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ALEX SMITH University of West Florida appointed Alex Smith as director of external affairs. He previously served as constituent and legislative liaison and special assistant to Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves. During his tenure with the City of Pensacola, he helped secure more than $75 million in state and federal funding. In his new role, Smith will manage external relations for the Office of the President, overseeing presidential initiatives and ensuring alignment with UWF's strategic goals. He will engage with public and private stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and advance institutional priorities. Smith's responsibilities include supporting UWF's vision, contributing to the University's Master Plan implementation and developing legislative strategies.
JENNIFER FRANK Milton made history last month by appointing Jennifer Frank as its next police chief, effective late April. She becomes Northwest Florida's first female police chief and only the 21st statewide. Frank prefers to be recognized for her work rather than her gender: "I'm not the first female police chief—I'm just chief." With 19 years in law enforcement, Frank most recently served as chief in Windsor, Vt., where her community policing initiatives reduced violent crime calls by 50%, and she earned a National Leadership Award. Her career includes presidential security details and an unusual path to policing: She began as a teacher and once disarmed a student with a gun. Frank emphasizes community connection and supporting both residents and officers under her command.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY CORRECTIONS
DEPARTMENT The department achieved Excelsior Status, the highest recognition in Florida corrections accreditation, for the third consecutive time. The Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC) bestowed this honor at its February 2025 conference. The designation requires agencies to uphold exceptional standards through five successful reaccreditation assessments over approximately 15 years. The department demonstrated compliance with all 261 FCAC standards with zero instances of noncompliance. The voluntary accreditation process ensures accountability and transparency, enhancing community trust in the corrections system.
FIVETHIRTYEIGHT
According to Wall Street Journal sources, the political analysis website, founded by statistics expert Nate Silver in 2008, is set to close. The shutdown is part of broader cuts at Disney's ABC News Group, which is expected to lay off approximately 200 employees across its divisions. The site, known for its data-driven approach to political forecasting and analysis, had already undergone significant downsizing two years ago when ABC rebranded it and reduced its staff. The remaining team of about 15 employees will reportedly be included in the latest round of layoffs. Silver departed the platform in 2023 to launch his own venture, Silver Bulletin.
FORT
BENNING Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced earlier this month that Fort Moore in Georgia would revert to its former name, Fort Benning. However, instead of bearing the name of Confederate General Henry Benning, Hegseth said he did it to honor WWI hero Corporal Fred G. Benning, who received the Distinguished Service Cross in 1918—a political maneuver that fooled no one. The base was named Fort Moore in 2023 to honor the legacies of the Moores, who lived in Auburn, Ala. Lieutenant General Harold "Hal" Moore (1922-2017) was a highly decorated U.S. Army officer best known for his heroic leadership during the Vietnam War. At the Battle of Ia Drang in November 1965, the commander of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment led approximately 450 soldiers against roughly 2,000 North Vietnamese troops. His wife, Julia Compton Moore (19292004), revolutionized how the Army notifies families of casualties.
HURRICANE FORECASTING The Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have laid off approximately 880 employees from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While the administration claimed critical staff like National Weather Service meteorologists were largely protected, the media has reported some meteorologists, radar specialists and Hurricane Hunters crew members were affected, which could jeopardize weather forecasting capabilities, emergency responses and maritime commerce. Critics argue the reductions will impact NOAA's ability to fulfill its mission of protecting lives and property.
Alex Smith / Photo Courtesy of uwf.edu
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outtakes
By Rick Outzen
OPEN FOR WHO?
The recent establishment of a $20 million litigation fund targeting corporations represents a troubling shift in how state governments interact with the private sector. While Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to promote Florida as a business-friendly state, his administration's actions tell a different story that should concern business leaders, investors and citizens.
This past January, DeSantis emphasized Florida's efforts to attract businesses, saying, "It is important that we continue to strive to make Florida the ideal location for new and growing businesses."
However, last week, the governor and the rest of the Florida Cabinet, acting as trustees of the State Board of Administration (SBA), approved a resolution expanding their litigation capabilities against companies in which the state's $200 billion pension fund invests.
The SBA is now empowered to pursue lawsuits against companies if the governor disapproves of their policies. Instead of creating a regulatory environment where businesses can thrive, Florida is positioning itself as an activist shareholder ready to litigate at the first sign of disagreement.
Plus, the state wants to streamline the process for initiating these lawsuits. The new rules allow the SBA's executive director to commence legal action with only a five-day notice to the governor and other trustees. This change comes after several years of state lawmakers curbing Florida trial lawyers filing lawsuits against businesses under the guise of reducing insurance premiums and cutting the cost of others' products. In other words, citizens cannot sue corporations, but DeSantis can.
When Republican governors tout cutting red tape, they typically mean for businesses—not for the state's lawyers.
The lawsuit against Target about its LGBTQ Pride marketing campaign, which the state claims caused financial losses to shareholders, provides a troubling preview of what's to come. The DeSantis administration argues the retailer misled investors by not adequately disclosing risks associated with the campaign. Yet Target stated it "repeatedly warned investors of the risk" of consumer boycotts—an indication the issue isn't about disclosure but how Target operates its stores.
The governor framed this aggressive stance as
protecting retirees' interests: "It's the retired police officers, firefighters, teachers, who depend on this pension fund."
However, this argument rings hollow when one considers the potential consequences. Litigation is expensive, time-consuming and often unpredictable. Companies facing the threat of state lawsuits may think twice before expanding operations in Florida, potentially limiting job growth and economic development. They should be worried about what future litmus tests might be applied to their operations.
Constant litigation creates market uncertainty, negatively impacting the pension fund Florida claims to protect. The legal costs, potential settlements and damaged corporate reputations could harm shareholder value far more than the corporate decisions DeSantis finds objectionable.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, DeSantis' former chief of staff, said he would hold companies accountable for engaging in "radical ideological politics." I remember when Attorney Generals fought Southern Bell Telephone and other utilities to reduce rates. Not anymore.
In DeSantis' world, Florida officials substitute their judgment for that of corporate boards and executives. While criticizing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing as politically motivated and declaring it "basically dead," the governor seeks to control the policies of every business in the state.
Republicans are supposed to believe in a freemarket economy where companies are guided by consumer preferences, competitive pressures and fiduciary responsibilities—not by fear of government litigation. When states use their investment leverage to dictate corporate policy, they undermine market mechanisms that drive innovation and economic growth.
Business leaders considering Florida should recognize the state's "Open for Business" slogan has significant caveats. The welcome mat extends only to companies willing to align with the administration's political preferences.
States certainly have legitimate interests in ensuring corporate accountability and protecting investors. But Florida's approach goes far beyond this, creating a climate where political conformity becomes a prerequisite for avoiding state-sponsored litigation. {in} rick@inweekly.net
By Rick Outzen
VOUCHERS IMPACT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Escambia County's population is increasing, yet enrollment in its school district is trending downward.
Why? Look no further than the Family Empowerment Scholarship voucher.
On March 27, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law House Bill 1, which expanded available school choice options for all students, eliminating financial eligibility restrictions. Since then, Escambia County Public Schools enrollment has decreased by nearly 1,100 students. The decline is primarily at the middle schools, which are down nearly 700 students.
State vouchers cover about $8,000 per school year for private school tuition and related expenses such as books, testing and registration fees. That puts a sizable dent in the fees for schools such as the Montessori School of Pensacola, which has an annual cost of $20,000, and Lighthouse Private Christian Academy, which charges $13,500.
During the 2023-24 school year, Escambia ranked third in the state in the percentage of students who attend a private school at 21.2%. Only Martin (44.4%) and Jefferson (38.6%) topped Escambia, according to the Florida Department of Education.
REVERSING THE TREND
So, what is the answer to stop the declining enrollment in Escambia public schools?
The school district already added sixth grade to two of its elementary schools, Cordova Park and West Pensacola, and decided to implement a middle school scholars program at Pensacola High School beginning in 2026-27. Administrators are exploring other alternatives, including grade level expansion at other elementary schools and collaborations between elementary and middle schools located near each other, such as Hellen Caro Elementary and neighboring Bailey Middle.
