Inweekly March 16 2023

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The University of West Florida Remembers the Rich Life and Legacy of

Lewis Bear, Jr.

Honorary Doctorate ’23

Former UWF Board of Trustees Chairman, UWF Foundation board member, UWF Foundation Fellow and avid supporter of UWF and the Pensacola community.

Lewis’ support for the University of West Florida will continue to benefit students for years to come.

winners & losers

winners losers

JESSICA SIMPSON The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce has hired the local native as its new vice president of Membership Services. In previous roles, Simpson has worked as the executive director of the Health and Hope Clinic of Pensacola and executive director of the Pensacola chapter of the American Cancer Society. Through these roles, Simpson gained skills in fundraising for large and small corporate events, grant writing, nonprofit management, volunteer recruitment and event planning. Simpson currently serves as a board member of the nonprofit Crowned for Ashes.

LEROY WILLIAMS The Brownsville Community Center coordinator is launching a new performing arts club beginning Tuesday, March 28. The club is open to youth ages 8-18, and participants will learn voice and dance movements, acting techniques, improvisation and musical theatre basics. The club will also perform several complete productions for the public. Pre-registration is open now-March 28. An accomplished playwright, Williams said, "Our mission is to promote an appreciation and understanding of the performing arts by producing various forms of entertainment for our community and, most importantly, have fun doing it."

JOSEPH LADAPO The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want DeSantis' surgeon general to stop disproportionately focusing on the few examples of adverse effects from the COVID vaccine. They urge him to recognize that more than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given around the world "with little evidence of widespread adverse events." In a letter to Ladapo, the federal agencies wrote his claims about an increase in risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines were "incorrect, misleading and could be harmful to the American public." They also reminded him that reports of adverse events to VAERS following vaccination do not mean that a vaccine caused the event.

TAMMY NICHOLS Last month, the Idaho state senator introduced a bill banning mRNA vaccines that prevent COVID but introduced last week a nearly identical bill to allow farmers to use it for their livestock. Nichols wants to jail doctors, not veterinarians.

MILITARY ACADEMIES

The Northwest Florida chapter of the National Association of Social Workers named Mike Kimberl its Public Citizen of the Year; IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area its Organization of the Year; Jacqueline Garrick, LCSW its Social Worker of the Year; and Honor Mosley Bell III its Student Social Worker of the Year.

SOCIAL WORKER AWARDS

MISS ROSE DYNASTY PAGEANT The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts forced the drag pageant to relocate to a Kissimmee resort at the last minute over a surprise age restriction, and the event raised more money than ever for the nonprofit it funds, according to organizers. The state had threatened the downtown Orlando arts center's liquor license over complaints that minors, although accompanied by adults, were permitted to watch the show. The drag show raised over $28,000 for the Rose Dynasty Foundation, which offers mentorship and support to LGBTQ youths.

The Pentagon's biannual report on sexual assault at U.S. military academies found reports of unwanted sexual contact increased 18% for the 2021-22 school year, a dramatic increase from previous years. One in five female students self-identified unwanted sexual contact in the last year—an increase from 16% in 2018 to 21.4%—while reports from male students almost doubled. The data is particularly troubling given that most instances of sexual assault go underreported.

CALIFORNIA MIGRATION

In his speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis said that Californians were flocking to the Sunshine State. He declared, "If you look over the last four years, we've witnessed a great American exodus from states governed by leftist politicians imposing leftist ideology and delivering poor results." However, only about 29,000 California residents, not even one-tenth of 1% of the state's population, moved to Florida in 2021 and 2022. Our governor needs to understand that fact-checking gets more rigorous when he travels out of Florida.

Jessica Simpson / Photo Courtesy of SRIA Joseph Ladapo / Photo Courtesy of FDOH

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

BUSTING THE BUSTING

I love busting myths as much as Gov. Ron DeSantis, except our governor doesn't quite understand the concept. Last week, he held a press performance on his removal of books from school.

"Exposing the 'book ban' hoax is important because it reveals that some are attempting to use our schools for indoctrination," said Gov. DeSantis. "In Florida, pornographic and inappropriate materials that have been snuck into our classrooms and libraries to sexualize our students violate our state education standards. Florida is the education state, and that means providing students with a quality education free from sexualization and harmful materials that are not age appropriate."

Former state senator and charter school official, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. served as the governor's cheerleader. "Education is about the pursuit of truth, not woke indoctrination. Under Governor DeSantis, Florida is committed to rigorous academic content and high standards so that students learn how to think and receive the tools necessary to go forth and make great decisions."

Then, Gov. DeSantis sent out a press release with four myths that his "facts" busted. However, his "facts" either lacked complete information, ignored the myth or simply repeated his position.

MYTH 1: Florida schools have been directed to "empty libraries" and "cover classroom books." The governor noted that of the 23 districts that reported removing materials, Duval and St. Johns counties have removed most, 19 each. Of the 175 books removed across the state, 164 (94%) were removed from media centers, and 153 (87%) were identified as pornographic, violent or inappropriate for their grade level.

FACT BUSTED: The review process for book removal has only just begun in most counties. Escambia County is reviewing over 150 books, and four have been pulled so far. In January, district officials in Manatee and Duval counties directed teachers to remove or wrap up their classroom libraries to avoid running afoul of Diaz's department until teachers receive approval.

MYTH 2: Florida is banning children's books about Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente. The governor didn't deny the fact. Instead, he list-

ed four books he said parents found in Florida schools—"A Memoir," "Flamer," "This Book Is Gay" and "Let's Talk About It."

FACT BUSTED: Duval County did pull the Clemente and Aaron biographies last year, but the district reinstated the books in February after they passed the review process. Escambia County is reviewing the biography of another Black athlete, "When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball."

MYTH 3: Florida has banned the instruction of African American History, including the discussion of slavery and the aftermath of slavery DeSantis asserted that such history has expanded during his administration.

FACT BUSTED: The African American History taught can only be DeSantis' sanitized version. The governor rejected the AP course on Black Studies and has questioned whether Florida high students should be allowed to take any Advanced Placement courses, which give students college credit, in the future.

MYTH 4: Florida teachers could be committing a third-degree felony by having books on "certain topics" within their classrooms. This is true, not a myth. The governor points out that Statute 847.012 has been in law for many years and carries a felony penalty for distributing pornographic material to children. According to DeSantis, the new laws "further solidify Florida's commitment to ensuring that the content available in our schools is appropriate for students."

FACT BUSTED: DeSantis insinuates the books removed are pornographic material. Several books by famous authors are banned due to vague guidelines. Over the weekend, The Washington Post reported Martin County removed a book about the Holocaust, "The Storyteller," which concerns the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor who meets an elderly former SS officer.

District officials said they were following guidance from the Florida Department of Education—thank you, Manny Diaz—that urged educators to nix books that they wouldn't be "comfortable reading aloud."

Books are being banned in school districts across the state to further Gov. DeSantis' political career, and our kids are suffering for it. That's a fact. {in} rick@inweekly.net

"A FORCE OF NATURE"

friends.' And that's how we

Benson would later drop out of the race. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed her to head the Agency for Health Care Administration. Gaetz won the election by a landslide. "We became closer friends and supported each other in causes we both believed in for many years thereafter. He was a guy who said what he meant and did what he said—and always kept

The retired lawmaker also talked about Lewis's business acumen. "Lewis Bear was extraordinarily successful in business. There are probably two or three people who built Northwest Florida's modern economy, and Lewis Bear certainly was one of them. But he didn't stop there because he was driven by a sense of community involvement and particularly community involvement that would help

LUMON MAY

Lumon May has known Lewis and Belle Bear since childhood. "I didn't know that he was this philanthropist, didn't really understand that he was this great political supporter or civic leader. I just knew him as David and Cindi and Lewis's dad."

He added, "I would say that even growing up, the Bears always would open their house. They didn't care about red, yellow, black, white, Republican, Democrat, rich or poor. Lewis and Belle and their children were always encompassing everyone. And I think that's what set Lewis apart from most leaders is that Lewis could talk to the person in Attucks Court or Oakwood Terrace, or Gulf Breeze or Portofino. He just had that way about him that made everybody feel comfortable around him."

Lewis and Belle Bear supported the Southern Youth Sports Association. Much of his support was done without fanfare. May shared, "He wanted to make sure our kids had tickets to the Pensacola Interstate Fair, and Lewis came down to Legion Field to bring those passes down to those children. He and Belle made sure that we were giving disadvantaged children an opportunity to go to the fair."

