Inweekly march 15 2018

Independent News | March 15, 2018 | Volume 18 | Number 62 | inweekly.net

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winners & losers

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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March 15, 2018

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winners & losers

Doug Underhill / Courtesy Photo

winners

DOUG UNDERHILL The Florida Commission on Ethics found no probable cause that the District 2 commissioner had violated Section 112.313(6) of Florida Statutes. Former Commissioner Wilson Robertson had filed a complaint as a "consideration of probable cause" of an ethics violation related to Underhill seeking reimbursement of legal fees to defend a lawsuit and setting up a legal defense fund. The Escambia County Commission discussed paying for Underhill's legal expenses during a meeting last September and voted not to approve and sought an opinion from the Florida Attorney General.

UWF DANCE MARATHON The Sixth Annual University of West Florida Dance Marathon raised $60,890.59 this year, exceeding its goal of $55,000 and surpassing last year's record of more than $43,000. All proceeds from the 12-hour event will be donated to the Studer Family Children's Hospital, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital at Sacred Heart Hospital. UWF fraternities and sororities, along with other student organizations, raised funds as teams.

CINDY MCCALIP The Naval Aviation Mu-

seum Foundation (NAMF) named McCalip its new vice president. She previously served as the Chief Operation Officer and Executive Vice President for the United States Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. As vice president of NAMF, McCalip will be responsible for supporting the Foundation's mission to 'Honor the Past, Inspire the Future and Promote Patriotism.'

losers

GARCON POINT BRIDGE State Rep.

Jayer Williamson convinced the Florida House to allow the state to negotiate for control of the toll bridge in hopes of the reducing the span's debt. Unfortunately, Sen. Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze) didn't have the juice to get a companion bill passed in the Florida Senate. With the legislature focused on budgeting $400 million for school safety, the bridge bill never made it out of the Appropriations Committee.

PREVENTABLE ER VISITS The latest Quarterly Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Report showed Region 1, which covers the panhandle from Panama City to Pensacola, led the state in the highest number of potentially preventable emergency department visits (PPV). PPVs are emergency department visits that may result from a failure to access primary care or a lack of ambulatory care coordination. Upper respiratory infections and abdominal pain were among the top three conditions contributing to a PPV. TAR AND FEATHERS PROTEST In the

days leading up to a vote on sweeping gun reforms, about a dozen Florida state senators received small jars of tar and feathers with poop emojis on them from unknown senders.

The NRA's lobbyist, Marion Hammer, told the media her organization wasn't behind the protest. Sen. Lauren Book (D-Plantation) told Politico that a jar was dropped off by a man with tattoos who said it was an award for violating the Second Amendment.

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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

LANDMARK APPOINTMENTS On Monday, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward made history with the appointment of the first female fire chief, Battalion Chief Ginny Cranor.

"Her record of accomplishments, unwillingness to be content with the status quo and collaborative leadership style make her exceptionally well suited to sustain the fire department's upward momentum," said Mayor Hayward in a written statement.

The appointment was a bold move given the Pensacola Fire Department's history of lawsuits alleging discrimination. While the mayor said he had several candidates in the department "who are all capable of tackling the issues facing a 21st-century fire department," Cranor has an opportunity to change the fire department's culture for generations.

Cranor succeeds David Allen, who is retiring on April 12. Before becoming a Pensacola firefighter in 1998, Cranor was a volunteer with Escambia County Fire Rescue. She rose through the ranks and was promoted to Battalion Chief in September 2016. She serves as the battalion chief for the department's "C" watch.

Cranor earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of West Florida in 2012. She also has associate degrees in fire science and emergency medical services from Pensacola State College in addition to multiple professional certifica-

tions. Cranor is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services and has been a fire academy instructor for 18 years.

"I am humbled and honored that Mayor Hayward has faith in me and my abilities," said Cranor, "and I am excited that he is giving me this chance to lead the fire department."

Mayor Hayward has made several landmark appointments during his two terms, including Amy Miller, the first female Port of Pensacola director, and David Alexander, the city's first African-American police chief.

In November 2013, he named Miller his port director, making her first woman to hold that position since the port began operating in 1743. She was also the lone female port director in Florida. Miller replaced Clyde Mathis.

Two years later, Mayor Hayward announced the appointment of David Alexander, III, as the new police chief. The 55-year-old Alexander was unanimously approved by the city council to be the first black chief in the department's 194-year history.

The appointments of Miller, Alexander and Cranor broke down barriers, and the mayor deserves kudos for making history with each of them. These landmark, groundbreaking moves will be a significant part of Hayward's legacy. {in} rick@inweekly.net

These landmark, groundbreaking moves will be a significant part of Hayward's legacy.

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SNOEZELEN CENTER CHANGES CHALLENGED

By Duwayne Escobedo He's one tough-nut.

U.S. District Court Senior Judge Lacey A. Collier treats the courtroom like he handled the Vietnam battlefield. A battlescarred veteran, the decorated U.S. Navy fighter pilot flew 140 combat missions.

The 82-year-old continues to relish the thrill of competition. The tougher the challenge, the better for Collier. But little known is the soft spot Collier developed for severely disabled children. He chokes up, and his eyes glisten with tears when talking about them. For 22 years, they have enriched his life.

When no one believed a Snoezelen sensory center could be built in Pensacola, Collier stepped forward. The judge admitted he ignored scuba diving buddy, Joe Denmon's, invitation for two years to visit Westgate. Once he did in 1995, he fell in love with these vulnerable children. That's why in 2003, he eagerly shouldered leading the Snoezelen charge and told thenEscambia Westgate school principal Susan Berry "dare to dream."

His passion for the disabled children spurred him to deliver the Lacey A. Collier Sensory Complex. Partnering with the Escambia Board of County Commissioners and Escambia County School District School Board, the 11,000-square-foot, $2.7-million sensory facility came to fruition in 2005.

It features four rooms: The Jungle Room, The Space Room, The Magic Room and The Polar Room. The concept of employing colors, lights, textures and music to help those with disabilities was developed in the Netherlands more than 30 years ago.

The center helps treat children with mild to severe autism, Down Syndrome and other extreme disabilities. A vast majority of Westgate students are unable to express emotions, form relationships, or speak. Additionally, most process verbal communications literally and have severe or profound mental retardation.

Collier's more than 150 tours, which he ended in May 2017, included community leaders, renowned educators, dignitaries and others from 29 countries, seven continents and nearly all 50 states. That combined with real gains made by the students helped to elevate the school and its sensory complex to world-class status.

Collier insisted in an exclusive interview with Inweekly, "I never asked for a nickel ever." But the Westgate/Snoezelen Foundation raised more than $1.2 million in donations to maintain the sensory center between 2003 and 2017. Many times, both Collier and Denmon reached into their own pockets to fund upkeep.

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STEPPING DOWN

But in a four-page letter last September, Collier announced he would step down after a more than 22-year "labor of love" with Westgate.

He addressed it to District 5 Escambia County School Board member Bill Slayton and copied the rest of the board members and Norm Ross, Assistant Superintendent of Schools. In the letter, Collier accused the Westgate staff of evicting him and Denmon without any discussion. He said Westgate officials had no idea how to operate Snoezelen. He questioned their appreciation of the complex they "are blessed to have." He reported after meeting with the school system administration that Superintendent Malcolm Thomas showed zero concern about the facility's future.

"I have no confidence in the ability of those who have taken over to maintain the pristine condition and world-class reputation of the facility," Collier wrote.