Another possibility under consideration is a partnership between N.B. Cook and O.J. Semmes elementary schools. The idea is to
expand Cook's popular curriculum model, with primary grades K-2 or K-3 housed at Semmes and intermediate grades at Cook.
School Superintendent Keith Leonard expects most of the proposed projects to launch in the 2026-27 school year. "We want to make sure we have everything in place. It's more important that we go slow, have everything in place, and make for a smooth transition rather than going fast."
Last month, the school district hosted a town hall, and the possibility of the partnership between Cook and Semmes came up in conversation. Cook teacher Maya Johnson said, "My main concern is why are we taking such a good program and splitting it apart? Why can't a model be done at Semmes and other elementary schools in our community."
"My main concern is why are we taking such a good program and splitting it apart?" Maya Johnson
Leonard responded, "What we're trying to do is to make certain that when you become a parent, and your kid reaches school age, that there's an Escambia County public school system for your kid to go to that's free, that accepts students no matter what income or neighborhood they live in."
PHS MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS
Leonard considers Pensacola High an ideal location for a scholars program for seventh—and eighth-grade students. Pensacola High already houses the International Baccalaureate program for the top-performing high school students.
"There will be rigorous requirements to be accepted, a lottery process for a magnet program," Leonard said. "They'll possibly then go to the International Baccalaureate program at PHS."
Open class space is readily available at the high school. Enrollment is down to 1,200 after being as high as 1,900.
At the town hall, Pensacola High Principal Amy Gordon said, "We will have 11 empty classrooms on that side. In fact, that whole entire west wing, we can configure our layout so that the entire west wing will be empty, with the exception of ROTC."
Lesa Morgan, director of high school education for the school district, said she understands parents and students being concerned about mixing middle schoolers with high schoolers. She counters, though, that middle schoolers will embrace the school spirit that only a high school offers them.
"There's a huge difference in maturity level for sure, but in the environment that they're going to, they'll see things they're going to look forward to like a bigger band and sports activities," Morgan said. "They're going to feel like they're a part of something bigger."
Melanie Gambill, president of the Escambia County Council of Parent Teacher Association and Parent Teacher Student Association, said the council supports the school district's efforts to increase enrollment.
Gambill said, "Based on information and research from other areas that have extended the elementary to sixth grade, we feel this may be a viable solution."
The negative perception of the middle schools in the county irks Gambill. She raves about Ferry Pass Middle, where her oldest grandchild attended and her second oldest is currently a student. Gambill encouraged parents to visit the middle school in their zone and speak to the administration before jumping to conclusions.
"They're going to feel like they're a part of something bigger."
Lesa Morgan
"We have parents who give advice on the middle schools when their children didn't go there recently," she said. "Workman Middle School still tends to have a negative perception, but if they go speak to the principal, they'll see they've made great strides. How
Workman was years ago is not how Workman is now."
Workman and four other county middle schools earned C grades last year. The magnet school Brown Barge earned an A, and Ferry Pass and Ransom each managed a B. Leonard proudly noted the school district ranked fourth in the state for middle school acceleration rates.
All of those positives fall by the wayside, though, if no one pays attention to them. At the town hall, School Board Chairman David Williams said, "We've done better in the last couple of years, but we want the public to know that we're the best choice to educate the children in Escambia County."
STATEWIDE CONCERN
Escambia County is not alone. Public schools across the state are losing students and the state funding that follows them.
According to the Florida Department of Education, during the 2023-24 fiscal year, the state diverted $2.1 billion from its public-school funding formula for the voucher program.
Over 122,000 students statewide started using vouchers for the first time during the 2023-24 school year. Nearly 70% already attended a private school, according to Step Up For Students, the nonprofit that administers most of the state's scholarships. Essentially, the voucher program provided state subsidies for families who could already afford to send their children to private schools.
The Florida Parent Teacher Association voiced its concerns with the new model. The association released a statement urging the Legislature to impose strict eligibility requirements on private institutions and nonpublic K-12 schools that receive public dollars through any state-funded voucher, grant or scholarship program.
Those concerns will undoubtedly fall on deaf ears in a Republican-controlled Legislature. As Leonard succinctly and accurately said, "We're in the age of competition."
To monitor proposed changes to Escambia County public schools and find out about more
STATE CHAMPIONS The University of West Florida's Speech and Debate team delivered an outstanding performance at the Florida Intercollegiate Forensic Association State Championship Tournament, securing several state titles and top placements across diverse events. The competition, hosted at the University of Central Florida on Feb. 22-23, featured participants from 11 Florida universities.
UWF's Reader Theater ensemble, composed of six students—Asher Anderson, Michaela Jacobs, Gabrielle Minter, Taylor Parry, Charlie Kern and Tuesday Williams—won the state championship in their category. Their winning 20-minute theatrical production, written by Dr. Adam Blood, UWF Speech and Debate director, explored the theme of students finding community within Speech and Debate teams.
"The students on this team did a phenomenal job representing UWF," Blood said. "These tournaments at the end of the season are the result of months of research, practice, preparation and coaching. I'm immeasurably proud of the performances they put forward."
Senior communications major Jacobs achieved remarkable success, winning the state champion title in prose interpretation, second place in persuasive speaking and fifth place in after-dinner speaking. As one of only two competitors selected to represent Florida at Nashville's prestigious Interstate Oratory Association contest, Jacobs expressed her gratitude: "I am honored and elated to represent UWF on a state level. While I'm incredibly proud of my team for taking home awards, this activity has taught me the importance of the journey rather than the destination."
Kern secured a state championship in communication analysis and placed fourth in impromptu speaking, demonstrating exceptional analytical and adaptability skills.
Dr. Kelly Carr, chair of the UWF Department of Communication, commended the team: "Our debaters work hard every day under the expert guidance of Dr. Adam Blood, and these results are a testimony to their dedication."
For more information about the Speech and Debate team and the Department of Communication Arts, visit uwf.edu/commarts.
GET THE MERCEDES Escambia County Commissioners are evaluating a substantial renovation of the 40-year-old Pensacola Bay Center, with potential plans that could exceed $47 million.
During Committee of the Whole meeting last week, ASM Global representatives presented renovation concepts and requested a twoyear contract extension while planning proceeds. ASM Global, which has managed the facility since its opening, offered to fund up to $200,000 for feasibility and design studies as part of the extension.
Commissioner Steven Barry suggested modifying the agreement to state that ASM would provide the studies without specifying a dollar amount.
The Bay Center is already undergoing $10 million in improvements funded by Tourist Development Tax revenue approved last year. These upgrades include a new ice plant, ice floor, retractable seating, parking lot repaving, improved fencing and sound and lighting enhancements, scheduled for completion by September.
Bay Center manager Michael Capps reported improved financial performance, with the facility's operating subsidy reduced from preCOVID levels. Revenue from events and concessions has increased significantly, with hockey games now generating $40,000-$50,000 per game compared to $10,000 in 2020.
Commissioner Lumon May emphasized the center's importance as a "quality of life venue" for the community, suggesting involvement from other stakeholders including the City of Pensacola and Escambia County School Board.
"If people are going to have input, they have to have input with dollars," May said. "It should be a universal center that's being used all the time. From graduations to high school games to all-star games, those types of things would provide a great quality of life for the citizens of Escambia County."
"If people are going to have input, they have to have input with dollars." Lumon May
Chairman Mike Kohler expressed frustration with the lack of progress in updating the facility over the past 25 years, warning, "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less."
Commissioners emphasized that improvements should be significant and long-lasting.
"I don't think our goal is to spend as little as we can," Commissioner Steve Stroberger said. "I think we want something that's going to last."
Commissioner May added, "Let's shoot for the stars and figure out how to pay for it once we get what the desires of the community are. We're trying to get the top of the line. So let's figure out what we want, what we need, and then let's figure out how to finance it."
Visit Pensacola CEO Darien Schaefer advocated for conference space, noting that the organization has identified 280 potential events interested in coming to Pensacola but unable to do so due to inadequate facilities.
"There are people that are flying into Pensacola that then go to Mobile or they're going over to Orange Beach or they're going to Destin," Schaefer explained.