Pensacola Bay. All the other media have praised his business acumen as the head of the Lewis Bear Company, his leadership in the arts, economic development and higher education, and his philanthropy.

I interviewed Big Lewis in all those capacities but also knew him as a friend. On the surface, we shouldn't have gotten along. I'm the publisher of an alt-weekly that challenges the status quo, and Lewis represented what I saw in the early days of this newspaper as the status quo. Plus, I resist being told what to do, and Lewis liked giving orders.

What bonded us was a passion for this community and humor. We might have disagreed on some issues, which led a more than a few epic battles during Pensacola Chamber board meetings. However, I always enjoyed our conversations and that twinkle in his eye when he was about to zing me with a quip.

But I realized to gain a fuller picture of Lewis Bear Jr., I needed to reach out to others who also knew him—Don Gaetz, Lumon May, Quint Studer, Martha Saunders, Maria Goldberg and Collier Merrill, who tag-teamed with Lewis at the Pensacola Museum of Art, University of West Florida and Triumph Gulf Coast.

DON GAETZ

When BP tar balls hit our shores and ruined our economy in the summer of 2010, Gaetz and

how to set up Triumph Gulf Coast," Gaetz told me. "He gave very solid suggestions about how to make sure that money didn't fall into the hands of politicians but was truly used for economic development and job development. And then I was able to persuade Lewis to come on the board of Triumph Golf Coast, and the governor appointed him."

He pointed out how Lewis's political influence and "his grit and determination" made sure $1.5 billion stayed in Northwest Florida. "Lewis was principally responsible for making sure that there was more than $250 million already invested to date in economic development, education, job creation in Northwest Florida to help our communities, and much more will be invested in the years to come."

Gaetz met Lewis when he was running for the Florida Senate in 2006 against State Rep. Holly Benson, whom the Bear was supporting.

"I sat down with Lewis 20 years ago and asked him if he'd consider supporting me, and I laid out all the reasons why and talked about our mutual friends," Gaetz shared, "and he said, 'You know, Don, I really would like to support you. I think you're doing a good job over in Okaloosa County, but I've already made a commitment, and I keep my word, so I'm going to do everything I can to help my candidate against you, but I sure like you, and I hope we can be

And on his philanthropy, Gaetz said, "I know he did things that were far and away beyond what was done publicly. There are people who were very successful in business, who were very generous to the community with their time and money, but there are a whole lot that aren't. Lewis Bear was, in my view, the greatest philanthropist in Northwest Florida history."

QUINT STUDER

Over the past decade, Lewis and Quint Studer, co-owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and founder of the Studer Community Institute, have donated significantly to local projects.

Studer said he got to know Lewis and Belle Bear during the Community Maritime Park referendum. The Bears planned to contribute to the maritime museum that was to be included at the park, and Studer and Lewis hit it off.

"We always came to the conclusion that if we combined our dollars and supported each other, we could do more than doing it alone," said Studer. "Many of the projects one would lead, then the second one would come in—at the Children's Hospital, we came in with a donor gift, and they came in with great work on the oncology unit; at Baptist, they came with a big gift; we came with a smaller gift."

He added, "We just felt if we worked together, we could do more."

When asked about Lewis's legacy, he said, "If there's a legacy besides all the projects that Lewis helped get off the ground and supported, it is going to be the continuation of his community service through his children and grandchildren."

As county commissioner, May had to deal with Lewis on a different level, and the two didn't always agree. "All Lewis wanted you to do was just tell him what you were going to do," said the commissioner. "If there was an issue on which you couldn't support Lewis, he liked for you to tell him. And I think that's one of the things I loved about Lewis is that he could disagree with you and fight you but still resolve with you and say, 'Let's agree to disagree.'"

He continued, "People sometimes thought he was a bull in a China shop or a bully. But actually, he really, really, really, really was a gentle giant, in my opinion."

COLLIER MERRILL

Merrill's relationship with Lewis began at the Pensacola Museum of Art, which Lewis's parents helped start in the mid-50s when they were part of a group that convinced the Pensacola City Council to convert the old police station into an art center.

"My great aunt, Mary Janice Thornton, was an artist and had a lot of artwork at the museum," Merrill shared. "At a party, unbeknownst to me, she asked Lewis to get me involved in the art museum because he was on the board at that time. So he invited me, and I got on, even though I wasn't even in my 30s."

He smiled, "I stayed on the board, and he became chairman, and the next year, I became chairman—as I joke, which meant Lewis was still chairman."

Bear's tenacity convinced Merrill to ask him to take over economic development when Merrill became chairman of the Greater Pensacola Chamber.

"In 2010, that BP oil spill hit, the economy was down, real estate had really gone downhill and we were starting to do a capital campaign drive

Lewis Bear Jr. and his wife Belle Bear/ Photo Courtesy of UWF

because we realized we needed to recruit more businesses and would need incentives and other things to attract new industries," Merrill shared.

He continued, "Lewis was probably 70 years old at the time and had already served as chamber chairman decades earlier. I asked, and he said, 'I'll do it,' and led this area's economic development until he died, quite frankly."

Lewis served three years as the chamber's vice chairman for economic development. When the chamber spun off economic development, he chaired FloridaWest and the Pensacola Escambia Development Commission.

Merrill later became the founding chair of the University of West Florida Board of Trustees. When he rolled off, Lewis was appointed and continued to serve on the board until his death.

He shared what he told UWF President Judy Bense when she asked what she needed to know about "Mr. Bear." Merrill told her, "Return his phone call. You don't have to agree with him all the time, but don't dismiss him, and you will find out he's your biggest ally."

Merrill said, "I shared the same recommendation with Dr. Saunders. Lewis, like I said, can be your biggest advocate. If he disagrees with you, he'll disagree with you. And I've seen him do it publicly plenty of times, but, at the end of the day, he would be fair."

MARTHA SAUNDERS

The UWF president told me about Lewis's commitment to the university. "For many years, he served on our foundation board of directors and then later on our board of trustees and played a major role in the development of university infrastructure programs and processes."

Dr. Saunders shared, "He was a hands-on board member. I mean that in a good way, in that he wanted to understand; he wanted to see where he could be of most help. But he also never, ever wavered from a commitment to the community and wanted to be sure that the work that we were doing at the university would benefit this community."

She noted that Lewis helped launch UWF's logistics and supply chain management program and created the Bear Family Foundation Engineering endowment to support the engineering program. "He had a hand in the partnership that we have with Florida State University Medical School for physical therapy. He looked for opportunities that leveraged the strengths of the university to benefit the region and the community."

Before he passed, the university bestowed a special honor on Lewis. Dr. Saunders said, "Lewis had been on the list for an honorary doctorate for the longest time. Our honorary doctorate is the highest honor a university can bestow. You can't buy it, it has to be earned, and it was clear to us that Lewis deserved one years ago."

However, there was a glitch—UWF cannot award it to someone on its board. Then the university president got a call from David Bear that his dad was in the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and his health was quickly declining. Would UWF consider bestowing the doctorate?

Dr. Saunders said, "Of course, I said I would fly up if that's what you need. But we agreed to do a Zoom honorary doctorate bestowal, which was certainly the first for us. And so on a Sunday morning, I was in full regalia, one of my vice presidents was there in full regalia with our tech people, and Lewis and his family were on their

end, and we bestowed the doctorate with all the pomp and circumstance that we always use."

When asked about Lewis's less serious side, she shared, "If you ever sat by him in a meeting that he wasn't in charge, he was the guy that was going to get you in trouble, mainly because he would whisper some wicked little witticism, usually some comment, about whoever was talking, and you knew if you laughed everybody would pay attention. So there was always that—if I sit by Lewis, I'm going to get in trouble today."

Calling Lewis "a force of nature," Dr. Saunders later added, "It's just hard to imagine a world without him."

MARIA GOLDBERG

The former executive director of the Pensacola Museum of Art told me about Lewis's love for the visual arts. "If you were to look back in the history of the museum from its inception as an art center, Lewis and Belle, their family, his parents, and now through the Family Foundation, they are probably the largest contributors to the visual arts and the art museum that has ever been."

She added, "We, as a community, are all indebted to him and his leadership through all of that, and that we have such a vibrant museum for the benefit of all of us."

Goldberg shared that Lewis was "incredibly passionate" about art. He loved just being surrounded by it, learning about it, and also sharing it with folks."

I asked her to share a special moment about Lewis. "Probably one of the coolest things to see was during our exhibit, the Vandals to Vanguards exhibit. At the closing reception, we had a panel conversation, which was really

wonderful. And on that panel was Lewis and myself, David Bear, and Lauren Bonner, one of his grandchildren."