In an interview in his second-floor office downtown, Collier held back tears at the thought of the students failing to benefit from the Snoezelen complex. He said with emotion: "Mainstreaming them is the biggest joke in the world."

Collier added: "There's not another school like Westgate in Northwest Florida.

It's a teaching tool. It's not Disney World.

It's not a playground."

"There's not another school like Westgate in Northwest Florida. It's a teaching tool.

It's not Disney World. It's not a playground." Lacey A. Collier Denmon, who worked hand-in-hand with Collier, also expressed sadness about leaving Westgate. The behavioral technician retired in August after he was moved out of his office unexpectedly. It was the last straw for the 24-year U.S. Air Force veteran after being belittled, having tours he set up changed without notice and other harassment from principals Terry Coburn and Jobenna Sellers.

"I don't take kindly to bullying," Denmon said. "I put my heart into the school. I feel—and I'm not saying this selfishly—that I had an influence and made a difference in the students' lives. I'm learning to live with not being there. But it's still very important to me."

Denmon was responsible for scheduling students in the sensory rooms and did all maintenance and repairs. He started the wellknown Mardi Gras parade at Westgate that has steadily grown in numbers and reputation.

Collier said, "Joe is magic with those kids."

Denmon said he fears the Snoezelen Center will become rundown and treated like a playground. His worst nightmare?

"They have to do things right and not turn it into a storage shed," Denmon said.

SNOEZELEN STILL USED

Despite Collier's and Denmon's hard and still raw feelings, others feel differently, such as Bill Greenhut. A Westgate/ Snoezelen Foundation board member and Greenhut Construction Company CEO said he expects strong ties to continue with Westgate and the Snoezelen center.

"I know you have spoken to Judge Collier and Joe about their disappointment with the previous principals, but my personal opinion is that Jobenna Sellers, the current principal, embraces Snoezelen's benefits and will work with our foundation in a positive way," he said.

The Inweekly spoke with Sellers at Westgate recently to ask her questions about Collier's and Denmon's controversial departure and the condition of the Snoezelen Complex.

The principal led the Inweekly reporter on a tour through each of the four sensory rooms that make up the Snoezelen Complex. She said that the school, which includes a dozen new teachers this school year, had extensive training on its operation over the summer.

Sellers, who has 21 years of experience in special education, blamed retirements on so much turnover at Westgate.

Sellers admitted the roughly 200 students at the school use the facility much more than last year. In fact, students can be found there every day starting at 9:30 a.m. as part of their curriculum and to help calm them down, if they get agitated.

"It's not a museum," Sellers said. "It's amazing what it does for children. It gives them the mental stimulation they need."

Sellers introduced Billy Nolan, a teacher's assistant, who now handles all Snoezelen repairs and happily reported, "everything is in working condition."

Walking the hallways, students seemed happy, with some jumping up and down and clapping. Others prepared for a performance on a stage in the cafeteria. They pounded on bongo drums while teachers helped some students wave their arms in the air as Chuck Berry's "The Twist" blared.

Superintendent of Schools Malcolm Thomas denied the accusations leveled by Collier and Denmon "as totally false." He told the Inweekly in a phone interview, "If I had known what questions you were going to ask, I probably would not have called you back."

Thomas confirmed he met with Collier and thanked him for the foundation's support. He said the school system was committed to keeping Snoezelen in good shape.

He said he asked Collier to continue to

serve on the foundation board and said he was welcome still to lead his popular tours.

But the three-term superintendent told Inweekly he backed Principal Seller's decisions, including moving Denmon to a new office. He said no position exists currently for Denmon to return to the school.

Thomas said after retirement employees are prohibited from working for the school district again for 12 months.

"I did come down on the side of the principal," Thomas said. "She's in charge of the people and can direct their work. We are in as good of shape now as we were last year."

Thomas denied being jealous of Collier's and Denmon's many achievements and success at Snoezelen.

"Somehow (Collier's) feelings got hurt," Thomas said. "I understand that. I've tried to make it right. Obviously, I never will make it right."

MIXED REACTIONS

Meanwhile, parents of students at Westgate have mixed reactions about the performance of the school.

Dustin Huffman's 14-year-old son, Stephen, has attended the school since 2011. He remains non-verbal and still wears a diaper. Although his son looks forward to the school day, Huffman admits noticing changes at Westgate for the worse.

"There seems to be too much change over in personnel. Routine and structure for these kids are pretty important." Dustin Huffman "I would give it a 10 up until a few years ago," said Huffman, who retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. "There seems to be too much change over in personnel. Routine and structure for these kids are pretty important."

Howard Reddy's 9-year-old son, Andrew, has profound sensory issues from his autism.

He has attended the school for five years.

Reddy, Vice President for University of West Florida Advancement, admits to being a fan of Westgate, its teachers and its Snoezelen Complex.

"We are very lucky in Pensacola to have this in our backyard," Reddy said. "It says a lot about this community to support it and provide funding to make (Snoezelen) available to students."

Meanwhile, Collier treasures two things the most—being involved in helping the Snoezelen Complex develop a reputation for being among the best in the world and earning the much-coveted Wings of Gold as a fighter pilot.

"Focusing on this may ensure it does not go the way I'm afraid I expect it to," Collier said. "I hope I'm wrong. Maybe they will come to their senses." {in} inweekly.net

March 15, 2018

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DISABLED CITIZEN FIGHTS FOR ECAT

Courtesy Photo

By Rick Outzen When the Escambia Board of County Commissioners debated whether to take over the management of the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) last May, Chairman Doug Underhill questioned the financial viability of the system and the future of mass transit in the age of Uber and Lyft. He initially said he would propose a referendum on whether the county should continue to fund public transportation but later dropped the idea.

However, Underhill's statements bothered Nicole Wilson, who is one of the disabled residents who depend on ECAT. Disabled since birth, Wilson has been in a wheelchair most of her life. As the former chairman of the Mass Transit Advisory Committee, she knew that nearly 40 percent of ECAT's ridership consists of disabled and elderly individuals.

"For us, the bus service represents freedom," she told Inweekly. "Nearly two-thirds of the riders rely on ECAT as their sole means of transportation. It's how I get to my volunteer job with Safe Harbor Animal Hospital, get groceries, run errands and visit the doctor."

Wilson refused to stay on the sidelines and watch the commissioners possibly decimate what she believed is a vital service for the public. She spent six months developing a proposal to save ECAT that she delivered to County Administrator Jack Brown and the board last month.

"I figured if things go a way I don't like, and I didn't offer any kind of potential solutions, then I have no room to complain about it," she said. "If routes are disconnected or discontinued, or the service is discontinued entirely, I have no room to complain if I didn't try to present an alternative to that."

Wilson felt that she needed to speak up 88

for her fellow riders. She said, "I know a lot of people who ride the bus. You hear their stories, and you hear them talk, and you know their situations. You know that this one's trying to go to work, this one's trying to go to school, and that's their only transportation."

THE GRAY BINDER

She gave Inweekly a gray binder containing a 10-page proposal and 91 pages of charts, maps and other supporting documentation.

Wilson admits that she isn't an expert, but she hopes her proposal will open the eyes of some of the commissioners to the options available.

Her proposal has five elements: 1. Simply Routes Wilson believes the current bus routes are circuitous and difficult to use. She wrote in her proposal, "Riders often have to pull up multiple maps to see what routes intersect to get to their desired destination. Direct, bi-directional routes that follow a specific roadway are easier to understand and use."

The route numbering system needs to be reworked because the current system is arbitrary and confusing to remember. Wilson suggests switching to a sequence of letters to designate east-west routes and numbers to identify south-north routes, with higher letters and numbers in the direction of city growth.