"I think we're going to move forward in a very timely manner," Kohler concluded. "There's not a cheaper time to build than today."
KUDOS, QUINT Pensacola's Quint Studer has been recognized with the prestigious 2025 Baldrige Foundation Leadership Excellence Award. The Pensacola Blue Wahoos principal owner and Healthcare Plus Solutions Group co-founder is among just four healthcare lead -
ers nationwide to receive this distinguished honor this year.
This recognition builds upon Studer's longstanding relationship with the Baldrige framework. In 2010, his company Studer Group was one of only seven U.S. organizations to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, representing the pinnacle of organizational performance excellence.
"The Baldrige framework made them better," Studer has explained about organizations his firm worked with. "And some of them ended up receiving the Baldrige Award. We decided to go through the process too. We applied for the Baldrige Award several times and finally won. It was exciting, but more important, it made us better."
Studer's impact on healthcare quality has been transformative throughout his career. In 1999, he was recruited to turn around Baptist Hospital's struggling performance metrics. Under his leadership, patient satisfaction skyrocketed to 99%, employee turnover plummeted from 30% to 12%, and the hospital added $1.8 million to its bottom line. This remarkable turnaround culminated in Baptist Hospital winning its own Baldrige award in 2004.
Fred Donovan, who served as chairman of the Baptist Health Care System board and CEO of Baskerville Donovan, recalled the pivotal decision to hire Studer: "We knew we had to do something about that. Who's number one in the nation? It was Holy Cross, and this guy, Quint Studer, was running it. We brought him down a couple of times. And then, finally, we hired him and made him the president of Baptist Hospital."
Today, Studer continues his mission to improve healthcare through Healthcare Plus Solutions Group (HPSG), which he co-founded with business partner Dan Collard. The organization specializes in helping healthcare systems diagnose and address their most critical challenges to achieve sustainable results.
"At HPSG, we continue to live by the principles Baldrige stands for," Studer said. "We never stop trying to get stronger and better. We feel we owe it to our partners."
Studer's influence extends well beyond the healthcare sector. He has been instrumental in Pensacola's revitalization through multiple initiatives, including founding the Studer Community Institute to advance early brain development and leadership training, and the Center for Civic Engagement to bring community best practices to the area.
Together with his wife Rishy, Studer has demonstrated extraordinary philanthropy, supporting numerous community institutions, including the Studer Family Children's Hospital, Baptist Healthcare Behavioral Medicine Center, Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA, University of West Florida, IHMC and many other local organizations.
HELLO PENSACOLA VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering (VT MAE) has announced plans to close its Mobile, Ala. facility. The company will transition its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities to its facilities San Antonio,
Texas, and the Pensacola International Airport over the coming months.
The move is part of a strategic capacity transition plan aimed at optimizing operations and enhancing competitiveness in the global airframe MRO market, according to company statements.
Alvin Bass, general manager of VT MAE, described the decision as "difficult" and emphasized it followed "long and careful consideration of multiple factors and options." Bass expressed gratitude for the company's 30-year history in Mobile, noting, "We deeply value our long-standing relationship with the Mobile community."
The company has committed to providing comprehensive support to affected employees, including potential redeployment opportunities at other U.S. facilities, as well as outplacement and transition assistance. VT MAE will also work with state and city officials, landlords and industry partners to ensure a smooth transition.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves welcomed the news as positive for his community, stating: "Pensacola has positioned itself as a hub for aerospace innovation and workforce excellence, a testament to the strength and growth of our aviation sector. As mayor, I look forward to the growth in our community. This announcement reinforces our commitment to creating high-quality career opportunities and further strengthens Pensacola's role in the industry."
The transition is expected to be completed within the next few months, with the company pledging to "manage the transition responsibly while ensuring seamless service continuity for our customers."
VT MAE is part of ST Engineering, a global technology, defense, and engineering group headquartered in Singapore with operations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S. The parent company serves customers in more than 100 countries with diverse businesses spanning aerospace, smart city, defense and public security segments.
ICE AGREEMENT Escambia County Sheriff
Chip Simmons recently detailed his office's expanding role in immigration enforcement, enhanced security protocols for public events and growing community engagement initiatives.
Under Florida's Senate Bill SB 2C, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis in February, the Sheriff's Office has established a memorandum of understanding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This agreement will eventually allow specially trained deputies to serve administrative warrants for immigration violations.
"We've been having this discussion with all the sheriffs throughout the state because there's a lot of moving parts, and it's fluid," Simmons explained.
The implementation requires specialized "287(g)" training for corrections employees or deputies. Rather than creating a new unit, Simmons indicated his office would likely train existing warrant section members to handle these duties. The program gives deputies access to approximately 700,000 administrative
warrants in the National Crime Intelligence Center database.
Following the New Year's domestic terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Sheriff Simmons has strengthened security measures for public events, including the recent Mardi Gras parade at Pensacola Beach. For this event, which spans less than a mile, the Sheriff's Office deployed about 50 deputies along with barricades and mobile response capabilities.
"You always try to learn from situations as they happen," Simmons said. "We borrow from other incidents that take place throughout the country, throughout the world."
The department is expanding its surveillance infrastructure, working with the Island Authority to install cameras on the boardwalk area that will connect to the real-time crime center this year. Plans are also in place to add cameras to the Casino Beach area.
"I'm very excited about the cooperation," Simmons said. "I'm very excited about the work that we've put in the technology mending or melding with the manpower."
As his current three-year budget agreement expires, Sheriff Simmons reported positive progress in negotiations with the county commission. While not sharing specific details, he expressed confidence that public safety remains a high priority for Escambia County.
On staffing, Simmons noted his department has overcome previous vacancy challenges. With only six current openings and additional candidates in the pipeline, he expects to be fully staffed when the next training academy begins in late March.
In his second term, Sheriff Simmons is building on successful community programs while expanding their reach. The Blazer Academy program will continue with both boys' and girls' sessions and will add an alumni component to reconnect with past participants. The popular "Dream Big" program for children ages 5 to 11 will be expanded to two sessions after the first filled up within two hours.
Community movie nights will continue, focusing on reaching neighborhoods where residents can walk to attend. Additionally, a new mini-auditorium is being developed in the former camera visitation building to host neighborhood associations, safety workshops, and training sessions.
"When we do our safety in a place of worship, we do our neighborhood watch academies, we do these things, we can get people in there and have a big screen behind me," Simmons said. "This, to me, is taking that next step of having the sheriff's office become very much a part of the community."
PRESSER TAKEAWAYS
During a March 4 press conference, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves updated the media on several ongoing city initiatives, highlighted recent successes and addressed upcoming events and developments across the city.
Reeves began by reporting on the success -
ful implementation of enhanced safety measures during the recent Mardi Gras festivities, which included closing Main Street and adding additional security barriers. "We've received almost no complaints about the additional safety measures," Reeves noted, adding that the feedback from the public was positive, with many appreciating the increased security presence.
The weekend saw tens of thousands of visitors, with Pensacola International Airport reporting a 20% increase in traffic compared to the same period last year, with Saturday and Sunday traffic up 25%.
The mayor shared positive news regarding the Baptist Hospital redevelopment, announcing that five proposals have been received and are within budget parameters. "We're certainly pleased and very optimistic that we have the budget to get it done," Reeves said.
The bid process is ongoing, with a winning bidder expected to be selected in the first week of April. The project, which includes contributions from the city, county and state, is considered crucial for addressing housing needs and revitalizing the area surrounding the legacy campus.
Reeves also addressed the recent acquisition of Gibson School, emphasizing that while this is a long-term project, the primary goal was to preserve a historical site in Pensacola. The initial focus is on securing historic designations to unlock potential funding opportunities, with the mayor acknowledging that specific development plans are still several phases away.
The mayor addressed Silver Airways' Chapter 11 filing and the cancellation of Orlando flights, noting that Silver constitutes only about 3% of the airport's total traffic. He also mentioned that the airport terminal construction project will be phased, with some work beginning this summer and the complete project expected to take approximately two years.