She continued, "And it was really a conversation led by the museum on how did you collect, how did you get into art. And I will tell you the 'twinkle in his eye' moment was when he listened to Lauren talk about how she's inspired as an artist and how Lewis was such an influence on her and the career path that she's chosen and her dedication to the arts. It was just magical, just one of many magical moments. But that was a really wonderful moment to see happen."

IN HIS HONOR

I enjoyed the challenge of arguing with Lewis because of his intelligence and quick wit, but it was even more enjoyable when we worked together on a cause because Lewis was a big thinker that cared about our community's future. He pushed me to be better, and I'll forever love him for that.

Lewis is survived by his wife, Belle; their three children, Lewis Bear III and wife Jennifer, Cindi (Bear) Bonner and husband Chad, and David Morris Bear and wife Cindi Bear; and four grandchildren, Lauren and Lewis "Chad" Bonner and Julia Belle and Max Bear.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to The Lewis and Belle Bear Family Facilities Endowment Fund at Temple Beth-El, the Pensacola Museum of Art or the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

Don Gaetz may have summarized best the feelings of those who loved Lewis. "Lewis Bear. We love him. We'll celebrate him. We'll remember him. And by God, we'll always miss him." {in}

Preservation's 2022 Florida's 11 to Save.

Rev. Powell's nonprofit Truth for Youth purchased the 2.3-acre property in 2010 for $750,000 with a loan from the owner, American Building Components Inc. Unfortunately, he got behind on the payments, and the debt grew to $900,000 with interest. The property is set to be auctioned on Wednesday, March 22.

Last week, Community Redevelopment Agency approved the mayor's request for the authority to meet with Rev. Powell and figure out how to save the building. The CRA approved the mayor offering up to $1.5 million for the property. Mayor D.C. Reeves hoped to preserve the historic structure and create a community space that fit Rev. Powell's vision and possibly offer affordable housing in the Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood.

"I didn't want to sit idly by and not see if there wasn't something we could alongside Rev. Powell to preserve in both of those ways, as well as listen to the community about what they would want on that iconic block," the mayor told Inweekly.

Mayor Reeves met with Rev. Powell after receiving CRA approval. "I said, 'Look, what I want is what you want, which is a generational vision and preservation, both of the historic structure and the neighborhood.' Ultimately, we made an offer of $1.4 million with a $100,000 contingency."

At the 4 p.m. deadline on Thursday, March 9, Rev. Powell turned down the offer, saying that he had a loan that would happen on Monday. Reeves told Inweekly, "And I said that that's great and respected what he wants to do. He's a property owner, and our interest is in preservation and that neighborhood."

The mayor said the city would not get involved in the auction. However, if Powell's loan falls through, he would be open to completing the

deal, but the window narrows as March 22 nears.

"I have the authorization to do so now, but again, that doesn't mean we're going to be calling him or his representatives every day," said the mayor. "When we start getting a matter of hours 24, 48, 72 hours away from the auction, it gets a little complicated in terms of what the city could actually functionally pay off a lien holder and all of those things as well."

If the property goes to auction, Mayor Reeves said, "Our duty, at that point, is to work with whoever wins the auction proactively, whether it's someone local or out-of-town, and try to be partners with them in terms of at least the historic preservation."

He added, "Maybe we can't really envision what would happen on the block, but we might start with the first priority of preservation of that corner and Smith's Bakery."

Check on ricksblog.biz for updates on this story.

UNITY NEEDED At the end of the 2020-21 school year, School Superintendent Tim Smith and the Escambia School Board began work on a five-year strategic plan.

"The plan sets a roadmap for where we're going, and one of the important pieces of that was engaging the community and our team members within the school district," Smith told Inweekly. "An exhaustive process was conducted where a tremendous amount of input was gathered as to where should our school district go and what direction we should move forward."

The framework introduced last August was built on the vision "United For Every Student to Succeed" and with five focus areas— students, employees, leadership, business and community. Smith said, "What's happening now is we have teams taking that plan and setting objectives and action items. So the plan is being crafted toward what it will look like in action."

He sees unity as a key element of the vision and strategic plan and provides a means of dealing with the struggles and challenges of the appointed superintendent framework.

"We're going through some growing pains right now with that. Do we change our school superintendent governance structure after two years? I personally think that's not enough time when you take a core system (elected superintendent) and change that," said Smith.

"After two years, we really don't want to quit. What we want to do is we want to persevere. We want to show some grit and determination and make our system the framework it needs. So anytime you do this, you're subject to growing pains, and I think that's exactly what's taking place here. So we need to have some fortitude, and it would be premature to switch a governance structure after a couple years."

He admitted there is difficult work to be done. "There's some big challenges, but we work on that together and keep moving forward and getting stronger and stronger. And so that's what I hope that happens through all these topics of discussion lately, is let's work together; let's collaborate; let's be unified and not shy away from the tough conversation."

GE WIND INVESTMENT Earlier this month, General Electric announced plans to invest more than $450 million in its existing U.S. manufacturing facilities this year, purchasing cutting-edge equipment and making upgrades to position the company and its U.S. workforce for a strong future in advance of the company's planned creation of two independent, industry-leading companies in energy and aerospace.

GE Vernova, GE's portfolio of energy businesses, expects to invest this year in capacity upgrades, facility maintenance, and equipment and tool management. The company is hiring externally for more than 920 U.S.-based positions and anticipates investing upwards of $117 million in its U.S. energy facilities this year, including $20 million in wind turbine manufacturing facilities in Pensacola (GE Wind) to expand production capacity and bring new products to market.

BYE, ERIC Last week, Florida Secretary of State

Cord Byrd notified the Electronic Registration Information Center, Inc. (ERIC), that Florida was terminating its membership. Missouri and West Virginia joined the state in withdrawing from the ERIC, alleging the organization had rejected proposals that they believed would "secure data and eliminate ERIC's partisan tendencies."

"As Secretary of State, I have an obligation to protect the personal information of Florida's citizens, which the ERIC agreement requires us to share," said Secretary Byrd. "Florida has tried to back reforms to increase protections, but these protections were refused. Therefore, we have lost confidence in ERIC."

In April 2019, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida would join the center, a move long sought by county supervisors of elections to help ensure the integrity of voter registration lists. ERIC is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit formed with the Pew Charitable Trusts' assistance in 2012 and grew to include 32 states until last week.

Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford didn't want to discuss the politics of Byrd's decision but was positive about the ERIC system. "It's certainly been a net positive for us, and I believe my 66 colleagues share that."

However, he added that Florida already did a better job than most states of tracking eligible voters but saw ERIC as "an addition."

SHOOTING FIREWORKS On Tuesday, March 7, the 2023 Legislative Session began with speeches from Gov. Ron DeSantis; House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast; and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, with rebuttals from the Democratic opposition.

Speaker Renner told the representatives, "Standing together, along with America's greatest governor, and our Senate partners, this session will be remembered for when we fearlessly took on the major challenges and opportunities facing our state and delivered transformational results again and again."

Among the challenges Renner mentioned were affordable housing, tort reform, constitutional carry of guns, right to life, tax relief, school vouchers, battling inadequate sleep, tech addiction and the indoctrination and sexualization of children, and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) on college campuses.

He challenged the lawmakers to "deliver the kind of real, transformative results our constituents expect and deserve."

President Passidomo praised Gov. Ron DeSantis. "Our governor is truly America's governor. He has defended our conservative values, challenged the individuals and institutions who pose threats to others, and introduced innovative solutions to better our state."

On each senator's desk was a photo book of landmarks that senators submitted to represent their districts. She said, "These are the reasons we are here. We must advance policies that protect our people and our places—what makes Florida so special. We must hold others accountable when they threaten our people and values."

Passidomo shared a Winston Churchill quote that she had given the House Speaker: "These are not dark days. These are great days—the greatest days our country has ever lived—and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race."

She closed, "Senators, the eyes of the nation are on Florida this year. Let's show America how it's done."

In his State of the State address, Gov. DeSantis checked off a litany of accomplishments and recognized several guests in the audience from hurricane-stricken Lee County, law enforcement, education and health care—many of which had resisted COVID vaccinations.

"November's election results represent a vindication of our joint efforts over these past four years," he said. "The results also vest in us the responsibility to lead and provide us the opportunity to shoot for the stars. Boldness be our friend in this endeavor. We have a lot we need to accomplish."