The change would provide a more systematic, easy-to-remember system of routes.

2. Leverage Route Frequency Wilson doesn't believe using average ridership as the sole measure of whether a route should be kept because the averages are compromised by low-use periods. She recommends the best way to optimize route efficiency is to maintain or increase route frequency during high-use periods, such as times when riders are going to and from their jobs, and decrease route frequency or suspend service during lowuse periods.

"You don't need high frequency in the middle of the day when there's just not a ridership to support it," said Wilson. "There are a few people who have children and require family services, and some who have meetings with vocational rehabilitation services. They still need to be able to get to those, so you still need services in the middle of the day, but you certainly don't need them running every 30 minutes."

She shared the example of Route 57 that goes to the Naval Air Station. During the week, the busses are frequently empty.

However, on weekends, when the sailors have liberty, ridership is high. Wilson asked, "Why provide seven-day service when only weekend service is warranted? Conversely, why drop this route altogether when weekend service is needed?"

3. Simply Fare Schedule ECAT's fare schedule has 12 different rates, plus multiple-ticket packages, multipleday passes, and free passes.

"It's quite confusing when you look at their book because they say they only have 12 different fares, but when you actually count them, it sounds like there are more like 22 fares," said Wilson. "It's insane. There are all kinds of exceptions to the rules."

The average farebox revenue per rider is only $0.80, lower than the most deeply discounted fare ($0.85) and less than half of the full fare ($1.75). The reason for this discrepancy is the number of riders who ride for free. These include military in uniform, students, children with a height of 42" or less, and individuals with an ADA Transportation Identification Card.

Before 2009, all disabled individuals who rode ECAT paid the reduced disabled fare.

Most disabled individuals used paratransit, a free door-to-door service funded by the State of Florida under Title VI. In 2009, ECAT was awarded a grant to encourage the more independent individuals with ADA Transportation Identification Cards to utilize ECAT's fixed-route service by offering a free trial for a limited time.

Although the grant funding ended almost a decade ago, the free fares continued with the county underwriting the program. Wilson wrote in her proposal, "It is time to drop the free passes for persons with ADA Transportation Identification Cards and have them pay the half-price discounted fare for disabled riders."

She wants the fare schedule simplified to make it easier to use and increase fare revenue: •Regular one-way fare: $1.00 •Reduced one-way fare for disabled/ elderly: $0.50 •Daily pass: $3.00 •7-Day pass: $15.00 •Monthly pass, regular fare: $45 •Monthly pass, disabled/elderly: $30 N•o charge for infants and toddlers "Most cities have two fares, and then

you're free for toddlers and younger," she told Inweekly. "You have your disabled fare, which is half price. There's no free disabled rider fare thing. It's just simply half price, and that's required by law. You don't have this whole plethora of exceptions to the rule."

4. Downsize Fleet ECAT's bus fleet consists 32 full-size buses, 10 mid-size buses and five trolleys.

According to Wilson, the maintenance costs are roughly the same, but the larger buses are more expensive to purchase and fuel. She believes that Escambia County's ridership requires only mid-size buses or shuttles, with a few exceptions. The current fleet of full-size buses should be gradually downsized through sales to other transit systems or private entities, and the funds used to acquire more size-appropriate transports.

5. Restructure ECAT Workforce Wilson called the current personnel structure bloated with one general manager, 10 department managers and directors and eight supervisors. Only three of those management positions are recognized positions on ECAT's workforce organization chart.

She proposed the county evaluate all ECAT staff and reducing its management team to a general manager and three supervisors that would handle operations, administration and maintenance.

WAITING TO HEAR BACK

When she met with Inweekly, Wilson said she had not met individually with the five county commissioners, but the county administrator said he is reviewing her proposal with ECAT General Manager Mike Crittenden.

After Inweekly published Wilson's proposal on Rick's Blog last week, Commissioner Underhill posted on Facebook, "Well, to be clear, I never proposed discontinuing the service. I only want to eliminate the eight routes with eight or fewer riders per hour. I want to roll back the gas tax or spend it on infrastructure."

Wilson admitted that she would be nervous about appearing before the full county commission if asked to present her plan at the meeting.

She said, " I've told them that I'm kind of afraid to. They each have it, but I don't know if I have the wherewithal to withstand the questioning and the argument and debate that would come after that with a room full of people and knowing that it's on camera."

However, she hopes the commissioners will take her seriously. She said, "I had to put a little notification when I gave my report of 'don't panic.' Yes, it's thick, but the report itself is really only 11 pages. It's not that tedious. I think it's something anybody can read and understand, whether they know much about mass transit or not.

The report is included in the online version of this article. {in} inweekly.net

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NSA AND UWF PARTNERSHIP The

University of West Florida Center for Cybersecurity hit another milestone in its fouryear history last week when it announced a partnership with the National Security Agency to enhance cybersecurity workforce development and create accelerated pathways toward completion of an undergraduate cybersecurity degree program.

"It was 2014 when UWF launched the Center for Cybersecurity as a hub for research and opportunities for students to move into high demand career fields," said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. "Little did we know at the time how fast and how big and just how awesome this program was going to be in less than four years."

The agreement allows students who complete the Joint Cyber Analysis Course to earn undergraduate credit hours at UWF. JCAC is open to active military. The sixmonth JCAC course is designed to train individuals with limited computer experience and make them proficient in cyber analysis.

UWF joins Augusta University, Dakota State University, Drexel University and University of Maryland University College as the only higher education institutions with which the NSA has partnered to offer accelerated degrees.

"The National Security Agency's National Cryptologic School is very pleased to be partnering with the University of West Florida to assist our nation in developing and training federal and military workers in cybersecurity," said Dr. Leonard Reinsfelder, Commandant, NSA National Cryptologic School. "The University of West Florida recognizes the unique talent of our nation's cyber warriors, especially our military in the State of Florida, and we are pleased to partner with them as we prepare for the future."

Both Saunders and Reinsfelder talked about the need for cybersecurity experts.

"The national issue of cybersecurity is in the news every day," said Dr. Reinsfelder. "We do not as a nation fully have it under control.

010 1

We do not have enough people who are filling the jobs we know about today and the growing number of jobs is scary."

Dr. Saunders explained, "The number of cybersecurity job openings in Florida alone is estimated to be about 13,000, and the number nationally is nearly 300,000.

Cybersecurity experts predict there will be a global shortage of 3.5 million professionals by 2020. The shortage of cybersecurity professionals is alarming, and we need to develop strategic partnerships to fill some of those openings."

In 2017 more than 4,000 military students completed the JCAC that is overseen by the NSA National Cryptologic School, which is housed at the Center for Information Warfare Training at Corry Station in Pensacola. Under the partnership agreement, UWF will apply up to 30 credit hours for the JCAC graduates toward a bachelor's degree in computing and information sciences with a cybersecurity specialization or 15 credit hours toward an associate's degree in general education. Once enrolled at UWF, students may be awarded up to three additional semester credit hours based on credit-by-proficiency evaluation.

"This partnership is an excellent opportunity to prepare our students for successful careers in cybersecurity by providing our educational resources," said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. "It aligns with our unwavering commitment to train cybersecurity talent and address the critical cybersecurity workforce shortage across the nation."

In 2016, the NSA and Department of Homeland Security designated the UWF undergraduate cybersecurity program as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The University received the designation in 2017 as a Center of Academic Excellence Regional Resource Center for the Southeast Region.

For more information about cybersecurity, visit uwf.edu/cybersecurity.