Regarding city infrastructure, Reeves discussed ongoing efforts to address the "bridge can opener" issue at the Graffiti Bridge, revealing that the city is exploring a laser-based warning system in partnership with FDOT. He also explained the rationale behind plans to convert MLK and Davis from one-way to twoway streets, citing improved neighborhood safety and pedestrian-friendly considerations.
The mayor emphasized the city's growing maritime presence, discussing how American Magic and events like Foiling Week are positioning Pensacola as a premier sailing destination. "The bread and butter of the economic benefits for American Magic is going to be in events like Foiling Week," Reeves explained, noting that such events bring visitors from all over the world and create economic opportunities that extend beyond the port.
Among other announcements, Reeves celebrated the city's housing department receiving its first "high performer" rating from HUD since 2017, recognizing their work in providing rental assistance to approximately 1,850 households monthly throughout the county. {in}
By Rick Outzen
about the PBMs, it's going to continue to
and it's going to get uglier and uglier."
Photo by Christine Brewster
and how our culture sometimes operates to the detriment of an entire demographic."
He continued, "It's a good thing for a writer, too. You'll never write a good chapter if you don't have a little anger. You must have anger that you can call on and say, 'Damnit, this is wrong.'"
THE ART OF WRITING
Papantonio's approach to writing is as unorthodox as it is effective. Unlike many authors who meticulously outline their books, he admires how author James Lee Burke, best known for Dave Robicheaux series, develops his novels.
"James Lee Burke has never sat down and done an outline of his book," he said. "My books move organically. You finish a chapter, and then you have this eureka moment."
His writing schedule is rigorous: four hours at the office, another two hours at home and two more hours early the next morning—typically starting around 4:30 or 5 a.m. One technique he employs is to stop writing when he's in the middle of a particularly good section.
"If I'm writing a chapter and I'm saying, that's really a good chapter, and I know right where it's going to go in my head, but I don't finish the chapter, come back to the chapter the next day, pick up where you left off," he explains. This approach helps maintain momentum and prevents writer's block.
For Papantonio, writing comes from personal knowledge and emotional investment. "Begin with what you know," he advises aspiring authors. His books draw heavily from his experiences as a litigator taking on powerful corporate interests.
The author lives with his characters, envisioning them so completely that he knows "what actor's going to play" each role and "all the little ticks they have." This immersive approach allows his characters to take on lives of their own, often steering the narrative in unexpected directions.
Papantonio sees parallels between trial law and fiction writing. Both require adaptation and quick thinking rather than rigid adherence to a plan.
"I can go to trial and have all this preparation, but I can't do an outline of how the trial's going to go," he said. "This testimony just took place. OK, let me move here ... And it's the same way writing a book."
This fluid approach to storytelling has served him well in his nine books to date—three nonfic-
tion works and six novels, with a seventh fiction title coming next year.
Beyond entertainment, Papantonio's novels serve a deeper purpose: to educate readers about real issues in an engaging format. He hopes someone "may be on the beach reading the book in the middle of the summer, and they'll come out from reading the book and say, 'I wonder if this is true.'"
This desire to inform stems from a lifelong commitment to confronting injustice. Growing up during segregation and later working as a journalist covering corporate misconduct shaped his worldview and writing.
"I've always been drawn to say that I have something to say that I think is important," Papantonio said. "For me not to say it is just indifference, and indifference is a very dangerous thing, especially when you have the ability and resources. To be indifferent about things that are just patently wrong is the ugliest thing I can imagine."
REAL LIFE MIDDLEMEN
PBMs were initially created to help insurers and employers control drug costs by negotiating discounts with pharmaceutical manufacturers. However, a New York Times investigation last year revealed these companies have established sophisticated systems allowing them to charge employers and government programs multiple times the wholesale price of medications—retaining substantial profits rather than passing savings on to consumers.
"A PBM was a creation by corporate America," Papantonio said. "When we started seeing doctor hospitals being bought up by Wall Street, we started seeing all these iterations of new industry ... and out of that, you had all of these kind of carpet baggers."
He continued, "The very best scammers in the country from Wall Street and some small part of the healthcare industry said, 'Let's come up with a system. We'll tell the American public that we're going to protect them from not having to pay high rates for their medicine, protect them from price gouging and give them this notion of what the best medicine is.'"
The three largest PBMs—CVS Caremark, Cigna's Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group's Optum Rx—now control prescription benefits for more than 200 million Americans.
"The American public believes the PBM is there to help them," Papantonio said. "What's really happening is the PBMs are buying up phar-
LAW AND DISORDER
(2016)
Nicholas "Deke" Deketomis has built a highly successful law practice but must fight for his career and freedom. A Bible-thumping preacher, an ambitious district attorney and two malicious brothers, who run one of the country's biggest oil corporations, conspire to bring down him by setting him up on a bogus murder charge.
LAW AND VENGEANCE (2018)
Gina Romano is a highly successful trial lawyer with the Bergman/Deketomis law firm. The murder of her mentor turns her life into a quest
macies, doing backdoor deals with the manufacturer and controlling drug prices."
The vertical business strategy puts the PBMs owned by manufacturers and pharmaceutical chains in control of the supply chain. According to Papantonio, PBMs profit from drug manufacturer rebates, which are essentially payments from drug manufacturers to PBMs to ensure their medications are placed favorably on formularies. As Papantonio put it bluntly, "A rebate is nothing different than a kickback."
The situation is particularly dire for federally qualified health centers (FQHC) like Community Health Northwest Florida. In 2023, their pharmacy reported receiving 34% less reimbursement than typical pharmacies due to PBM contracts for the 340B program.
Established in 1992, this federal initiative requires pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in Medicaid to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to community health centers and safety-net hospitals that serve low-income and uninsured patients. The program allowed hospitals and FQHC clinics to reduce outpatient drug prices for patients and expand health services. However, the reimbursement reduction has forced cuts in services.
LEGAL CHALLENGES MOUNT
In September, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took notice and launched legal action against the "Big 3 PBMs"—Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx. The FTC accused them of inflating insulin prices and steering patients toward higher-cost insulin products to increase profits. The PBMs have denied these accusations, with representatives arguing they're being unfairly blamed for high drug prices set by manufacturers.
"This baseless action demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of how drug pricing works," said Elizabeth Hoff of Optum Rx in the New York Times.
However, insulin prices have soared over the past 20 years, even though the drug costs only $2 to produce. In 1999, a vial of insulin cost about $21. By 2017, that same vial cost $275, according to IBM Watson Health. The American Diabetes Association reported that insulin spending nearly tripled from $8 billion in 2012 to $22.3 billion in 2022.
The result? Papantonio said, "We know people must choose: Can I get Insulin or buy
PREVIOUS DEKE DEKETOMIS THRILLERS
for vengeance. In consort with partner Deke Deketomis, Gina runs headlong into a life-anddeath struggle against weapons manufacturers, a gun rights lobbyist, psychopathic Chicago police, a hi-tech genius assassin and the U.S. Department of Justice.
LAW AND ADDICTION
(2019)
One week before his law school graduation, Jake Rutledge is shattered after his fraternal twin dies of a drug overdose. Jake returns to his hometown of Oakley, West Virginia, to discover that the entire region has been ravaged by the opioid epidemic insidiously planned and
food? Can I get insulin, or should I make my rent payment? That's how bad it is in this country."
Papantonio's firm, Levin Papantonio, is part of a legal consortium that has targeted insulin overpricing. The consortium's lawsuits allege drug manufacturers and PBMs have artificially inflated insulin prices. The litigation includes cases brought by state attorneys general and represents local governments.
Many local governments with self-funded healthcare plans have had to pay whatever prices the PBMs dictate. The only way for them to get a "reality check" on these costs is to pursue legal action against the PBMs. The lawsuits aim to reimburse governments for past insulin overpayments and seek punitive damages and injunctive relief to ensure insulin costs are set at a reasonable rate.
When asked about the timeline for potential changes, Papantonio foresees possible movement on the issue. "I think it can happen within the next three years. We're going to start seeing some real confusion on this."
He notes that addressing PBM practices has rare bipartisan potential. "This could actually come to an end with the Republican administration because Trump has got to fix the problem. He's got to bring the cost of medicine down for the elderly."
