option, you will pursue the rewards you treasure by creating your own rules as you outfox the system's standard way of doing things. In the second alternative, you will aim for success by mostly playing within the rules of the system except for some ethical scheming and maneuvering that outflank the system's rules. My advice is to choose one or the other, and not try to do both.

The horizons are wide, the potentials are expansive, and you are as open and free as it's possible for you to be.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Please note that during the next 12 months, I may seem a bit pushy in my dealings with you. I will encourage you to redefine and enhance your ambitions. I will exhort you to dream bigger. There may come times when you wish I wouldn't dare you to be so bold. I will understand, then, if you refrain from regularly reading my horoscopes. Maybe you are comfortable with your current type of success and don't want my cheerleading. But if you would welcome an ally like me—an amiable motivator and sympathetic booster—I will be glad to help you strive for new heights of accomplishment.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Three months after Rachel Denning bore her fourth child, she and her husband sold everything they owned and embarked on a nomadic life. They have been roaming ever since, adding three more kids along the way. She says they have become addicted

to "the personal transformation that travel extracts." She loves how wandering free "causes you to be uncomfortable, to step out of the familiar and into the unknown. It compels you to see with new eyes and to consider things you'd never been aware of. It removes preconceptions, biases and small-mindedness." If you were ever going to flirt with Rachel Denning's approach, Libra, the next 12 months would be a favorable time. Could you approximate the same healing growth without globetrotting journeys? Probably. Homework: Ask your imagination to show you appealing ways to expand.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Among the Europeans who first settled in South America were Jews who had been forcibly converted to Christianity by Portuguese and Spanish persecutions. Centuries later, some families resolved to reclaim their Jewish heritage. They led a movement called "la sangre llama"—a Spanish phrase meaning "the blood is calling." I invite you to be inspired by this retrieval, Scorpio. The coming months will be an excellent time to commune with aspects of your past that have been neglected or forgotten. Your ancestors may have messages for you. Go in search of missing information about your origins.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): If you simply let the natural flow take you where it will in the coming weeks, you would become a magnet for both degenerative and creative influences. Fortunately, you are reading this oracle, which will help ensure the natural flow won't lead you toward degenerative influences. With this timely oracle, I am advising you to monitor and suppress any unconscious attractions you might have for bewildering risks and seemingly interesting possibilities that are actually dead ends. Don't flirt with decadent glamour or fake beauty, dear Sagittarius. Instead, make yourself fully available for only the best resources that will uplift and inspire you.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Capricorn politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is campaigning to be U.S. President. But oops: He recently confessed a parasitic worm once ate a portion of his brain, damaging his memory and cognitive skills. "The worm is dead now," he assured us, as if that were a good reason to vote

for him. Why am I bringing this up? Like most of us, you have secrets that if revealed might wreak at least a bit of mayhem. As tempting as it might be to share them with the world—perhaps in an effort to feel free of their burden—it's best to keep them hidden for now. Kennedy's brain worm is in that category. Don't be like him in the coming weeks. Keep your reputation and public image strong. Show your best facets to the world.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The English and French word "amateur" comes from "amatus," the past participle of the Latin word "amare," which means "to love." According to one definition, an amateur is "someone who pursues sports, studies or other activities purely for pleasure instead of for financial gain or professional advancement." In accordance with astrological omens, I encourage you to make this a featured theme in the coming months. On a regular basis, seek out experiences simply because they make you feel good. Engage in lots of playtime. At least part-time, specialize in fun and games.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Good news, Pisces: In the coming weeks, one of your flaws will mysteriously become less flawed. It will lose some of its power to undermine you. If you engage in focused meditation about it, you could rob it of even more of its obstructive force. More good news: You will have an enhanced capacity to distinguish between skillful pretending and earthy authenticity. No one can trick you or fool you. Can you handle even more good news? You will have a skillful knack for finding imperfect but effective solutions to problems that have no perfect solution.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What mediocre pleasure could you give up to better pursue a sublime pleasure? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny

news of the weird

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Corey Harris, 44, attended his pre-trial hearing on driving with a suspended license remotely, over Zoom, on May 15, The New York Times reported. No problem with that, but as Harris checked into the meeting with the Washtenaw County District Court in Michigan, he told the judge, "I'm pulling into my doctor's office, actually, so just give me one second, I'm parking right now." Huh. Video showed Harris in the driver's seat and turning the wheel as he located a parking spot. "So maybe I don't understand something," Judge J. Cedric Simpson said. "This is a driver with a license suspended?" Harris' attorney, Natalie Pate, confirmed the charge. "And he was just driving?" Simpson asked. Seconds of silence went by, with Harris appearing to realize his mistake. "That is correct, your honor," Pate said. "I don't know why he would do that," the judge answered, right before he revoked Harris' bond and ordered him to turn himself in by 6 p.m. His next hearing is on June 5.