MORE GROWTH WITHOUT TARIFFS

Last week President Donald Trump placed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Will tariffs help our economy grow?

"The plus is the obvious protection of a domestic industry, but the minus is the damage that the tariff does elsewhere in the economy," said Dr. Richard Hawkins, chair of the University of West Florida Department of Marketing, Supply Chain Logistics, and Economics.

"There's been some really good research among the leading economists on what happens to countries that go the other way," he said. "In other words, rather than enacting pro-

tectionists' policies, what happens to countries who relax protectionists' policies? The answer is they grow faster, so if you're interested in economic growth in 2019 and 2020, then you want to be moving away from protectionism and towards free trade."

In 2002, President George W. Bush raised tariffs on selected steel products in hopes of reviving the U.S. steel industry with the goal of keeping them in place for three years. The tariffs backfired.

"The World Trade Organization authorized retaliatory tariffs against U.S. goods, and Europe chose oranges because of Jeb Bush and beef because of George W. Bush," said Hawkins. "So it just leads to those kinds of messes where other countries get upset and then they get the right to impose retaliatory tariffs against U.S. goods."

In the face of retaliatory tariffs by the European Union, President Bush removed the tariffs after only 18 months.

"Eventually cooler heads usually prevail. Although in this case, I can't say for sure that that's going to happen." Richard Hawkins When it comes to tariffs, Dr. Hawkins said, "Eventually cooler heads usually prevail. Although in this case, I can't say for sure that that's going to happen."

THREE RESTORE PROJECTS FUNDED

On March 1, Escambia County received grant awards for three RESTORE Direct Component Pot 1 projects from the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the county's RESTORE Multi-Year Implementation Plan.

The Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar Revitalization Plan will develop a master plan to enhance the environmental and economic resilience of the watershed. An environmental assessment will identify the causes of legacy environmental impairments to Carpenter Creek and Bayou Texar. Approximately $1,308,000 has been contributed from the RESTORE Pot 1 allocation.

The Universal Public Access Plan will evaluate public infrastructure, including facilities, in Escambia County for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act Standards to identify enhancement opportunities to meet the needs and desires of citizens with disabilities by upgrading existing infrastructure and facilities. The RESTORE Pot 1 allocation is $360,000.

The Eleven Mile Creek Basin Stormwater Ponds project will plan and design two new stormwater ponds in the Eleven Mile

Creek basin that will provide flood attenuation, improve water quality, expand and/ or improve adjoining floodplains/wetlands, and positively impact coastal areas of Escambia County that border Perdido Bay. The RESTORE Pot 1 allocation is $268,800.

PENSACOLA BAY CENTER REPLACEMENT PAGE The Escambia County

Commission is reviewing the best way to move forward with the aging Pensacola Bay Center and the challenges the facility currently faces. To view details about the process visit the Pensacola Bay Center Replacement Project page, myescambia.com/ open-government/projects/project-listing/ pensacola-bay-center-replacement.

The page includes financial reports, proposals and market and economy impact analyses. Additionally, Escambia County has selected the Downtown Pensacola Multi-Use Sports and Events Venue as one of the five priority projects to include in the initial preapplication cycle for Triumph funding. The application and support documents can also be found on the project page.

To stay informed on the project, select the "Stay Updated on this Project" button on the page to receive an email whenever the page is updated.

MORE JOB GROWTH COMING Last week, Gov. Rick Scott announced a $4 million Job Growth grant for the Pensacola International Airport. The grant most likely signals that Triumph Gulf Coast will look favorably on the city's request for $130 million to add three additional hangars for VTMAE at the airport.

Gov. Rick Scott announced nearly $23 million in awards for 11 additional Florida Job Growth Grant Fund projects across the state. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund provides $85 million for improving public infrastructure and enhancing workforce training in Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has received more than 235 proposals requesting more than $825 million in funding.

"These projects will help meet infrastructure and workforce training needs across the state in order to promote economic development," said Gov. Scott. "These projects are also slated to add more than 18,600 jobs for Florida families. I look forward to the completion of these projects."

Currently, the City of Pensacola is completing the construction of the first maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar for VTMAE at the airport. The hangar is expected to begin operations later this spring and will create 400 jobs.

Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward inweekly.net

thanked the governor in a written statement sent to the media.

"This new funding will allow the airport to construct city-owned infrastructure, including additional taxiways, aprons, roads and support facilities for aviation workforce development, for multiple users," said Mayor Hayward. The three additional hangars would create up to 1,600 more jobs.

TOPPING OFF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL Construction of the new Studer

Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart reached its halfway point last week. Sacred Heart patients, physicians and associates gathered to celebrate the installation of the final and highest piece of steel on the construction project, known as a "topping-off."

"This final steel beam is a remarkable symbol of the progress our team has made in the past year, the first half of our construction journey," said Henry Stovall, president of Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola and The Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart.

"This building is the result of countless hours of planning from our staff coupled with beautiful execution from our construction workers. I would like to thank our entire team for bringing us to this milestone."

Construction of the new four-story children's hospital began on Sacred Heart's Pensacola campus in March 2017 and is expected to be complete in the spring of 2019. More than $20.7 million has been awarded to Escambia County sub-contractors. Upon opening, the new children's hospital is expected to add 100 Sacred Heart jobs for the local community.

Sacred Heart Health System and Ascension have committed $55 million toward construction of the new children's hospital. In order to complete the building as planned, Sacred Heart needs to raise an additional $15 million from the community.

To make a donation towards the new Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart, visit givesacredeart.org.

FREE SPRING BREAK PROGRAM

Escambia County's Play, Learn, Grow afterschool program will host a special spring break program Monday, March 26 through Thursday, March 29 from noon-5:30 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Resource Center, 3200 W. De Soto Street. The program is free and open to youths in grades K-12, including those who have never participated in the Play, Learn, Grow after school program. Registration is required.

The program will provide a fun, stimulating environment for students to enjoy during spring break, with recreational activities and games throughout the week. Activities include March 15, 2018

hands-on projects, arts and crafts, electronic games, board games, basketball and kickball.

For more information, contact the Escambia County Neighborhood & Human Services Department at 595-3130.

STRONG NUMBERS Pensacola Inter-

national Airport had a recording-setting month in January. The facility handled 117,766 passengers, a 10.1 percent increase over January 2017. In 2008, the airport set a record for January with 109,579 but hasn't approached that number until this year. The Pensacola airport had 10,820 more passengers than it did in January 2017.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The League of

Women Voters Pensacola Bay Area will have presentation regarding C. A. Weis Community School on Saturday, March 17 at 10:15 a.m. in the Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. Holly Magee, principal of Weis Community School will discuss how her school has become a center for community life.

Whitesell-Green/Caddell, the designbuild entity selected to build the new Escambia County correctional facility, will host a public Escambia County Corrections Project kickoff to prequalify subcontractors and vendors who want to participate in the construction of the new jail. Project team members from local agencies will be available to discuss employment opportunities for qualified individuals. Agencies that will be in attendance include Nash Plumbing and Mechanical, A&B Electric, Pensacola Glass, Tindall Precast, Bell Steel and Whitesell-Green/Caddell. The kickoff is Wednesday, March 21 from 3-6 p.m. at the Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. De Soto St. Inweekly, Pensacola Young Professionals and the Lewis Bear Company are sponsoring a political forum for the Escambia County Commission District 4 race. Robert Bender, Kendrick Doidge, Bill Fetke, Chris Phillips, Terry Strickland and Boyce White have been invited. Inweekly publisher Rick Outzen will be the moderator. The forum is Thursday, March 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Lewis Bear Company Hospitality Room at 6120 Enterprise Dr. 18th Annual Seagrass Awareness Celebration offers family-focused activities including live marine life in touch tanks, "eat a seagrass bed," seining, games, fishing, marine creatures, marine debris, arts and crafts, kayaking and food vendors.