Papantonio believes his former law partner, Bobby Kennedy Jr., will address the PBM issue as Secretary of the Health and Human Services (HHS).
"He knows what's going on here," Papantonio said. "Somebody's going to be looking at it."
Papantonio suggests Kennedy's knowledge of the situation could lead to greater scrutiny of PBMs, potentially requiring them to show their records regarding rebates and administrative fees from pharmaceutical manufacturers, which he characterizes as a "total utter fraud."
He said, "What is it about the American healthcare system that is causing extreme price increases to the point where people can't even get healthcare anymore? The PBM is number one on my list."
The controversial subjects, like insulin overcharging, human trafficking and the opioid epidemic, drive both Papantonio's legal career and fiction.
In "The Middleman," he offers readers not just a gripping story of corporate corruption but a window into the issues that motivate one of America's most prominent trial attorneys to pick up his pen and fight for justice—one page at a time. {in}
carried out by one of America's most powerful pharmaceutical companies.
INHUMAN TRAFFICKING (2021)
Deke Deketomis targets Welcome Mat Hospitality, a firm known for its truck stops and lodging throughout the U.S. What Welcome Mat doesn't advertise is the human trafficking—for sex work and slave labor—going on at many of its properties. As invested as Deke is in the case, though, it takes on even greater urgency when the past comes calling with word that his 15-year-old goddaughter has fallen prey to a notorious trafficker.
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY (2024)
The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars introduced the concept of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and EFPs (explosively formed penetrators) that seriously maim or kill. It appears that these bombs are still being made and utilized by terrorists overseas. Who is financing them? Deke and his colleagues—co-counsel Michael Carey and investigators Carol Morris and Jake Rutledge—set out to uncover the deceit and bring the white-collar criminals to justice.
To learn about these novels, visit mikepapantonio.com.
Arts & Entertainment
Pushing Pensacola Forward
By Savannah Evanoff
tion of 100 Black Women works—and they work hard. If there's one thing LaTricia Moorer wants the community to know about them, it's that.
As Women of Excellence Week approaches, the chairwoman points out it isn't just an award show to honor the remarkable Black women who have made significant contributions to the Pensacola community in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment—though it does. It, too, is a week of service for the excellent women hosting it, including a highway clean-up, prom dress giveaway and third annual awards gala and silent auction.
Moorer explained it isn't a sorority or social club.
"We bring things together; we mentor," Moorer said. "We have STEAM programs. Right now, we have a coding program for young girls and boys. We have this Women of Excellence Week … we provide senior mentoring programs, grandparent days—where we come together and foster relationships between the grandchildren and grandparents. We give scholarships away. We've given over $300,000 in scholarships. We try to provide resources. That's who we are as a coalition."
Women of Excellence Week will kick off Saturday, March 15, with the Adopt-A-Highway two-mile clean-up on Navy Boulevard between Martha Avenue and Tyrone Drive.
about," Moorer said. "You'll see us out there, probably looking more like we're having a good time more than cleaning, but we will actually be cleaning."
The following Saturday, March 20, is their first prom dress giveaway—by appointment and registration only.
Ivy Watkins, the Women of Excellence media coordinator, said they solicited the community for new gowns or ones worn only once for a wedding or event.
"Prom season is so important; it culminates your high school experience," Watkins said.
"There's a lot of pressure on young ladies to look the part, and some choose not to attend their prom, and that can end up being a lifelong regret that they didn't go because they didn't have the means. We want to allow young ladies in need to be able to feel good about themselves, have a memorable night with their friends, or if they have a date, they can show up confident and beautiful and have a great time."
Moorer was one of those young women who didn't attend her prom. As number five of six children, money was tight, she said.
"Because of the regret, I wanted to make sure I was able to help young ladies not have what I've lived with," Moorer said. " … Any opportunity that you can share with young ladies and young men that will show them something different. That's my desire with young people in general, to intro -
duce them to things that may be a little strange to them or outside of their comfort zone, or just to stretch the imagination on what they could be."
"As this initiative grows, it is our desire to give a couple young ladies a full experience—from makeup, hair, the dress, the dinner, the vehicle, the full experience of being a princess and just exploring something different than they would have been able to explore without it," Moorer added.
Watkins has participated in a similar philanthropic endeavor, she said.
"We had them come down to the library and try on dresses, and it just lights them up to be able to see those pretty gowns," Watkins said. "They're like, 'For free?'"
Saturday, March 22, will mark their third annual award gala, though the chapter did have a similar program years ago. They decided to reignite the idea for the community for Women's History Month.
"Nationally, our standards are to provide advocacy for Black women and girls in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment," Moorer said. "From that, it was easy to choose which awards to give out: health, economic empowerment and education."
This year's gala and silent auction is called "Shades of Melanin: Advocating & Moving the Needle!"
They solicit the community for names and, with the Committee of Women of Excellence and leadership Board, decide on three finalists and a winner. There's four awards total, including a Presidential Award—last year given to Marie Young, a longtime local educator and the first Black woman to serve on the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners.
"We've given away awards to doctors and attorneys and women not only that they've done the work to get the title, but they are still advocating in this community," Moorer said. "They are still giving back to the young people in this community, or just to the community as a whole."
While this year's membership season is over, women can still support the chapter's events and reach out to be informed of next year's window for applications. With an estimated 57 members, their hope is to reach a true 100.
"Our president is Linda Presley Robinson, and when she came in, our membership was
low," Moorer said. "She had a vision to bring in 50 women, and I think she has brought in at least 30 of those 50. It's to be commended, the work she has cultivated in this organization."
They all give up their time, and they all work, Moorer said.
"I also want everyone to know that we are indeed a sisterhood," Moorer said. "We laugh; we joke. I can call [Watkins] at any time. We had our Valentine brunch last Saturday where we just enjoyed and laughed. And we are not a standalone coalition. We have to attend national leadership conferences that teach us how to advocate, how to move in the community, how to bring forth these standards. We don't stand alone on this, and it is crafted so we can push the community forward."
"We socialize to keep our sisterhood strong, but we also work our fingers to the bone, bringing quality education and programs of awareness and to the community," Watkins added. "It's a great program to be a part of. It does not require a certain level of degree in education to join. It's about your work ethic and your commitment to the community and the needs of the people. Joining is really something that's helping to grow, build and empower others." {in}
WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE WEEK EVENTS
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY
TWO-MILE CLEAN-UP
WHEN: 9 a.m. meet up, 10 a.m. clean up Saturday, March 15
WHERE: Navy Boulevard between Martha Avenue and Tyrone Drive
PROM DRESS GIVEAWAY
WHEN: Noon-6 p.m. Thursday, March 20
(appointment and registration required)
WHERE: Black Cafe' & Bookstore, 3498 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
THIRD ANNUAL AWARDS GALA & SILENT AUCTION
WHEN: 5 p.m. Saturday, March 22
WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn San Carlos Ballroom, 1144 Airport Blvd.
COST: $55 single tickets, group tables available
For more information, contact woepensacola@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/nc100bwpensacola.
Courtesy Photo
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
KITES ON THE COAST Council on Aging of West Florida will bring high-flying, intergenerational fun back to Pensacola's Casino Beach on Friday, March 14-Sunday, March 16 for its fourth annual kite festival. This free, three-day celebration brings together spectators of all ages to experience the magic of kite flying while supporting vital services for local seniors. Visit coawfla.org for details.
SILENT AUCTION FOR SAVE OUR SHELTERS Bid on a variety of items and support spay and neuter services through March 18. A "Lucky Dog" (St Patrick's celebration) fundraiser will take place at the Happy Dog Resort, 1401 W. Cervantes St. For more information, contact sossaveourshelters@gmail.com.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market Street, Cantonment. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG Enjoy this Pensacola Little Theatre production with showtimes 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, Saturday, March 15 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 16. PLT is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets and information are available at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
PENARTS OPEN MIC
Share your art and support other local talent at this open mic 7-10 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at The Gordon, 306 N. De Villiers St. Admission is free.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND: SPACE JAM
Watch the 1996 film "Space Jam" under the stars Friday, March 14 at the Gulfside Pavilion stage on Casino Beach. Movies start at sunset. For more information, visit facebook.com/visitpensacolabeach.