Shooting for the stars included a $2 billion tax cut package, cutting drug costs, holding back "Florida's lawsuit-happy legal climate," accelerating infrastructure projects, unwanted medical interventions and delivering "a good education, not a political indoctrination."

The governor proclaimed Florida to be "on the front lines in the battle of freedom." He said, "We will stand strong. We will hold the line. We won't back down. And I can promise you this— you ain't seen nothing yet."

Rev. John Powell / Photo by SnL Photography

In Memory of Lewis Bear Jr.

Baptist Health Care celebrates and honors the life and legacy of Lewis Bear Jr. His leadership, service and philanthropic contributions have made a tremendous impact upon dozens of organizations and thousands of lives in our community. We extend our deepest sympathy to the Bear Family.

Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, DPlantation, and House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, responded to the governor's address.

Book attacked DeSantis' version of freedom, which includes banning books, limiting protests and forcing pregnancy and birth, even in cases of rape and incest.

"The party of supposed limited government has developed a taste for control and, with it, an aversion to accountability," said the Senate Minority Leader, "and hiding behind a brand of "freedom" I don't recognize while the governor amasses nearly unchecked power."

She added, "We must all pay attention to what's happening over the next 60 days because, under the current state of affairs, things have already gone both too far and yet not far enough."

Book agreed with the Republican leaders that Florida's economy is booming. However, families are still struggling—not earning a living wage and unable to afford a home, insurance or health care. "Make no mistake; we are only as free as the least free among us. And together, we must fight."

House Minority Leader Driskell talked about the state being the tale of two Floridas. "In one Florida, Ron DeSantis' Florida, it feels like we are constantly being told to be angry about something, some new enemy to fear or hate. And lately, the policies coming out of Tallahassee have become more and more shocking, unconstitutional, and downright ridiculous."

She accused the governor of being "so obsessed with woke' that he is asleep at the wheel, and all of his culture war victories have defeats built into them."

In her closing, Driskell added, "We can get back to more reasonable times when Tallahassee functioned as more than one man's publicly funded campaign apparatus. We can get back to the business of the people, finding ways to improve the lives of those who sent us here."

HOPE ABOVE FEAR Last week, the Pensacola City Council approved $2,000 for the Hope Above Fear from the City Council Discretionary Funds for District 1. Stephanie Shepard founded the nonprofit to help teens battling addiction in honor of her son, who died from an overdose last fall.

"Stephanie has been a champ and completely got her nonprofit up and running," District 1 Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier told Inweekly. "I'm really excited to be able to move some money in that direction. So for me personally, that's a real win."

She continued, "We're averaging something like a death every 1.2 days in Escambia County from an overdose, mainly fentanyl. Hopefully, we can see something start happening locally for youth a have a way out."

PUBLIC COMMENTS SOUGHT The city of Pensacola is pursuing state grant funding for three infrastructure projects, with plans to ap -

ply for funding to complete projects at Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park, the Port of Pensacola and Fricker Resource Center.

A public comment period to obtain citizen comments concerning the city's intent to apply for these specific projects is now open from Monday, March 6-Monday, March 20. Written comments may be submitted at bit.ly/3L0RyyP.

The final grant application submission will occur on or before 5 p.m. on April 4.

The funding is available through the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program, a part of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's Hurricane Sally Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program. The program was launched with $67 million available for infrastructure and mitigation activities in communities impacted by Hurricane Sally.

The Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park Project includes stormwater, flood mitigation and other green infrastructure improvements to the linear park to reduce area flooding and boost community resiliency—$31 million requested.

Port of Pensacola Infrastructure Restoration Project includes work on rail, road, water and stormwater drainage as well as mitigation improvements—$10 million requested.

Fricker Resource Center Demolition and Rebuild Project includes demolishing and rebuilding the Fricker Resource Center to serve various community needs, including shelter, assisting with emergency preparations and response—$5 million requested.

Mayor D.C. Reeves plans to present a resolution at the March 23 City Council Meeting to show full support for the anticipated projects. Additional information about the proposed projects is available at cityofpensacola.com/grants.

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Pensacola Interstate Fair has announced that applications are now available for the 2023-2024 John E. Frenkel Sr. Educational Grant program. The deadline to submit an application online is April 10.

"The fair, for a long time now, has been making $30,000 in scholarships available to the community," Dondi Frenkel told Inweekly. "Ever since its beginning, one of our slogans has been "Progress through Education."

The Pensacola Interstate Fair has always had a strong focus and passion for strengthening the community by furthering education. Each year, the Fair awards up to 30 students $1,000 each. To be eligible, applicants must have participated in the Fair through volunteering, displaying an exhibit or being active in the livestock program during their high school years.

All grants are for one year only, beginning with the Fall Term of 2023 and ending with the Summer Term of 2024. The grant is for graduating seniors, made payable to any accredited college or vocational school. Finalists will be selected during the fourth week of April.

For more information, visit pensacolafair. com/scholarship-info. {in}

Pensacola | Destin | Santa Rosa Beach | Tallahassee

The 2023 Florida legislative session opened on Tuesday, March 7, and will run through May 5. With a possible 2024 presidential run by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the eyes of the nation will be on the Sunshine State as lawmakers deal with bills about abortion restrictions, school vouchers, immigration, gun reform, transgender rights and a bevy of other red meat issues that will surely fire up the Republican base.

The session kicked off last week with speeches outlining the battles to be fought over the next 60 days. In the audience for those speeches, and the session in general, were the four Republican lawmakers representing Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and part of Okaloosa County—State Senator Doug Broxson and Representatives Alex Andrade, Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzman.

Sen. Broxson represents Senate District 1, which covers Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and the northern part of Okaloosa County. As chairman of the Appropriations Committee, he is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Tallahassee. Because of demands of the chairmanship, he has only filed one bill (SB 1670) this session, which proposes changes to the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).

Rep. Salzman's House District 1 covers north Escambia County, dipping as far south as West Fairfield Drive. She serves as the vice chair of the Health Care Appropriations subcommittee and Republican Committee whip for Health & Human Service committee.

Most of her bill proposals have drawn little attention. Her most controversial piece of legislation is HB 633, which lowers the penalties for violating the Florida Constitution amendment that voters passed in 2002 to limit the number of students in core classes. The bill also gives preference to students of active-duty military personnel for enrollment in magnet schools, advanced studies programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment, Advanced International Certificate of Education and International Baccalaureate programs.

House District 2 Rep. Andrade represents south Escambia County, including Perdido Key and the city of Pensacola, and south Santa Rosa County from Gulf Breeze to just west of Na-

varre. He follows in the footsteps of Clay Ingram and Jayer Williamson in serving as the chairman of the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee, which gives him a seat at the table when the final state budget is hammered out between the Senate and House.

A staunch conservative Republican, Andrade has been willing to take heat for handling legislation that fits Gov. DeSantis' agenda. Two bills have drawn significant criticism. HB 991 makes it easier for journalists and the media to be sued for defamation. HB 999 outlaws diversity and inclusion statements in a state university's hiring process, eliminates classes on Critical Race Theory (CTR) and gender, and puts the institution's board of trustees in charge of the hiring and firing of faculty.

The newest member of our delegation is Dr. Joel Rudman, whose District 3 covers the rest of Santa Rosa County and the northern portion of Okaloosa County. He serves on the Commerce Committee and the subcommittees for Insurance & Banking, Healthcare Regulation, Higher Education Appropriations, and Postsecondary Education & Workforce Subcommittee.

He has filed HJR 131 and HB 209. HJR 131 proposes a state constitutional amendment to establish procedures for the recall of county officers and commissioners for charter counties. HB 209 provides commissioners of a non-charter county to be removed from office by the county's voters. Escambia and Santa Rosa are non-charter counties.

BILLS TO WATCH

The News Service of Florida put out its "10 Big Issues in 2023"* for readers to watch during the legislative session a week before the opening session, but more controversial bills were filed before the noon deadline on Tuesday, March 7. So we used that list as a jumping-off point and made a few key additions. Some of these bills are being fast-tracked by the House and Senate leaders, so they may be passed before this issue hits the stands. The progress of those bills through the various legislative committees can be followed on myfloridahouse. gov and flsenate.gov. The House and Senate versions may vary.