Attendees are encouraged to bring water, sunscreen, hat, water shoes, and lawn chairs. The free event will be held Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Shoreline Park South in Gulf Breeze. {in} 11

Katrina Andry: Depose and Dispose (of): Bull, color reduction woodcut, 2017 (detail)

407 S. Jefferson St. Pensacola, FL 32502 850.432.6247 pensacolamuseum.org

Jan. 12 – March 18, 2018 Lewis Bear Family and Greenhut galleries

Sponsored by

John Smith

Museum Winter Hours: Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sun. 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Mon. Closed

KATRINA ANDRY: DEPOSE AND DISPOSE (OF)

presents

RadioLive THE FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH at the Museum of Commerce in Historic Pensacola

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ED GERHARD JOHN SMITH THE KRICKETS

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04/05/18

6:00 p.m.

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inweekly.net

By Stephanie Sharp

You might age out of spring break, but not to worry, St. Patrick's Day weekend is here to be the socially acceptable weekend to opt-out of adulting. Whether you're into slamming Irish car bombs or washing down your fish and chips with green beer, Pensacola has no shortage of fun to get into.

Since the holiday falls on a Saturday this year, with March's Gallery Night on Friday, you can choose your own adventure.

Will you get your fill on Friday during the usual Gallery Night festivities? Make the sojourn to the beach on Saturday for the infamous pub crawl? Or will you get messy in the jello pits at O'Reilly's Uptown? Or all of the above?

Whatever pot-of-gold party you seek, be sure to designate a driver, tip your bartenders and wear a bit of green for luck. {in}

FRIDAY FESTIVITIES March 16

GALLERY NIGHT PREGAME

Like clockwork, March's Gallery Night is here and will kick off the St. Patrick's Day weekend festivities with a green-themed event on Friday. More than 20 artists will be featured around downtown at participating galleries, restaurants, shops and bars. This month's featured artists are a part of Pensacola State College Art Box, a student organization that connects like-minded students through art and service to the community.

Gallery Night 4-7 p.m.

After party 8-12 p.m. gallerynightpensacola.org

KIDS GALLERY NIGHT ST. PATTY'S DAY COOKING CLASS

Give the babysitter a break and let the SoGourmet team entertain your littles while you enjoy Gallery Night. Kids will have a funfilled night of cooking savory Irish pies and decorating cupcakes while learning important kitchen skills and techniques. $41.78 per child 407 S. Palafox #D bodaciousolive.com

COUPLES COOK: A CRAFT BEER INFUSED DINNER

ST. PATRICK'S DAY 2018 AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN TAVERN

SATURDAY PUB PARTIES

SAINT PATRICK'S DAY AT HOPJACKS

Not looking to get rowdy with the revelers downtown? You and your sweetheart can take refuge from 7-9 p.m. at Pensacola Cooks Kitchen for a couples cooking class.

BYO beer and learn how to prepare an Irish-themed menu with recipes that call for a few heavy pours of festive brews. $60 per couple 3670 Barrancas Ave. facebook.com/pensacolacooks

March 17

—ON THE MAINLAND— O'RILEY'S DOWNTOWN ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION

Would you like some green beer with your breakfast? O'Riley's Downtown St. Patrick's Day celebration starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, serving breakfast. The festive drink specials, live music and food service will keep the party going as long as you can hang.

321 S. Palafox facebook.com/orileys.dtown

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARTY WITH CONCAVE

If you'd like to rock your way through St. Patrick's Day weekend, head to Chaser's Bar & Lounge for a two-day marathon of drinks and music. Concave will entertain throughout, with music to suit any taste.

5104 N. W St.

SLEEPY HOLLOW ST. PATTY'S DAY KARAOKE PARTY

If you're not an early riser or day drinker, or if you really love karaoke and jello shots, Sleepy Hollow Lounge is the place to be for St. Patrick's Day. Free jello shots to anyone dressed in green or in the Irish spirit and karaoke starts at 8 p.m.

5701 1/2 W. Jackson St. facebook.com/sleepyhollowlounge

You don't have to venture all the way downtown to get wild on St. Patrick's Day. O'Riley's Uptown Taven will have fish and chips from Wrighteous Eats, jell-o wrestling, beer pong, giant Jenga, a DJ outside under the big tent. The $5 cover even gets you a swag bag and a t-shirt while supplies last. PS: this event is 18 and up.

3728 Creighton Road facebook.com/orileyspub

Creature of habit? Hopjacks has you covered. You can get your duck fry fix along with your holiday drinks specials, like a leprechaun shot or an Irish breakfast shot.

10 S. Palafox facebook.com/hopjacks

ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT SEVILLE

Seville Quarter is celebrating Gallery Night and St. Patrick's Day like only they can— with contests, live music and all the Irish drink specials you can handle.

130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

—ON THE ISLAND— GO IRISH ON THE ISLAND

Looking to scratch your Irish itch while also enjoying some quintessential Pensacola Beach debauchery? Lucky for you, there's the annual pub crawl, sponsored by the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce.

The route starts with breakfast at Crabs We Got 'Em and ends at the legendary Sandshaker Lounge & Package. This is a good bet for anyone with out of town guests looking to hit all the must-drink spots on the beach, while not sacrificing your green get-ups or Irish car bombs.

You can join in the fun at any stop on the crawl and if you grab an official pub crawl t-shirt for $12, you can help raise money for Covenant Care.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. pensacolabeachchamber.com

2018 PUB CRAWL SCHEDULE

10 a.m. Crabs We Got 'Em (Breakfast served) 11:15 a.m. Casino Beach Bar & Grille 12 p.m. The Dock 12:45 p.m. Holiday Inn Resort 1:30 p.m. Paddy O'Leary's (Free admission for crawlers) 2:15 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill 3 p.m. Flounder's Chowder House 3:45 p.m. The Sandbar 4:30 p.m. Shaggy's 5:15 p.m. Bamboo Willie's 6 p.m. The Sandshaker March 15, 2018

ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT #RFBF

If you'd rather set up camp than crawl across the island, Red Fish Blue Fish will have you covered from noon to 8 p.m. with live entertainment, fresh oysters and craft beer. And if your version of a pot of gold is a bucket of oysters and beer, good news. $25 dollars will get you unlimited beer and oysters all day. Bonus: free stand up paddleboard lessons from event sponsors.

5 Via de Luna Drive facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach

ST. PADDY'S DAY CELEBRATION

Ireland is technically an island, so you can go all in on that similarity at LandShark Landing at Margaritaville with this beachy bonanza. They'll have your standard green beer, Irish whiskey specials, live music, plus a cleverly named "Irish I Had a Margarita" special. Bring the minis along for the fun, there's plenty of space to play and special kids activities to keep them entertained while you soak up the sun (and booze).

165 Fort Pickens Road facebook.com/landsharkbeachbar

PADDY O'LEARY'S IRISH PUB

Paddy's isn't just an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day. To prove it, they've once again planned an action-packed day of events, complete with live music and traditions.

49 Via de Luna Drive paddyolearysirishpub.com 13

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WEEK OF MARCH 15-21

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

Reality and Illusion

By Shelby Nalepa

the production several times and even played an acclaimed role of Sancho during his career on the stage. In "Man of La Mancha," the newly imprisoned Cervantes recruits his fellow prisoners to portray characters from his novel, with Cervantes himself playing Don Quixote and his manservant playing Sancho, Quixote's squire.