PENSACOLA MESS HALL CELEBRATES PI
DAY Celebrate Pi Day with pies (both pizza and dessert) from area restaurants 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 14. Pensacola MESS Hall is located at 418 E.
Wright St. Tickets are $30. Details are at pensacolamesshall.org.
JAPAN-U.S. MILITARY PROGRAM The 10th annual Japan-U.S. Military Program (JUMP) is 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at the SCI Building, 220 W. Garden St. This free event, presented by the Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida and sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami, is a salute to the U.S. military in Japan.
Speakers will include the Honorable Junya Nakano, Consul General of the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami; Rear Adm. James D. "Jamie" Kelly, USN (Ret.), former commander of Naval Forces Japan; and Dr. Matthew Perry, descendent of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, the U.S. naval officer whose 1853 expedition ended Japan's isolationist period. Rear Adm. Kelly and Dr. Perry will speak via Zoom. Following the formal program, a reception will be held with Japanese food and drink. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact info@jasnwfl.org or call (850) 602-7049.
PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS: LEONCAVALLO'S PAGLIACCI Performance dates are 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 14 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets are available at pensacolaopera.com.
BOOK READING WITH LOCAL AUTHOR
Local author Christine Kapanga will read her children's book "Conner's Adventure: Finding Friends at the Zoo" 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Barnes & Noble, 1200 Airport Blvd. Event is free and open to readers of all ages.
10TH ANNUAL NAVY POINTS ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR Shop more than 43 vendors 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Navy Point Park, 315 W. Sunset Ave.
THIRD ANNUAL SPRING OUTDOOR FLEA
MARKER EXTRAVAGANZA Shop for treasures 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. Admission is $2. Children 12 and younger are free to enter. All net proceeds will go to Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Food trucks will be on site.
JOHN LENNON PHOTO EXHIBIT BY MAY
PANG See a collection of private photographs from May Pang taken during her relationship with John Lennon during late 1973-1975. The exhibit will be on view Friday, March 14-Sunday, March 16 at Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox St. Admission is free.
THE ANCIENT ART OF PIT FIRING This immersive workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore one of the oldest and most communal methods of ceramic firing, transforming clay into art with earth, fire and natural elements. Event is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at Native Plant Company, 1190 Christmas Tree Road. Sliding scale suggested payment is $80. Limited to 30 participants. Visit enikoujj.com/workshop/ or email pitfiredceramics@gmail.com for more information and to register.
CELTIC ANGELS IRELAND Watch Celtic Knight Dancers and the Trinity Band Ensemble
of Dublin. Show is 7 p.m. Monday, March 17 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.
SUNRISE ON THE REAPING BOOK RELEASE PARTY Join Bodacious Bookstore for a book release party with giveaways, games and more 7-8 a.m. Tuesday, March 18 at the bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St. Tickets are $40 and available on Eventbrite. Tickets include a copy of "Sunrise on the Reaping," a café drink and light snacks.
HADESTOWN Broadway in Pensacola performance is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 20 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.
VERNAL EQUINOX PLANT SWAP AT ODD COLONY Celebrate spring with new plants and also check out a spring T-shirt release and floral saison release at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. 4-9 p.m. Thursday, March 20. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.
BLUE MORNING GALLERY: SPRING FLING
The latest Blue Morning Gallery exhibit is Spring Fling with featured artists Jan Hoffman, Mark Schmitt and Kathy Stewart. The gallery is located at 21 S. Palafox St. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
RISING TIDE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN
DEPP This exhibition is part of Ben Depp's ongoing project documenting the rapidly shifting landscape of Southern Louisiana. Depp has been flying above the bayous and wetlands of Southern Louisiana in a powered paraglider for 10 years, photographing the visual clues that tell the story of this place and its destruction. Exhibit on view through Friday, April 4 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for hours.
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 View an exhibit by 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 are at facebook.com/ thebrentlofts.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony,
260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
FARM FRESH PASTA COOKING CLASS Class is 6-9 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $80 and available through Eventbrite.
THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER WITH EXECUTIVE CHEF JASON HUGHES This event with special guests Grayson Beer Oyster Co. and Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $50 a person and includes five courses and four beverages. Seating is limited. Make your reservation by calling (850) 287-0200 or emailing taylor@goodgrits.com.
SAUCY SKILLS Cooking class is 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 14 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave.
happenings
Unit C. Cost is $60 per student (adults only). Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classes-and-events.
THE DINNER DETECTIVE COMEDY
MYSTERY DINNER SHOW Show is 6-9 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Hilton Garden Inn, 8 S. Ninth Ave. Details and tickets are at thedinnerdetective.com.
KOMBUCHA PAIRING DINNER Hosted by Sage in Bloom and Wild Magnolia, this dinner is 5-9 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Gather, A Culinary Collective, 41 S. Navy Blvd. Details and tickets are at pensacolacatering6.wordpress.com/upcomingevents-collaborations.
ANNUAL CRAWFISH & BLUEGRASS
JAMBOREE AT ODD COLONY Enjoy Cub's Crawfish served with sides noon-5 p.m. or until sold out Sunday, March 16 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Enjoy live music from The String Farm Band 1-4 p.m.
38TH ANNUAL PENSACOLA BEACH ST.
PADDY'S DAY PUB CRAWL
The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce presents the 38th annual Pensacola Beach St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl on Monday, March 17 kicking off at 9 a.m. at Crabs on the Beach with a drink or from Paddy O' Leary's Irish Pub for a Catholic mass with Bishop William A. Wack and Monsignor Luke Hunt, which also begins at 9 a.m. Find details and a full list of stops at pensacolabeachchamber.com/stpaddys-day-pub-crawl.
O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB CELEBRATES ST. PATRICK'S DAY WEEKEND O'Riley's locations will celebrate St. Patrick's Day all weekend long with drink specials and events. O'Riley's Uptown Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road, will host a party Monday, March 17 with a live DJ, games, prizes and more. There is a $5 cover to enter. At O'Riley's downtown, 321 S. Palafox St., will be drink specials all weekend and the Grog March 4-11 p.m. Saturday, March 15 benefitting Manna Food Pantries. Details can be found at facebook.com/orileysirishpub.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT SEVILLE QUARTER
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., on Friday, March 14-Monday, March 17 with Irish-themed drink and food specials and a special kissing of the Blarney Stone. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.
COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: BACON TO BARBECUE Cooking class is 5:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 a person. Reservations are required. Make yours by emailing marthaanne@goodgrits.com or calling (850) 777-0412.
CULTURE'S COOK: ETHIOPIAN CUISINE
Pensacola Cooks class is 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 23 at 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Cost is $60 per student. Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classesand-events.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft
beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy
Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PERFECT PLAIN Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for trivia nights 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at 50 E. Garden St. Visit perfectplain.com/upcoming-events for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m., and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
a&e happenings
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 are 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
WEEKLY SINGO AT PERFECT PLAIN BREWING CO. Music Bingo Thursdays is 7-9 p.m. at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
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
TOBYMAC Performance is 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and information are at pensacolabaycenter.com.
THE MOVEMENT Show is 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 14 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets are at vinylmusichall.com.
PENSACOLA HARDCORE SHOWCASE Show is 7 p.m. Friday, March 14 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Cost is $15. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
THE FOUR HORSEMAN Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets are at vinylmusichall.com.
BEN LOFTIN & THE FAMILY, JOHN HART
PROJECT Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Cost is $15$20. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
MILLY, GARAGE SALE, KAIRO, PALMMEADOW, GARDEN DWELLER Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, March 16 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Cost is $12-$15. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
VASTI JACKSON Blues guitarist Vasti Jackson performs at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., 4 p.m. Sunday, March 16. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
RUGH, OTHER Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
GLORIOUS FLAWS, OUTLOOK BLEAK, WILD CHARGE Show is 7 p.m. Friday, March 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
STRIVE FUNDRAISER BENEFIT SHOW Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15 and available at thehandlebar850.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. 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.