ABORTION RESTRICTIONS SB 300/

HB 7 bans doctors from knowingly performing or inducing a termination of pregnancy after the sixth week of gestation. Last year, lawmakers set the threshold at 15 weeks, and that law is being challenged in court. These bills would allow abortions up to 15 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape or incest, but they would require women to present proof that they were victims.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING HB 627/SB

102 aligns with one of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo's priorities for the session. On Wednesday, March 8, the Senate quickly passed its version bill that includes providing incentives for investments in affordable housing and encouraging mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas. The bill carries a $711 million price tag. Among other things, it pre-empts local-government rules on density and building heights in certain circumstances, creates tax exemptions for developments that set aside at least 70 units for affordable housing, speeds permits and development orders for affordable housing projects and bars local rent controls.

SCHOOL CHOICE HB 1/SB 202 would massively expand the of eligibility for vouchers, allowing anyone who is "a resident of this state and is eligible to enroll in kindergarten-grade 12 in a public school" to receive the aid, regardless of income status. The proposal would nix income requirements for vouchers and also make vouchers available to home-schooled students.

DEATH PENALTY HB 555/SB 450 would scrap a requirement that unanimous jury recommendations are needed before death sentences can be imposed. House and Senate bills would allow death sentences based on the recommendations of eight of 12 jurors and also give judges more authority.

DEFAMATION HB 991/SB 1220 would revamp the state's defamation laws, potentially weakening protections for journalists. Gov. DeSantis, who frequently criticizes the media, and House Speaker Paul Renner have called for

revisiting the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court ruling known as New York Times v. Sullivan, which helps shield reporters from lawsuits. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Andrade.

GUNS HB 543/SB 150 would allow people to carry concealed weapons without obtaining state licenses, an idea that supporters call "constitutional carry." The proposal has drawn opposition from gun-control groups—and from some gun-rights groups, who say the state should allow people to openly carry guns.

IMMIGRATION HB 1617/SB 1718 aligns with DeSantis' criticism of federal border and immigration policies and would expand the use of the E-Verify system, which is used to verify the employment status of workers, and bar out-of-state tuition waivers for undocumented students.

LAWSUIT LIMITS HB 837/SB 236 includes far-reaching changes to help shield businesses and insurance companies from costly lawsuits. The proposal, which targets issues such as attorney fees, have touched off a lobbying fight, with critics arguing they would harm the ability of injured people to go to court.

SCHOOL BOARDS HJR 31/SJR 94 would put a Florida Constitution amendment on the 2024 ballot to change school-board races from non-partisan to partisan. Also, lawmakers are considering eight-year term limits for school board members, down from the current 12 years (HB 477/SB 1110).

TRANSGENDER

TREATMENT FOR MINORS HB 1421/SB 254 makes it illegal to provide treatments such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender minors. Doctors lose their licenses if they commit violations. The bill also prevents health insurers and HMOs from providing coverage for treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgery and would largely block people from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates. It also grants courts temporary emergency jurisdiction over children if they are at risk of or are

being subjected to the provision of sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures, even though their parents or legal guardians have approved. The bill empowers the government to remove children from an affirming parent by favoring custody for a parent or guardian who is unsupportive of gender-affirming care.

BLOGGERS SB 1316 requires bloggers who are paid to post about the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a Florida Cabinet officer or any member of the Florida Legislature must register with the Office of Legislative Services or the Commission on Ethics. The bloggers complete monthly reports on their posts and compensation received.

BATHROOMS HB 1521/SB 1674 mandates "exclusive use" of restrooms and changing facilities by gender. The legislation bans people from "willfully entering" such a facility designated for "the opposite sex." Violators of this law could face second-degree misdemeanor charges and fines of up to $10,000.

MORE "ANTI-WOKE" IN SCHOOL

HB 1223/SB 1320 prevents school employees from telling students their preferred pronouns if those pronouns "do not correspond to his or her sex" or asking students about their preferred pronouns. The bill prohibits sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade and expands the "age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate" standard for classroom instruction to ninth-12th grades.

RIFLES FOR TEENS HB 1543 lowers the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other "long" guns. The bill reverses the law change made in 2018 after Nikolas Cruz, then 19, used a semi-automatic rifle to kill 17 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High students and faculty members and injure 17 others.

DRAG SHOWS HB 1423/SB 1438 authorizes DBPR to fine, suspend or revoke the license of any public lodging or public food service establishment that admits a child to an adult live performance. Though Florida law already prohibits exposing minors to shows considered sexually explicit or harmful, this bill expands state law to include vague language that can be used to shut down drag shows.

THE ULTIMATE CANCEL ACT SB 1248 requires the Division of Elections to immediately cancel the filings of a political party if certain conditions, which effectively eliminates the Florida Democratic Party for its pre-Civil War views.

*Some of these summaries are from "10 Big Issues in 2023 Session" by Jim Saunders, which was originally published Tuesday, Feb. 28, by the News Service of Florida.

WAYS TO KEEP UP

If you want to stay engaged during the 2023 session—and we hope you do—here are some resources we recommend.

GARY FINEOUT'S FLORIDA PLAYBOOK FOR POLITICO

A digital newsletter that gives an informative rundown of politics throughout the state and includes links for further reading politico.com/newsletters/floridaplaybook

JOHN KENNEDY ON TWITTER

A reporter for the Gannett Capital Bureau twitter.com/jkennedyreport

FLORIDA POLITICS

A statewide media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy and lobbying floridapolitics.com

CAPITAL SOUP

A source for Florida news and opinion, serving daily content about government agencies, political campaigns, statewide associations and research capitalsoup.com

PROGRESS FLORIDA

A nonprofit organization promoting progressive values through digital organizing, media outreach and collaborating with Florida's leading progressive organizations progressflorida.org

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FLORIDA

A nonpartisan political organization that publishes regular "Capitol Reports" lwvfl.org

FIRST AMENDMENT FOUNDATION

A nonprofit that advocates for the rights of freedom of speech and press enshrined in the First Amendment, as well as for open meetings and access to public records protected by the Florida constitution and statutes floridafaf.org

EQUALITY FLORIDA

The largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's LGBTQ community; they are tracking the slate of bills targeting LGBTQ Floridians closely this session eqfl.org

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

We included Facebook pages, so you can see what our are lawmakers are posting. We also listed their email and office phone numbers and addresses, if you want to contact them about certain bills and votes during the session.

SEN. DOUG BROXSON

• facebook.com/dougbroxsonfl

• broxson.doug.web@flsenate.gov

• (850) 595-1036

• 418 W. Garden St., Pensacola, FL 32502

REP. ALEX ANDRADE

• facebook.com/votealexandrade

• alex.andrade@myfloridahouse.gov

• (850) 595-0467

• 226 S. Palafox, Ste. 401B, Pensacola, FL 32502

REP. JOEL RUDMAN

• facebook.com/docrudmanforhouse

• joel.rudman@myfloridahouse.gov

• (850) 936-6012

• 2045 Fountain Professional Court, Ste. D, Navarre, FL 32566

REP. MICHELLE SALZMAN

• facebook.com/thepeoplesconservative

• michelle.salzman@myfloridahouse.gov

• (850) 471-0624

• 3212 S. Highway 95-A, Cantonment, FL 32533 {in}

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

1. United Negro College Fund, Distinguished Leadership Award, 1983

2. Pensacola Chamber of Commerce

a. Pace Award, “Business Leader of the Year”, 1985

b. Distinguished Service Award, 1988

c. Pace Award, “Spirit of Pensacola”, 2001

d. Board Member of the Year, 2011

Your

EDUCATION

1963 Troy State University, Bachelor of Science degree in Math and English

1960 Vanderbilt University, Chemical Engineering

1959 Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tennessee, High School Diploma

WORK EXPERIENCE

1985 - 2023 President and CEO, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida

1968 - 1985 Vice President, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida

1965 - 1968 Sales, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

Board Chair, Pensacola Escambia Development Commission (PEDC) FloridaWest (Community Economic Development Agency)

Executive Committee, Florida’s Great Northwest (16 county economic development organization)

Member, National Beer Wholesalers Association

Life Trustee, Pensacola Museum of Art

Trustee, University of West Florida; Chairman

Board Chair, Pensacola Escambia Development Commission (PEDC)2006-2022

Chairman, Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman for Economic Development (3 yrs)

Board Member, Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Board Chairman and Campaign Chairman, United Way of Escambia County

Chairman, Pensacola Museum of Art

Trustee, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC)

Charter President, Five Flags Rotary

Founding Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida

Board Member, Baptist Health Care Foundation

Board Member, Past Chairman Fiesta of Five Flags

Board Member, Space Florida

Board Member, Enterprise Florida, Inc.