"In my performing days, it was one of the most requested roles I was asked for," Anthony said.

As the story has seen many adaptations including plays, musicals and film, Anthony said that it will be a unique experience to see the story performed on the opera stage.

"Opera singers bring a different vocal color to this work," Anthony said. "That is very special. It is also a great acting lesson for an opera artist. The goal is to bring the audience along for the journey and send them home with a warmer heart."

"The goal is to bring the audience along for the journey and send them home with a warmer heart." Dean Anthony

The beloved Tony Award-winning musical "Man of La Mancha" will be brought to life by Pensacola Opera this weekend. Inspired by the classic tale of "Don Quixote" and written in the early 1600s by author Miguel de Cervantes, "Man of La Mancha" brings a moment of the novel center stage.

As one of the first productions to transform a piece of historical literature into a musical, the original 1960s Broadway show ran for over 2,000 performances and won five Tony Awards.

Set during the Spanish Inquisition, "Man of La Mancha" finds author Cervantes imprisoned and charged with treason, assuming the guise of the Knight-Errant Don Quixote for a "play within a play."

"As we know, this is just a brief moment and section of the book," stage director Dean Anthony said. "If the entire book was March 15, 2018

set to music, it would be a 14-hour show.

Mostly, the historical references connect to the 16th-century imprisonment of all classes. Men and women are arrested for even the smallest things. Cervantes simply foreclosed on a church."

The cast includes Corey McKern as Don Quixote, Karin Mushegain as Aldonza, Orin Strunk as Sancho, as well as artists in residence Evelyn Saavedra as Antonia and Eric Dean Wassenaar as Padre. This will be the first time in Pensacola Opera's 35 years that a production of "Man of La Mancha" will be performed.

"It's a timeless story," Anthony said.

"It's a very important theme that still resonates today. The desire for truth, hope and growth and people fighting for what they believe in."

With a self-proclaimed love affair with "Man of La Mancha," Anthony has directed

In "Man of La Mancha," Cervantes, under the guise of Don Quixote, must prove the merit of his manuscript in a mock trial from his fellow prisoners as he awaits his fate.

"My hope is that the audience values and understands these characters," Anthony said. "Each of them has a different connection to Don Quixote. I hope they believe in the journey that we take them on. All of 'La Mancha' is based on reality and illusion. That is the core of this story.

We often forget that the written words that Cervantes wrote could have been destroyed. That threat is the thread that feeds the show."

Baritone Corey McKern has been with Pensacola Opera for 11 years, first singing with the company in 2007 for "The Marriage of Figaro."

This won't be the first time he's taken on the role of Cervantes/Don Quixote.

"I first performed this role 20 years ago when I was in college," McKern said.

"Revisiting it has been an absolute joy. It

is a bit different now that I am older, but the preparation is the same. I did quite a bit of research, and tried very hard to have the vast amounts of dialogue under my belt before we started rehearsals."

McKern said that the vocal work in this iconic piece of musical theatre history is just the tip of the iceberg.

"I have loved this role since I first performed it in college at an impressionable age," McKern said. "The song 'The Impossible Dream' is wonderful to sing of course, but the role of Cervantes /Quixote is layered and complex, and wonderfully written. It is an incredible journey from start to finish. I feel privileged that I have the opportunity to perform this role in my hometown."

The University of West Florida faculty member said that to prepare, he likes to study other character portrayals and then make the role his own.

"I like to see what other people have done with the role," he said. "I love how Peter O'Toole delivers the dialogue in the movie. It's a bit more subtle than perhaps it can be onstage. Also, I think the Broadway revival with Brian Stokes Mitchell singing Quixote is fantastic. I like to study other people and then as much as possible, make the role my own."

Members of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and students from Pensacola State College drama department will also be featured in the production. The cast has spent three weeks rehearsing for the production before opening night.

"That is a bit longer than Pensacola Opera's normal rehearsal period," McKern said.

"However, our amazing director [Anthony] is very close to this piece, and his production is extremely physical and detailed. We are taking the time to really fine tune this complex production, and it has been a lot of fun in the rehearsal room." {in}

MAN OF LA MANCHA

WHAT: Pensacola Opera presents "Man of La Mancha" WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 16 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18 WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox COST: $30-$120 DETAILS: pensacolaopera.com 15

calendar THE EXPANDERS 7 p.m. $12-$15. Vinyl Mu-

THURSDAY 3.15

VETERAN'S MEETING 4 p.m. Free. Ever'man

Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org AWM WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com PAWS ON PALAFOX KICK OFF PAWTY

5:30-7 p.m. Skopelos at New World, 600 S. Palafox. skopelosatnewworld.com PENSACOLA NUMISMATIC SOCIETY 5:30 p.m. Sonny's BBQ, 630 N Navy Blvd.

SELECT LATIN DANCE LESSONS AND PARTY

6:30-9 p.m. $10. Salsa, Cha Cha, Bachata and more. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com MOVIE NIGHT: 'STAND BY ME' 7-9 p.m. The Vineyard at 12th Ave. 1010 N. 12th Ave. Ste. 111. facebook.com/pensacolavineyardbistrowinebar NAHKO-MY NAME IS BEAR TOUR 7 p.m. $25-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com STUDENT JAZZ COMPETITION 7 p.m. Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. jazzpensacola.com THIRD THURSDAY INSPIRATIONS 7:15 p.m.

Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org IN A FOREST DARK AND DEEP 7:30 p.m. $14-$20. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com DANCE PENSACOLA 9 p.m. Finals are March 29. Phineas Phogg's Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

FRIDAY 3.16

SMOKIN' IN THE SQUARE 12 p.m. Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. smokininthesquare.com GALLERY NIGHT 5-11 p.m. St. Patrick's Day. S. Palafox. gallerynightpensacola.org.

WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. HAPPY HOUR COOK OUTS 5 p.m. Drink specials, free cookout. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DATE NIGHT DANCING 6:30-8 p.m. $15.

Learn the basics of several romantic ballroom and country dance styles in group classes that keep partners together.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com OPEN MIC 7-11 p.m. Single Fin Cafe, 380 N. 9th Ave. facebook.com/singlefincafe

sic Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

SPRING UNDER THE OAKS 7 p.m. $15-$20.

The Point Restaurant, 14340 Innerarity Point Road.

ICE FLYERS VS. PEORIA RIVERMEN 7:05 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com SMALL DOG RACE NIGHT 7:05 p.m. $40 registration (includes hockey tickets).

Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com IN A FOREST DARK AND DEEP 7:30 p.m. $14-$20. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

Wish You Were Here?

Hangout Music Fest 2018 Giveaway

PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS: MAN OF LA MANCHA 7:30 p.m. $25 and up. Saenger The-

atre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

ST. LOUIS BRASS 7:30 p.m. Ashmore Audi-

torium Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Tickets: pensacolastate.edu AFTER GAME SKATE 9:30 p.m. $9-$12.

Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com MAN OF LA MANCHA RECEPTION 10:30 p.m. $40-$50. Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolaopera.com

SATURDAY 3.17

REDNECK RELAY 7 a.m. Community

Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. smokininthesquare.com SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com BIRDING WITH FWMAUDUBON SOCIETY

9 a.m. Meet at large parking lot on north side of Fort Pickens. Pensacola Beach. fmwaudubon.org

O'RILEY'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION 9 a.m.-11 p.m. O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox.