By C. Scott Satterwhite
Songs for Falling in Love and Fighting Fascism
"My dad was a poet. My parents were puppeteers," Kirk said. "I grew up with my mom singing and playing show tunes."
Kirk credits his parents for inspiring his love of music, art and storytelling. He doesn't limit his artistic credentials to children's books.
"I guess you could say I'm an all-around creative person," Kirk said.
His musical interests, however, could be pinpointed to one moment in 1964. Kirk, a baby boomer, saw The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and his life immediately changed, he said.
"Seeing the Beatles made me want to pick up a guitar and sing," Kirk said.
Kirk's father bought him a guitar, and he's played music ever since. While he was in school, however, the students were eventually given two artistic tracks: music or art. Despite his love of The
Beatles, Kirk chose art and eventually grew to become one of the most well-known authors of children's books in America.
His popular picture book series "Library Mouse" and the "Elf Realm" trilogy have made Kirk a highly respected author in his field. But despite the childhood-Kirk choosing the art over music, this "all-around creative person" has always kept one foot on both paths.
"Dan has always been a musician, ever since I've known him," said Julia Gorton, Kirk's wife, as well as a photographer.
Gorton is in Pensacola to co-curate a photo show at 309 Punk Project and announce the winner of the 2025 Julia Gorton Photography Award. Kirk is the headliner for her photo exhibition's closing event Thursday, March 20.
"He's written songs, and he's played in a band (ABCD) with neighbors and friends from our town … for the past 10 years," Gorton said. "Before that he was in a rock band and they played in bars and at parties."
Kirk has also written music for some of his children's books, but in general, the two worlds have been separate.
"I think Dan writes some really beautiful and heartfelt songs, and I'm always happy to hear his band when they play out," Gorton said. "He works really hard at it but makes it seem effortless."
ALSO ON THE LINEUP
Besides Kirk, several performers are on the evening's bill, including musician Sunflower Cigarettes, and poets Dakota Parks and Jamey Jones.
The former Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida, Jones will read from his newly-released book "Under the Big Span of Small Regards." A collection of seven out-of-print chapbooks, Jones described his book as a gathering of poetry from his time "working as a poet doing all sorts of odd jobs."
"This book is representational of my life at that time," he said.
Jones will also read at Open Books to celebrate the release of his book.
"It's like that work has been hidden for years, making only 25 to 50 copies of each chapbook," Jones said. "Now that it's all in print, I feel like it's done."
While Kirk has never performed at 309, Jones has done so on several occasions.
"309 means so much to me," Jones said. "It's a great piece of our community—a beacon of sanity."
Sunflower Cigarettes, an up-and-coming artist otherwise known as Adrien McFarland, also looks forward to performing at the event.
"I see it as a great opportunity to connect with artists in my community and learn from those who have been fighting the good fight longer than I have," McFarland said. "As a young artist, I know I have much to learn from those who are experienced in their work and well-versed in these spaces. I am extremely grateful to be part of an event whose focus is sharing a love for art, creation and beauty that transcends generation or demographic."
If nothing else, this show will demonstrate the intergenerational connections between the punk and artistic communities—with Kirk's political work tying the two worlds together.
"When Bush was president, I wrote songs about how horrible those times were," Kirk said. "When Trump was first elected [in 2016], I wrote more protest songs and played various gigs because we were all lefty liberals. Sadly, those songs are all relevant again."
A storyteller by trade, Kirk translates his literary skills into songs. The author pulls from the empathy he brings into his children's books to create stories in verse. From a song about a teenager trying to find work in an economic downturn to an unhoused person showing a newcomer how to survive on the streets, Kirk's songs touch on the social realities of living in 21st-century America.
"I write songs about falling in love and heartbreak, but I also get inspired by politics and write protest songs as if we're all on the same side, feeling the fascists are closing in," Kirk said.
"Art is political. Full stop," McFarland said
in agreement. "Humans, as social animals, are shaped by the sociopolitical conditions we exist within, so by nature it is impossible for art to be apolitical. Expression is a radical thing, especially in times where institutions seek to limit expression and coerce subservience."
"It is crucial during these times to preserve our humanity, and getting together to experience art and awe as a collective, despite constant societal pressure to conform, give in, and give up, is a very special and radical thing in my eyes," McFarland said.
At a moment where protests against rightwing policies are taking place frequently, including over half a dozen recent demonstrations in Pensacola alone, Kirk said many are becoming frustrated with the lack of action on the side of the Democrats. This frustration has led to the author becoming more outspoken in his beliefs.
But he is cautious about mixing his livelihood in children's books with his vocal politics in music.
"So far, I haven't heard any complaints, but if some people don't like it, I don't care. I've got to speak out," Kirk said. {in}
JULIA GORTON'S EXHIBITION CLOSING EVENT
WHAT: Featuring live music by Daniel Kirk and Sunflower Cigarettes, and poetry by Jamey Jones and Dakota Parks
WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 20
WHERE: 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave. COST: Free, donations accepted
DETAILS: 309punkproject.org
JAMEY JONES BOOK EVENT
WHAT: An event celebrating the release of "Under the Big Span of Small Regards"
WHEN: 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16
WHERE : Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. COST: Free
DETAILS: openbookspcola.org
Daniel Kirk / Courtesy Photo
free will astrology
WEEK OF MARCH 13
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) : What can you do to show how much you care about everyone and everything that deserves your love? Now is a fantastic time to unleash a flood of gratitude and appreciation that takes very practical forms. In other words, don't just beam warm and fuzzy feelings toward your favorite people and animals. Offer tangible blessings that will actually enhance their lives. Find your own personally meaningful ways to nourish all that nourishes you.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) : Ancient Egyptians loved the color blue. The mineral azurite and the semiprecious stones turquoise and lapis lazuli satisfied their fascination to some degree but were rare and difficult to work with. So, the Egyptians decided to fabricate their own pigment. After extensive experimentation—using copper, silica and lime—they succeeded. The hue they made is known as Egyptian blue. I heartily endorse a comparable process for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Identify the experience, substance or feeling you really, really want more of, and then resolve to get as much of it as you really, really want.
By Rob Brezsny
and paintings in the Cave of Altamira, located in what we now call Spain. When an early discoverer of the art published his findings in 1880, he was met with derision. Experts accused him of forgery, saying such beautiful and technically proficient works could not have been made by ancient people, who just weren't that smart. Eventually, though, the art was proved to be genuine. I propose we meditate on this as a metaphor for your life. It's possible your abilities may be underestimated, even by you. Hidden potentials and unexpressed capacities may be close to ripening, but they will need your full confidence and boldness. Don't let skepticism, either from your inner critic or others, hold you back.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): In 1977, NASA launched two Voyager probes to study our solar system's outer planets. Their original mission was designed to last a few years. But in 2025, they still continue to send back useful information from the great beyond, far past Uranus and Neptune, and into interstellar space. I suspect now is also a good time for you, Leos, to seek valuable information from adventures you began years ago. Even if those past experiences have not yielded relevant revelations recently, they may soon do so. Be alert for ways to harvest new riches from old memories.