e. Pace Award, “Pioneer” 2013

3. Pensacola Museum of Art, Life Member of BOD, 1992

4. United Way of Escambia County

a. Distinguished Community Service, 1999

b. Tocqueville “Legacy”, 2004

5. American Cancer Society, Excalibur, 2003

6. African American Heritage Society, Heritage Award, 2005

7. American Heart Association, Chairman’s Award, 2007

8. Independent News Weekly

a. “Power List”, 2008-20, Most Powerful, 2010

b. Best Politically Connected, 2011, 2012, 2013

c. Best Person to Have on Your Side, 2013

9. University of West Florida, Foundation Fellow, 2010

10. Florida Bar, Liberty Bell Award, 2013

11. Rotary International, Service Award, 2013

12. Boy Scouts of America, Golden Eagle Award, 2013

13. Florida Beer Wholesalers Assoc., Lifetime Service, 2021

14. National Beer wholesalers Assn., Life Service Award 2022

Board Member, Ringling Museum; Sarasota, Florida

Chairman, Florida Beer Wholesalers Association

Board Member, Beer Industry of Florida

Chairman, Anheuser-Busch Advisory Board

Board Member, North American Wholesale Grocers Association

Board Member, National Beer Wholesalers Association

Secretary of State Appointee, Florida Arts Council (3 terms)

Florida Senate Appointee, Statewide Health Planning Council

Board Member, Tourist and Convention Commission (TACC)

Vice President, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE)

Board Member, Past President, Pensacola Country Club

MILITARY SERVICE

1963-1969 United States Air Force Reserve, Technical Sergeant, Honorable Discharge

PERSONAL

February 10, 1941 – March 3, 2023 in Pensacola, Florida

Married to Belle Yates Bear -1966

Three children – Lewis III, Cindi, and David

Four grandchildren – Lauren, Chad, Julia, Max

HOBBIES

Hunting and Fishing

Lewis Bear Jr. Thank You

time and generosity made life better for all in Pensacola.

Arts & Entertainment

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

Meet the Leads

By Savannah Evanoff

Mason came to opera by way of rock 'n' roll. He grew up with music buff parents (with an affinity for the '60s and '70s); his mother played guitar and sang in bands in Norfolk, Va.

"Eventually, I started singing in a rock band with my cousin and a couple other friends around the age of 14 in Norfolk," Mason said. "My mom suggested, 'If you want, you can do voice lessons. I'm happy to support you in that,' which is a really great blessing and a privilege to have that access as a young person."

At the time, Mason wanted to emulate the likes of Chris Cornell or Robert Plant, heavily influenced by Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" music video. His voice teacher, Robert Turner, showed him a live opera singer who rocked his world in a new way.

Robert Wesley Mason and Katrina Galka speak the same acting language.

It didn't take long for the two leads in Pensacola Opera's upcoming performance of "Carousel" to realize it.

Shout out to the Meisner technique, Mason said, an acting technique they're both coincidentally trained in.

"It showed up for us in the first day, which is funny," Mason said. "We're like, 'You're really listening to me.'"

"It was a different stage experience," Galka said. "We're talking like, 'Oh we're using the same tools,' and they're effective tools. It's pretty cool to see that at play in a rehearsal room."

Mason returned to Pensacola Opera to sing as Billy Bigelow, and Galka will make her Pensacola Opera debut as Julie Jordan.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel" premiered on Broadway in 1945 and will close out Pensacola Opera's 40th anniversary season. In it, Carousel barker Bigelow falls for mill worker Jordan, and the two struggle to navigate Bigelow's violent actions.

"At the beginning, you see Julie and Billy fall in love," Galka said. "What's interesting and becomes a central point is that neither one is able to say, really, 'I love you,' when they're both together alive on Earth. It's so human. It's a real love story, that we can be with someone and

spend all this time and experience all these life things together, and yet, what is it that keeps us from actually just saying, 'I love you,' or even really treating one another with that love, putting that love into action."

SHARED EXPERIENCE

Their acting technique isn't their only common ground.

Mason and Galka both entered the opera world, at its barebones, because someone believed in them.

Galka was born with a love of movie musicals, losing hours to "Oklahoma," "The Sound of Music," "Annie" and any Disney movie of the sort. She also played piano, clarinet and danced. She entered college as a theater major but quickly sensed a void.

"My dad was like, 'You're always really happy when you're singing. What if you just take some voice lessons?'" Galka said. "I think he just meant for fun. So of course, I ended up connecting with a voice teacher at the university … she decided to hear me over her lunch break one day, and she was like, 'You know, you're actually very talented. If you want to have a career in this, you could do it.'"

That was all Galka needed. She's been singing opera professionally 11 years.

"I heard him hit that high B natural at the end of the aria, and man, the hair on the back of my neck raised, shivers," Mason said. "It was such a visceral experience listening to a human voice do that. And then to hear the crowd react … the audience erupts and cuts off the orchestra. They literally have to stop playing the outro and then come back in. After that, he was like, 'I really think you'd have potential to sing this kind of stuff.' And I'm like, 'Oh, my God, I get to sing like that?'"

While he might not sing exactly like it, he said, he's been professionally singing opera for 20 years. He feels blessed to return to the Bigelow role.

"The dream is to get more than one shot at any role, honestly," Mason said. "You'd hope you're building a repertoire, but in this art form, you really get to the core of the good stuff as a performer until you're just completely solid on knowing the piece in and out, knowing the music and knowing what's coming so you can really just give over to those imaginary circumstances of the piece and not be like, 'What word's coming up?' or, 'Oh, man, I really hope I can sing this part coming up.'"

Bigelow is a charming role with many complexities—namely that he's a trauma survivor. He's trying to heal his inner child with none of the right tools to do it, Mason said.

"There's a huge arc of growth and redemption within this work, and that's why it's so powerful," Mason said. "I think that's why it still continues to resonate with people in audiences, because its themes are quite universal. No matter what period you put it in, a lot of the people you see in this piece are people in your community today … for better or worse. I think community relations are not black and white; They're definitely gray."

This is Galka's first time performing as Jordan, who she describes as having a deep spiritual love for Bigelow.

"The issue is, because Julie is so loving and a product also of her time, she really forgives Bigelow for his actions," Galka said. "And the question is, for us, 'Is that okay?' Does that send a message that's not something that we want to condone or support?"

Mason finds it challenging to strike the balance of Bigelow's tenderness and machismo.

"There's just lines and moments that if you don't give them the right nuance, or commit to the energy or really fully embrace and lean into the discomfort of some of those moments, it could read false," Mason said. "The audience, it doesn't resonate with them, or they don't have the empathy that you hoped that they would have, by the end of the situation. Navigating that is always tricky."

They both look forward to seeing how it comes together.

"It's just been a great cast," Galka said. "Everybody is so well prepared. We have the young artists who are so excited to be on stage and so talented. It's really exciting to see them stepping into these characters. It's really cool working with (Mason). He just lives Billy Bigelow, so there's so much to play with on stage."

Greg Ganakas, the stage director, has directed beautifully, they both said.

"He gives us freedom to bring our interpretations to these roles, which has also been really lovely," Galka said. "It's been a great experience. The company is awesome." {in}

"CAROUSEL"

WHAT: Pensacola Opera's performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel"

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19

WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox COST: Ticket prices start at $26

DETAILS: pensacolaopera.com

"Carousel" Rehearsal / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Opera

FLORIDA OUTDOOR SHARED SPACES

SMOKEFREE POLICIES CAN HELP OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.

The Florida Clean Air Act was first passed in 1985 and adjusted over time to protect public health.

The recent update to Florida’s seminal Florida Clean Air Act, “The Regulation of Smoking by Counties and Municipalities Act”, allows local governments to enact policies to restrict smoking in outdoor shared spaces they own and operate, such as public beaches and community parks.

This change allows local leaders to set policies tailored to their communities rather than a statewide policy covering both Florida’s smallest towns and biggest cities.

Communities can also set policies regarding the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products in public places. Only unfiltered cigars are specifically omitted from the new local enforcement.

Since the law took effect July 1, 2022, many cities and counties across Florida have already begun to discuss how smokefree public places could help reduce a major source of toxic litter and how restrictions on tobacco use in places where kids play could keep young people from ever starting to use these products.

QUESTI ON S

Are cigarette butts found on the beach often?

For over 30 years, cigarette butts have been the most commonly found item in Ocean Conservancy’s annual Florida beach cleanup. Florida communities today spend thousands of dollars each week collecting thousands of cigarettes from public places. This toxic waste product was encountered more than all the straws and stirrers, cans, glass bottles and plastic grocery bags combined.

How do cigarette butts impact the environment?