DEBBY'S KITCHEN 10 a.m. Ever'man Educa-

If you're anything like us, every time you hear 'Love' on the radio you start day dreaming about Hangout Fest 2018.

In addition to Kendrick Lamar, headliners for this year's fest include The Killers and The Chainsmokers. They've also got SZA, ODESZA, Cold War Kids, Portugal.

The Man, St. Vincent, Foster the People and about 60 more acts we're dying to check out.

As if that stacked line-up alone wasn't enough to get you packing up and heading to Gulf Shores, Inweekly has once again partnered with Hangout Fest to give away a pair of general admission, three-day passes to one lucky music lover.

All you have to do to win is tell us your

tional Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org GO IRISH ON THE ISLAND PUB CRAWL 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Begins at Crabs We Got 'Em, 6 Casino Beach Boardwalk. pensacolabeachchamber.com NAMASTAY FOR THE BEER 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco GULF COAST SCIENCE FESTIVAL: EXPO DAY 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Seville Square. pensacolamesshall. org/gulf-coast-science-festival PLT COSTUMER'S GUILD ORIENTATION 10 a.m.2 p.m. Pensacola Little Theatre atrium, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com

name, email and who you'd bring with you to the beach. Super easy, right?

Go to inweekly.net and search "Hangout Giveaway" to enter.

Please note: Each email address entered will only be counted once. Winners must provide their own hotel and travel arrangements. Contest ends March 31. The winner will be notified via email April 2.

HANGOUT MUSIC FEST 2018 WHEN: Friday, May 18-Sunday, May 20 WHERE: Gulf Shores, AL DETAILS: hangoutmusicfest.com

SMOKIN' IN THE SQUARE 12 p.m. Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. smokininthesquare.com JUNIOR HUMANE SOCIETY ADOPTION 12-4 p.m. PetSmart, 6251 N. Davis Highway. pensacolahumane.org ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT RED FISH BLUE FISH

12-8 p.m. Red Fish Blue Fish, 5 Via de Luna Dr. facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach NATURAL HEALING 1:30 p.m. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org WISDOM OF MYTH 2-4 p.m. Free, public

So You Think You Can Write?

Let Us Be The Judge.

Inweekly is hiring local freelance writers to contribute articles spanning a range of topics—including local goverment, music, dance, theater, visual arts and more.

To be considered, please e-mail a résumé and recent clips to joani@inweekly.net.

*We are also on the hunt for a experienced freelance copy editor. So if you spotted the typos in this ad and would enjoy fixing our mistakes on a weekly basis, you should also email joani@inweekley.net.

616 1

www. radiofree pensacola .com inweekly.net

calendar invited. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT SEVILLE QUARTER All night. Contests, Irish music. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

munity Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. smokininthesquare.com

COUPLES COOK: A CRAFT BEER-INFUSED DINNER 7 p.m. $60. Pensacola Cooks

SOUTHEASTERN TEEN SHAKESPEARE COMPANY: SHENANIGANS 4-5 p.m. Free. 1010 N.

Kitchen, 3670 Barrancas Ave. pensacolacooks.rezclick.com BLINK 182 TRIBUTE-DUDE RANCH AND THE GIRL AT THE ROCK SHOW 7 p.m. $10. Vinyl

Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS 7 p.m. $10. The

Marlow Boys. From the Ground Up Community Garden, 501 N. Hayne St. fromthegroundupgardenpensacola.com ICE FLYERS VS. PEORIA RIVERMEN 7:05 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com IN A FOREST DARK AND DEEP 7:30 p.m. $14-$20. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. pensacolalittletheatre.com DANCE PARTY 8-midnight. Partner dancing on the best wood dance floor in the area.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com

SUNDAY 3.18

WAKE UP HIKE 7 a.m. Meet at Bay Bluffs Park, Scenic Highway at Summit Ave., for a brisk one to two-hour walk with brunch to follow at an area restaurant.

GUNS VS. HOSES 9 a.m. Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. smokininthesquare.com GROUP MEDITATION 9:30 a.m. Free.

Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org MAN OF LA MANCHA DIRECTOR'S BRUNCH

11:45 a.m. $50. Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox. pensacolaopera.com SMOKIN' IN THE SQUARE 12 p.m. Com-

PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS: MAN OF LA MANCHA 2 p.m. $25 and up. Saenger The-

atre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

12th Ave. setsco.org/first-city-shakespeare

J BOOG 7 p.m. $20-$75. Vinyl Music Hall, 2

S. Palafox. vinylmusichall.com TOBY MAC 7 p.m. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com BACK PORCH COMEDY WOMEN'S SHOWCASE 7:30 p.m. Free. chizuko, 506 W. Bel-

mont St. facebook.com/backporchcomedy

MONDAY 3.19

WELCOME HOME BLUE ANGELS 1-3 p.m.

Pensacola Beach. facebook.com/blueangelsassociation PILATES MAT 1:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org CBD OIL LECTURE WITH JOSH HENDRIX 4 and 6 p.m. $5. Ever'man Educational Center, 327 W. Garden St. everman.org SEVILLE QUARTER MILERS 5:30 p.m. Runners meet in front of Seville Quarter for a run around downtown Pensacola. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com BALLROOM DANCE LESSONS 6:30-8 p.m. $10. Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and more.

Professional dance instruction for all skill levels. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com SONGWRITERS AND POETS OPEN MIC 7-9 p.m.

Goat Lips, 2811 Copter Road. goatlips.com BREW I.Q. TRIVIA NIGHT WITH JARRELL HENDRIX 7-9 p.m. Perfect Plain Brewing

Co., 50 E. Garden St. facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco HIP-HOP DANCE LESSONS 8-9 p.m. $10.

Learn hip-hop moves from professional instructor. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com

TUESDAY 3.20

TRYON MOVIE NIGHT 4 p.m. Free. "Homeward Bound." Tryon Branch Library, 1200 Langley Ave. mywfpl.com COMPLIMENTARY WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m.

SoGourmet, 407-D S. Palafox. sogourmetpensacola.com WEST FLORIDA LITERARY FEDERATION OPEN MIC 6:30 p.m. Free. Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. COUNTRY DANCE LESSONS 6:30 p.m. $10.

Country Two Step, East Coast Swing, Competition Choreography and more.

DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com MOVIES AT THE REX 7 p.m. "Casablanca." $5. The REX, 18 N. Palafox. pensacolacinemaart.com UWF LAMBDA COALITION MEETING 7 p.m.

Building 36, room 191. University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway.

COMEDY NIGHT 7 p.m. Swan Neck Meadery, 2115 W. Nine Mile Road. swanneckwinery.com ICE FLYERS VS. BIRMINGHAM BULLS 7:05 p.m. $15-$29. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. pensacolabaycenter.com

WEDNESDAY 3.21

POPULAR LITERARY BOOK CLUB 10:30 a.m. Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. mywfpl.com WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Free. Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 16 Fort Pickens Road.

SERVING BREAKFAST MON - SAT 8AM - 11AM

SUN BRUNCH STARTING AT 9AM

DOWNTOWN PENSACOLA

30 SOUTH PALFOX

for more listings visit inweekly.net

Funny Women

By Shelby Nalepa

In honor of Women's History Month, Back Porch Comedy's monthly show at chizuko Sunday night will feature an all-female lineup of comedians, plus hip-hop duo Cookies and Cake.

"Back Porch Comedy is a group of dedicated local stand-up comedians that perform March 15, 2018

mainly at Back Porch Bar and Grill and we also perform at a couple other venues around town," said co-founder Olivia Searcy. "Because it is Women's History Month, I thought it would be fun to do an all-girls show."