you will be wise to make ma a central theme in the coming weeks. I invite you to research the power of pauses. Rather than filling up every gap, allow space for pregnant blankness. Trust that in being open to vacancy, you will make room for unexpected riches.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Dandelions germinate quickly and grow fast. Because of their deep taproots, they are hardy. Once they establish their presence in a place, they persist. Dandelions are adaptable, too, able to grow anywhere their seeds land, even from cracks in concrete. Their efficient dispersal is legendary. They produce large quantities of lightweight seeds easily carried by the wind. Bees love dandelions in the spring, when there are few other flowers yet to provide them with nectar. I propose we make the dandelion your symbol of power in the coming weeks, Gemini. Be like them! P.S. They are also beautiful in an unostentatious way.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): About 36,000 years ago, humans created remarkable drawings
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): About 3,775 years ago, a Babylonian man named Nanni wrote a crabby letter to Ea-nasir, a merchant who had sold him substandard copper ingots. Nanni was also upset his servant was treated rudely. It is the oldest customer complaint in history. With this as our touchstone, I remind you that maintaining high standards is always crucial for your longterm success. Others may be tempted to cut corners, but your natural integrity is one of your superpowers. Please redouble your commitment to providing highest value, Virgo. And ask for it from others, too.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Blogger Yukiko Kisaki writes about the Japanese concept of ma. She says it's "the emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled. It's the purposeful pauses in a speech that make words stand out; the quiet time we all need to make our busy lives meaningful; the silence between the notes that make the music." According to my analysis, Libra,
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) : The literal meaning of the Japanese word yohen is "kiln mutation." It refers to a type of glaze that undergoes unpredictable variations in color when baked in a kiln. The finished pottery that emerges displays patterns and hues that are a blend of the artist's intention and accidental effects created by the heat. I would love to see you carry out metaphorical versions of yohen in the coming weeks, Scorpio. Suggested meditations: 1. Collaborate to create beauty with energies that aren't entirely manageable. 2. Undertake projects that require both careful preparation and a willingness to adapt to shifting conditions. 3. Engage with opportunities that will have the best outcomes if you relinquish some control.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) : A big party is underway in your astrological House of Self-Understanding and Self-Definition. The near future will be a favorable time to discover yourself in greater depth and bring your identity into clearer focus. I see this mostly as a task for you to carry out in intimate conversation with yourself. It's also fine to solicit the feedback of allies who have insight into your nature, but I urge you to rely heavily on your private investigations. How can you deepen your knowledge of the reasons you are here on Earth? Can you learn more about your dormant potential? Who are you, exactly?
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN.19): Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila was selected by his country to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But the honor was offered shortly before the Games began, and he had to scramble to get there in time. When he arrived for the main event,
he couldn't find any running shoes in local stores that fit comfortably. So, he decided to go barefoot for the 26.2-mile race. Success! He won, setting a new world-record time. I propose we make him your role model, Capricorn. May he inspire you to respond to an apparent scarcity or deficiency by calling on earthy alternatives. May you adjust to a problem by deepening your reliance on your natural self.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) : After being part of two journeys to Antarctica, Aquarian explorer Ernest Shackleton (1874–1922) assembled a team to try what no one had ever done: cross the entire continent on foot with pack dogs and motorized sledges. But the proposed 1,800-mile expedition failed soon after it began. That's when Shackleton did what he is most famous for. His leadership during the harrowing struggle to survive became legendary. I don't think you will face anything remotely resembling his challenges in the coming weeks. But I suspect your response to tests and trials will define your success. As you encounter obstacles, you will treat them as opportunities to showcase your resourcefulness and adaptability. You will inspire others to summon resiliency, and you will bring out their best as together you engage in creative problem-solving. Trials will become triumphs.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): I'm not exactly sure where you are going, Pisces, but I'm certain you are headed in the right direction. Your instincts for self-love are at a peak. Your ability to see your best possible future is lucid and strong. Your commitment to gracefully serving all that gracefully serves you is passionate and rigorous. I will congratulate you in advance for locating the exact, robust resources you need, not mediocre resources that are only half-interesting.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Can you treat yourself even better than you already do? {in}
newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2025 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
AWWWWWW Looking for love? If you're in Dodauer Forest in northern Germany, you're in luck. The Associated Press reported on March 4 about the Bridegroom's Oak, a 500-year-old tree that has served as a mailbox for the lovelorn for over a century. The custom originated with a couple whose relationship was opposed by the woman's father; they left messages for each other in the tree's knothole and eventually married in 1892. Here's how it works: People send a letter (address: Brautigamseiche, Dodauer Forest, 23701 Eutin, Germany), and the postmaster delivers it to the tree. Visitors can climb a 10-foot ladder to retrieve a few letters, leaf through them and choose a pen pal. "The resulting pen pal relationships have even led to a few marriages," noted the postal service.
BRIGHT IDEA James Coxall, 42, of Castle Camps, a village in Cambridgeshire, England, was sick of driving around—and sometimes driving into—an 8-foot-long, 4-inch-deep pothole that had been in the road for more than a year, The Washington Post reported. So Coxall, a carpenter, repurposed a pair of jeans his daughter had grown out of, filling the legs with wood and old shirts and attaching some shoes at the hems. Then he fashioned an anchor to hold the contraption upright—or upside down, as it were—and put it in the pothole, so that it looked like someone was head-down in the hole. He thought it might spur some action on the hole, and indeed, on Feb. 27, the county filled the hole. "They fixed the hole," Coxall said. "They just got another several million to do in Cambridgeshire."
SURPRISE! Dean Harrison and two of his friends were fishing on his open-top boat on Feb. 28 when a 900-pound bottlenose dolphin crashed onto the 16-foot vessel, the Associated Press reported. The men were along the far north coast of New Zealand's North Island when they saw dolphins playing nearby. "This one decided to jump on board and say hello," Harrison said. The 11-foot-long dolphin's wild movements snapped "every single fishing rod we had in the boat," Harrison said, and severely damaged the bow. The animal was stuck, so the men alerted New Zealand's conservation agency, which directed them to a boat ramp an hour away. While they motored toward help, they kept the dolphin wet with a hose and a towel. At the ramp, members of the Maori tribe prayed for the dolphin, which they named Tohu, which means "sign." Harrison has also renamed his boat Tohu.
QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Newsweek reported on March 5 that a Reddit post has blown up. The post details a stunt that landed a man and his brother-in-law in small claims court over medical bills of more than $2,000. While the poster was napping in a hammock with his shirt off, his BIL filled his navel with super glue, he said. When he awoke, the glue was dry, and he was hesitant to aggressively try to remove it because of scars from an earlier gall bladder surgery. The BIL "thought it was funny right up until we left for the emergency room," the poster wrote. But after the BIL wouldn't cover his medical bills, the poster won in court. "This has caused a major rift in my family," he wrote. "My wife is upset, and her family thinks
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
I overreacted." But Redditers are on his side: "This was straight-up malicious. This wasn't a prank," one wrote.
IRONY CTV News reported that three framed paintings were stolen from St. Andrew's Church in Little Steeping, England, on Feb. 23. One was a painting of the Lord's Prayer; the second depicted Moses delivering the Ten Commandments; and the third illustrated the commandments—including "Thou Shalt Not Steal." While the church was unclear about the value of the paintings, they held "sentimental" value to the parishioners.
WEIRD SCIENCE Li Zhang, a professor of physiology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, has authored a study showing that laboratory mice would leap into action to help their companions who were incapacitated, NPR reported on March 2. Their behavior included biting the unconscious mouse, biting its tongue and licking its eyes—and "eventually pulling the tongue out of the mouth of this unconscious one" to clear its airway, Zhang said. The response was much stronger for mice that had been caged together for a long time, he said.
SAW THAT COMING Jordan Dove, 34, of Lugoff, South Carolina, and his daughter stopped by his uncle's home in Saint Matthews, South Carolina, on Feb. 24 to check on it, WIS-TV reported. The uncle, Alfonzo Brown, is incarcerated in Maryland. But as they approached the front door, the daughter said, they heard sounds "similar to fireworks," and she noticed her father had been shot. Thomas Summers, the Calhoun County sheriff, said Brown had booby-trapped his home by screwing a shotgun inside the home, pointed toward the door. "He knew he would be on the run, he knew that he would be tracked back to Calhoun County, he knew that we would be coming out to get him, and I think he set it up for us," Summers said. Unfortunately, his nephew died at the hospital. Summers said Brown would be charged with murder and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. "This is a horrible thing, a horrible thing," Summers said.
ANIMAL ANTICS Aimee Preece of Carrick, Australia, got up from bed to let her dogs out in early March, then decided to make a bathroom stop, ABC News reported on March 5. But while she was relieving herself, a Tasmanian devil ran into the bathroom, chased by the dogs, and hid behind the toilet. "I've never seen one that close," Preece said. She trapped the animal in the bathroom, then got on social media for help. Olivia Dykstra, a catcher of snakes (and other critters), responded, using a snake bag and a broom to wrangle the devil. The bathroom didn't fare so well: "There was nothing in that bathroom that had not been upset, kicked off shelves, you name it," Dykstra said. She delivered the devil to an area where they're often sighted. {in}