Cigarettes are not biodegradable, and the plastics and toxic chemicals in cigarettes and their filters can be harmful if they enter the water supply. Cigarette butts can also be ingested by curious children, pets, or marine life mistaking the litter for food.

Is e-cigarette waste a problem?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists “nicotine & salts”, the chemicals found in e-cigarette cartridges and disposable devices, as an “acute hazardous waste.” Lithium-ion batteries, which are found in rechargeable e-cigarettes, are not only hazardous waste, but have also been known to explode and catch fire.

Will smokefree shared spaces negatively impact tourism?

Smokefree public policies can help support the economy by increasing tourism due to clean, pristine beaches. Litter free beaches are cited as an important decision-making factor when choosing a vacation destination. With thousands of public parks and hundreds of beaches across the country with smokefree policies, clean and smokefree beaches will become increasingly more important for Florida’s visitors.

What is the local impact of smokefree beaches and parks?

Smokefree shared space policies change the social norms surrounding tobacco and prevent people, including teens, from starting to smoke. When communities introduce smokefree policies, they also reduce the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke, which is associated with thousands of deaths each year. Spaces like beaches and parks are part of promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. Smoking bans in public places have been found to directly and significantly reduce the number of hospital admissions with cardiac events such as heart at tacks.

For more information on how to get involved, visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com/get-involved.

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

SECOND-ANNUAL KITES ON THE COAST Council on Aging of West Florida's second-annual Kites on the Coast event will be two days of fun at the Casino Beach Pavilion on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18. The event will kick off Friday evening and include a sunset night fly featuring lighted kites. The fun will continue on Saturday with a full day of family-friendly fun, music and festivities with show and stunt kite displays at the center of the action. Attendees can buy kites on site or bring their own to fly. Visit facebook.com/ coawfla for details.

THE ESCAMBIA-SANTA ROSA BAR FOUNDATION ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2023

The Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, is currently accepting grant applications for 2023. Grants are awarded to organizations that successfully demonstrate how a proposed program aligns with one or more of the tenets of the mission of the Foundation, which are to foster greater accessibility to the judicial system, improvements to the overall quality of the administration of justice, law-related education and increased public awareness of the judicial system, and improved management and operation of the court system.

Grants awards are typically in the $500$1,500 range. For more information on the Foundation and to download an application form, visit esrba.com/bar-foundation/about-esrbf.

KITTEN AND CAT ADOPTIONS Animal Allies will be at Pet Supermarket, 6857 N. Ninth Ave., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, March 18. Many beautiful cats and kittens will be looking for their furever homes. If you can't adopt, find out about opportunities to donate, foster or volunteer. All cats are up-to-date on shots, and adoption fee includes spay or neuter with microchip.

ANIMAL ALLIES BINGO Animal Allies hosts Bingo twice a month at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. 10 rounds of bingo for $10 with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. A full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for Bingo Nights. Must be 18 to play.

MANNA'S PICK A BOWL FUNDRAISER

Manna Food Bank's annual fundraiser is 6-8 p.m., Friday, March 17, at the Lou Ross Center at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Tickets are $50. Visit mannahelps.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. On Tuesdays, the ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. The ministry's food pantry opens at 11:30 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken, and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women and sweatshirts and new underwear for men sized small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at 723-3390 for details.

GRANT PROGRAM

VISIT PENSACOLA EVENT GRANT PROGRAM Visit Pensacola is now accepting grant applications for its event marketing program for events in Escambia County occurring between Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024. Grant submissions are due by June 6 at noon and must be emailed or timestamped by drop off at the Visitor Information Center at 1401 E. Gregory St.

Grant workshops will be hosted at the dates and times below in the Bowden Building at 120 Church St. to aid the submission process. All grant applicants are required to attend one of the workshops.

Dates:

• April 4: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• April 14: 8:30-9:30 a.m.

• April 14: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• April 17: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

• April 17: 3:30-4:30 p.m.

The Visit Pensacola Grant Committee will meet to review and score applications on June 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the UWF Historic Trust Bowden Building, First Floor. Applicants are required to attend to present to the committee. Following, the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors will vote to approve grants on June 28 at the monthly board meeting.

For more information on grant guidelines, scoring and the application process, please get in touch with Nicole Stacey at nstacey@visitpensacola.com.

CALL TO ARTISTS

DIY SHORT FILM FEST Filmmakers of any level are invited to submit short films to be screened at 309 Punk House on March 24. Priority will be given to local and regional submissions and those with relationships to the community. Suggested length is 3-10 minutes, but submissions up to 20 minutes will be considered. Submissions are due by March 17. Send your films to diyfilmfestpensacola@gmail.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

WHAT'S SHOWING AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART PCA is located at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. The Pensacola Film Festival will be held March 17-19 with screenings of "All Together Now," Oscar-nominated short films and more. Tickets are $10 cash donation at the door. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for more information and the latest showtimes.

ORCHID ARRANGEMENT CLASS AT BO -

DACIOUS Join Panhandle Exotic Plants as they provide a live group demonstration as you create your own orchid arrangement at 2 p.m., Sunday, March 19, at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased through facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

TABLE TALKS AT THE TRUST Join the Historic Trust for a monthly lunch and learn series on the third Wednesday of the month at the Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center, located at 117 E. Government St., from noon-1 p.m. The program is free—just bring your lunch and enjoy a casual opportunity to learn about a variety of topics. For more information, please email hparchives@uwf.edu or call (850) 5955985, ext. 125. The next date is April 19 with John Sledge about the architecture and historic preservation in Mobile.

PENSACOLA OPERA PRESENTS CAROU -

SEL Pensacola Opera closes their 40th Anniversary Season with Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Carousel," 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 17, and 2 p.m., Sunday, March 19, at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25-$115. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, over the phone at (850) 433-6737, or in person Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 75 S. Tarragona St.

GALLERY NIGHT: "CELEBRATES THE WRITTEN WORD" The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m., Friday, March 17. The featured artist is writer Jamey Jones. Katie Dineen and Love Brynnevere will perform on the Garden Street Main Stage throughout the evening from 6-8 p.m. For more information and an interactive map, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: THE ADDAMS FAMILY From the creators of the "Jersey Boys," Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Award-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa, the frightfully delightful world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and Lurch comes to life on the PLT stage. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Fridays, March 17, 24 & 31; 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, March 18 & 25 and April 1; 2:30 p.m., Sundays, March 19 & 26 and April 2. Two Thursday showtimes are 7:30 p.m., March 23 & 30, at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $9-$33. Visit pensacolalittletheatre. com for details.

SPECIAL EFFECT MAKE-UP WORKSHOPS

Learn basic stage makeup and special effects techniques with makeup artists Lia Malamo and Dana Bracewell. Workshops are 10 a.m.noon and 1-4 p.m., Saturdays, March 18 and 25, at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $50-$100. Register online at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

TAROT & TEA LEAVES: MAD HATTERS

TEA PARTY Come enjoy a cup of tea and desserts with a tarot reading. Costumes encouraged. Learn to read the leaves at bottom of your cup. Bring your own special tea or mismatched crockery. Event is 5:30 p.m., Saturday, March 18, at Ever'man. 315 W. Garden St. Visit empowermentschoolhouse.com for details.

PENSACOLA OPERA: BROWN BAG OP -

ERA Take a lunch break with the opera. Brown Bag Opera is a free monthly performance featuring the Jan Miller Studio Artists at the Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Musical performances include a variety of beloved arias, timeless showtunes and stunning duets and trios. The next date is noon on Tuesday, March 21. Seating is first-come, first-served. Visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera for details.

a&e happenings

GLORY: A HOCKEY PLAY THAT SWINGS

For Women's History Month, PenArts presents a true story, written by Tracey Power, about a group of women who formed an ice hockey team in 1933. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday (March 23-25), and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at The Gordon, 306 N. DeVilliers St. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com

PENSACOLA'S 3 MAYOR DAY DINNER Join the board of directors and staff of the UWF Historic Trust as they welcome Joe Vinson to share Pensacola's 1936 political intrigue with his presentation, Pensacola's 3 Mayor Day, at its 87th Annual Dinner on Thursday, March 23, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person. Get yours at historicpensacola.org.

LIBERATION! The next Liberation Pensacola is Friday, March 24, from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Drag show and dance party at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. Find Liberation Pensacola on Facebook for details.

CHELCIE LYNN: TWO FINGERS AND A 12-PACK TOUR Comedian Chelcie Lynn will perform at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, 8 p.m., Sunday, March 26. Tickets are $29.50$54.50. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for details.