Searcy said that chizuko owners Jess Laws and Daisy Doyle asked her last summer if they would do comedy shows there monthly and that they have been very successful and keep getting better each time.

"Back Porch Comedy used to be a very small group with only a couple of female comics," Searcy said. "But now that the stand-up comedy scene here has been growing, we have about 13 local female comics with at least half of them coming out to open mics regularly."

Searcy said that this particular show is giving female comics the chance to perform together, even if they have been away from the scene for a while.

"This will also not be the first or last

time Cookies and Cake and female comedians have shared the stage," Searcy said. "We have all performed at Lady Fest in the past."

Comics performing will include Olivia Searcy, Leah Holcomb, Carol Rivers, Brynne Ruff, Charlie Bae Sikes, Lee Bone, Rebecca Redding, Kendall Keating, Kat M. and Sonya King, who has appeared on Good Morning America and The View. {in}

BACK PORCH COMEDY WOMEN'S SHOWCASE

WHAT: An all local female comedy showcase, plus a set from Cookies and Cake WHEN: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 18 WHERE: chizuko, 506 W. Belmont St. COST: Free DETAILS: facebook.com/backporchcomedy

17

818 1

inweekly.net

news of the weird THE WEIRDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY A co-ed dormitory at Hunter College in New York City has become the site of a dispute between the college and 32-year-old Lisa S. Palmer, who won't vacate her dorm room despite having discontinued her classes in 2016. Palmer, who works for an architecture firm, has "racked up a staggering $94,000 in unpaid residence hall charges," a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court noted. The New York Post reported on Feb. 28 that in June 2016 and fall 2017, she received eviction notices, but she won't budge. Palmer admitted that dorm life is "really lonely. I feel very isolated." Palmer was moved into a wing of the dorm that's occupied only by a middle-aged nurse, whom the college is also trying to evict. In fact, Hunter is working on removing nine nurses, who were given rooms in the building when it was owned

by Bellevue Hospital.

ONLY IN TEXAS Ana Lisa Garza, a Starr County district judge in south Texas, is running for a state House seat in District 31. Garza has received almost $90,000 in contributions to her campaign, but more than $50,000 of that has been in a most unusual currency: deer semen. Deer breeder Fred Gonzalez, treasurer of the Texas Deer Association, said breeders often donate semen "straws" instead of money: "Semen is a very common way for us to donate. One collection on a buck could lead to 60 straws sometimes. If you have a desirable animal, it's a way to bring value without breaking the bank." A campaign finance report valued each straw donated at $1,000. Gonzalez told the Dallas Morning News that the semen donated for Garza's campaign went into a tank sold in one lot, the proceeds of which will go to the campaign.

AWESOME! Name recognition won't be a problem for the Libertarian Party challenger for eastern Arkansas' 1st Congressional District seat: Elvis D. Presley. The Associated Press reported that the King impersonator from Star City, Arkansas, who legally changed his name to match the rock 'n' roll icon's (although the "real" Elvis' middle initial was A), filed campaign paperwork on Feb. 26. Presley works as an auto refinish technician at Camp's Custom Paint in Star City, but his political ambitions aren't new: He's also run for governor, land commissioner and state legislature.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE ... Republican State Sen. John Ruckelshaus of Indianapolis is the proud sponsor of a new measure in Indiana that bans eyeball tattooing. According to the proposed law, passed by both the Senate and the House, tattooists would be prohibited from coloring the whites of a customer's eyes, with a fine of up to $10,000 per violation. The Associated Press reported that Sen. Ruckelshaus admitted he's not aware of any problems with eyeball-tattooing in Indiana.

The legislation was on Gov. Eric Holcomb's desk for his signature on March 1.

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT Even before it opened last year, Apple's spaceship building in Cupertino, California, presented a transparency problem: Its glass walls couldn't be distinguished from its glass doors, and since moving in on Jan. 2, several workers have been injured after walking into them. The San Francisco Chronicle reported three people suffered head injuries severe enough to summon emergency responders. Apple's vice president of real estate and development, Dan Whisenhunt, told the local Rotary Club in January there hadn't been any problems with birds flying into the glass. "Now the humans on the inside, that's a different story," he said. "That's a problem we are working on right now." Architects have added black rectangular stickers to the glass panes, which seem to be helping.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Leahman G.R. Potter, 48, neglected to conceal the evidence after he stole a pot of meatballs from a neighbor's garage in Hazle Township in Pennsylvania. The meatball owner returned home Feb. 26 to find Potter outside his garage, covered in red sauce, and his meatball pot missing, according to United Press International. When Pennsylvania State Police arrived shortly afterward, they found the pot in the street and Potter at his home, where he was charged with burglary, trespass and theft.

•KTAR News in Phoenix reported that Peoria Police Department officers were called to a gas station Feb. 23 in response to a shoplifting.

When they arrived, suspects Marwan Al Ebadi, 28, and Salma Hourieh, 29, set off on foot before hopping over a fence — directly into a secured parking lot of the Peoria Police Department. Hourieh tried to hide beneath a bench outside the station, while Al Ebadi jumped back over the fence and was stopped in the street.

Both were arrested and charged with shoplifting. "You should never run from the police," said police spokesman Brandon Sheffert, "and if you do, do not run into a secure parking lot of a police station."

FULL DISCLOSURE Linda Fein and her husband thought they had found their dream home in Paradise Valley, near Phoenix. They offered $1.8 million for the house and 1.3-acre lot, but then found out the house belonged to Kevin and Sandra Otterson and was the setting for their pornography website, Wifey's World, founded in 1998. "I just can't make Thanksgiving dinner on counters where a porn star has been lounging around," Fein told the Arizona Republic. In late February, the couple rescinded their offer on the four-bedroom home. "I certainly believe there are people out there who wouldn't care about the house being used for those purposes," Fein explained. "I'm just not one of them." {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2018 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com March 15, 2018

Let’s Wine!

Free Wine Tasting Every Thursday AWM 5pm - 7pm

EATS, DRINKS & SMILES BIG ASS SMILES @THEMAGNOLIAEPH NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS

5:30-9 a.m.

27 S. 9th Ave. | 850•433•9463 AragonWineMarket.com

Monday-Friday

TALCUM POWDER ALERT Did you or a loved one regularly use talcum powder and later develop ovarian cancer?

OVARIAN CANCER FROM TALC Medical studies show that women who use talcum powder in the genital area face an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Talcum powder lawsuits allege manufacturers knew of the risk and chose not to warn women about the danger. We are reviewing these cases now at no cost to you. Call us today to find out if you have a claim.

212 W. Intendencia Street Pensacola, FL 32502 | 850-444-0000 www.stevensonklotz.com 19

Easter Brunch B Dinner BOTTOMLESS CHAMPAGNE AND MIMOSAS FOR $5 AND BLOODY MARYS FOR $2

Sunday, APRIL 1 · BRUNCH 11 a.M.–3 p.M. · DINNER 3 P.M. Chef Billy Ballou is offering a smoked salmon Benedict brunch feature, as well as a dinner feature of grilled lamb chops. Additionally, during both brunch and dinner service, we will be serving from our standard menus with all your Fish House favorites. For menus and details, visit fishhousepensacola.com.

FISH HOUSE: OPEN DAILY AT 11 A.M. · ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE: OPEN MON.–SAT. 5 P.M., SUN. 11 A.M. · (850) 470-0003 · 600 S. BARRACKS ST.

Independent News | March 15, 2018 | inweekly.net