CLOTHING OPTIONAL A Virgin Australia flight headed for Melbourne had to return to Perth on May 27 after a man allegedly ran naked down the aisle shortly after takeoff, The Guardian reported. Police said the man also "knocked a crew member to the floor." One passenger reported "a lot of yelling and screaming" near the cockpit as the man charged forward. The man was pinned to the floor by air marshals; he was then handcuffed and led to the rear of the plane. Federal police met the aircraft on its return to Perth and arrested him.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH Lopburi, Thailand, also known as monkey town, has had it up to HERE with about 2,500 marauding macaques terrorizing the townsfolk, the Associated Press reported. As such, on May 24, the town launched the first phase of a plan to catch and remove the monkeys: cages baited with rambutan fruit, their favorite. The problem? The simians are smart: "If some of them go into the cage and are caught, the others outside won't enter the cage ... because they've already learnt what's happened to their friends," said Patarapol Maneeorn from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Lopburi's mayor said that while the monkeys bring in tourists, shops and malls have lost income and people's homes have been damaged. Those that are caught will be sterilized and tattooed so they can be tracked. Then they'll move to large holding pens, where they'll await repatriation.

•In Snettisham, Norfolk, in the U.K., it's feral chickens that are plaguing the town. The flock of 100 or so chickens dig up gardens and are so loud that residents have to use earplugs at night, United Press International reported. The Snettisham Parish Council said it is "seeking specialist advice from various sources," but some residents object to the idea of moving the chickens away. "They are part of the fabric of the village," said chicken supporter Rebecca Chilvers. The council invited residents to a meeting to air their opinions.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

RIP The Smoking Gun reported on May 24 that the world's most arrested man, Henry Earl, 74, had passed away. Earl racked up more than 1,500 arrests in his lifetime and spent 6,000 nights in jail. Since 2017, he had lived in a nursing home in Owenton, Kentucky, near where his first arrest took place in July 1970 (for carrying a concealed weapon). Most of his offenses were fueled by alcohol and didn't include violent crimes. He was laid to rest in the Owenton cemetery.

WEIRD WARFARE The South Korean military announced on May 29 that it had found 260 balloons that had drifted across the demilitarized zone between it and North Korea, The New York Times reported. The balloons were carrying bags full of ... trash, such as cigarette butts, used shoes and compost. The bags were reportedly released according to timers attached to the balloons. "We issue a stern warning to North Korea to stop this antihumanitarian and dirty operation," South Korea warned. But North Korea pledged to send more to exercise its "freedom of expression."

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A HOBBY For 10 years, residents of North Enid Avenue in Azusa, California, have been putting up with a pesky nuisance: a serial slingshot shooter. The New York Times reported that people would find broken windows on their cars or homes and little ball bearings strewn about. "Many times I came outside, and I would find little BBs by the front door," said Monica Palomino. Finally, police have nabbed the vandal: 81-year-old Prince Raymond King, who also lives on the block. Azusa Police Cpl. Benjamin Cypher said several recent incidents had allowed them to narrow their search down to King's address, where they found the slingshot and ball bearings. "We're not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief," Lt. Jake Bushey said. King was ordered to stay away from his neighborhood and return to court on June 17. He pleaded not guilty.

AWESOME! Ulysses Whitfield, 85, retired this week from driving a school bus for Suffolk (Virginia) Public Schools, WAVY-TV reported. Over his 70-year career (yep, you read that right), he took only two half-days off. "During that time, students could drive," Whitfield said of the beginning of his career in 1954. He delivered students through changes in technology and racial upheaval, he said, "But it was smooth with me, though. I didn't have any problems with the kids at all. Respect the kids, and you will receive respect from them." Whitfield plans to come back part-time in the fall to train his replacement "to make sure the run is done nice and smooth, like I was doing it. I have good kids. I'm going to miss them, I know it." {in}