IHMC'S SCIENCE SATURDAY 2023 SESSIONS ON HUMAN HEALTH PERFORMANCE, SMART CITIES AND ROBOTICS

Science Saturdays is a series of 90-minute educational enrichment sessions geared toward families and children in grades three-six. Topics in 2023 will include robotics, roller coasters, animal adaptations, human performance and more. The sessions are free to the families who attend. For more information, visit ihmc.us/life/ science_saturdays.

• March 25: Dr. Lakshmi Prayaga, University of West Florida, Smart Cities

• April 22: Dr. Gwen Bryan, IHMC, Robot Hands

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 held weekdays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and Sundays 2-4 p.m. 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 inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment Sundays from 6-8 p.m. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more of Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E Government St. Reservations required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets available at pensacolaghostevents.com

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Pensacola

Arts Market is set up at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., from 4-9 p.m. ev -

ery first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday of the month. The market is located at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. every fourth Saturday of the month. Enjoy a local artisan market, handcrafted brews and ciders, live music, as well as food by the Hip Pocket Deli. Free admission.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN

Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more. Held on the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This is an inside and outside event for. Door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. Free admission. Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. For vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

FIGURES OF IMAGINATION AT EASY GO -

ING GALLERY See the artwork of Mitchell Dembowski in the new exhibit "Figures of Imagination," running through the month of March, at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. "Figures of Imagination" establishes an ongoing dialogue between physical reality and the unconscious. These figures and psychological landscapes not only serve as a window into the unknown but also allow for the healthy integration of such an inner life. Learn more at facebook.com/easygoinggallery.

SEEN An online photography exhibit to be displayed on 309punkproject.org juried by Julia Gorton through April 1.

STEAM On view at Pensacola Museum of Art through April 9, the STEAM Exhibition is a community-centered, educational experience engaging contemporary art with science and new technologies. Artwork on display investigates concepts related to the environment, biology, digital interfaces and speculative fictions/imagined futures. Exhibiting artists challenge narratives of human and non-human ecologies, more-than-human relations and entangled response-abilities, as well as offer exciting insights into transdisciplinary processes. The main focus of the exhibition centers around the idea of ecosystems as a metaphor for critical thought. Visit the exhibit at PMA, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

SUDDENLY AMERICAN: A MEETING OF HERITAGE AND COUNTRY This exhibit looks at the transition of Florida from a Spanish territory to an American region, which formally occurred in 1821. Florida's embattled history dates back much farther than 1821. From refusing independence during the American Revolution to wanting their own freedom in 1810, Florida loved to cause problems. The United States eyed the region early on, using the Seminole Wars as an excuse to seize territory before turning to diplomatic means to acquire Florida. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and initially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ceding control of East Florida to the United States. At the same time, Spain also agreed to give up all claims on West Florida, in essence giving the entire Florida territory over to the United States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it official-

a&e happenings

ly became part of America. On view at Pensacola Museum of History through Dec. 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

TEXTILES OF THE TIMES: REGENCY ERA DRESS MAKING The period between 18111820 is historically defined as the Regency Period. This exhibit at the Pensacola Museum of History looks at a day in the life of a Regencyera Pensacolian through fashion and garment use. Drawing on historical documentation of stores known to have operated on Palafox, inside this recreation of a seamstress shop visitors will be able to explore the dress of yesteryear. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpensacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

ST. JOSEPH'S FISH FRY LUNCH Enjoy a fried fish basket with a side and dessert for $10 Fridays through Lent (March 31) at St. Joseph's Parish Hall, 140 W. Government St. Delivery available for orders of five or more. Call to place orders at 449-4709, 206-2410 or 450-3257.

PENSACOLA COOKS: SOUTHERN ITALY

Learn to cook dishes from the region 6-8 p.m., Thursday, March 16, at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details.

TASTE OF THE GULF COAST COOKING

DEMONSTRATION Join a Bodacious chef for a

cooking demonstration, 6 p.m., Thursday, March 16, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $82.28 and available at bodaciousshops.com.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St., with a full day of green beer and food. They will be kissing the Blarney Stone and looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (or End O'the Alley). Anyone wearing a dancing leprechaun outfit or a kilt on St. Paddy's Weekend will receive complimentary admission. Visit sevillequarter.com.

CULTURES COOKS: IRISH Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Irish Cooking, 7-9 p.m., Friday, March 17, at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are $50 per person. Visit facebook. com/pensacolacooks for details.

O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB CELEBRATES ST. PATRICK'S DAY O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox, will celebrate St. Patrick's Day at its downtown location. The bar will open early at 10 a.m., and the specials will continue throughout Gallery Night until close. Specials include $4 green Bud Light draft, $8 Esprit De Krewe Grog Punch, $6 Paddy's Irish Whiskey, $6.50 Paddy's Irish Car Bomb, $6.50 Guinness and $7 Jameson. The bar will also offer a corned beef and cabbage meal special from open11 p.m. and music all night.

GO IRISH ON THE ISLAND ST. PADDY'S DAY PUB CRAWL The St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl is Friday, March 17, starting at 9 a.m., at

Crabs We Got 'Em, Casino Beach, where there will be a free breakfast from 9-10 a.m. with the purchase of a $10 drink. T-shirts are $18. Each stop is 45 minutes. For a full list of stops, visit pensacolabeachchamber.com

SIP AND SHOP MARKET Leash up the pup and come shop with 20-pls local small businesses at noon, Sunday, March 19, at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

ASIAN APPETIZERS COOKING DEMONSTRATION AT BODACIOUS Learn to make egg rolls, pot stickers and more at the Bodacious cooking event, 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox. Tickets are $76.55 and available at bodaciousshops.com.

SPRING EQUINOX AT ODD COLONY Usher in the Spring season with the Floral Saison release, plant and floral vendors, MI SU street food and live music from Faithe on Thursday, March 23, from 4-9 p.m., at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox.

PENSACOLA COOKS: EVERYTHING

CHEESY Cooking class at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., 7-9 p.m., Friday, March 24. Tickets are $50 per person and available at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.

FAMILY COOKS: SUSHI SKILLS Learn to roll your own sushi with Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barran-

cas Ave., noon-3 p.m., Saturday, March 25. Cost is $45 for adults 18 and up and $35 for students 6-17. Visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks for details.

BLOW YOUR OWN PINT GLASS AT GARY'S BREWERY Join Muffinjaw Designs in the Biergarten at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten for a unique experience and take home your very own masterpiece at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 25. Food will be available from the brewpub kitchen from noon-9 p.m. and from the Thai 2 Go food truck from 5-9 p.m. Live Music starts at 6 p.m.

CRAWFISH & BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE

Cub's Crawfish will be boiling up and serving crawfish, corn & potatoes from noon-4 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Live Bluegrass music by The String Farm Band from 1-4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/ oddcolony for details.

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

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT

Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

a&e happenings

LIVE MUSIC

JAZZ PENSACOLA ANNOUNCES JAZZFEST HEADLINERS

The 2023 JazzFest is Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, at Seville Square. Jazz Pensacola has recently announced headliners for the festival—4 Korners, ZAZU East, and Pat Casey and the New Sound out of New Orleans will finish out the festival on Sunday. Local bands include Cheryl Jones and Co. from Destin, Nobius, AC3, area high school band directors as well as the Downbeat Jazz Orchestra from Fort Walton Beach before the headliners finish the evening. For more JazzFest information, visit pensacolajazzfest.com.

CHERIE EM PRESENTS CONCERT FOR THE CAUSE FEATURING JORDAN CHASE Show is Saturday, March 18, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25$40. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Visit vinylmusichall.com for details.

EMO NIGHT AT THE HANDLEBAR Show starts at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 18. The Handlebar is located at 319 N. Tarragona St. $10. Thehandlebar850.com.

THE CONVALESCENCE, CASKET ROBBERY, IGNOMINIOUS, & MORE Show is 7 p.m., Monday, March 20, at The Handlebar, located at 319 N. Tarragona St. $15. Thehandlebar850.com.

JAZZ PENSACOLA LIVE FINALS The live finals of the Jazz Pensacola 2023 Student Jazz Competition will be held Monday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m., at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 140 E. Government St. Admission to this event is free and open to the public, and no tickets are required.

PEPPER Show is 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 21, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at vinylmusichall.com.

CUPCAKKE Show is 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 22, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at vinylmusichall.com.

PARTY101 WITH DJ MATT BENNETT DJ Matt Bennett presents throwback tunes from Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Show is 8 p.m., Thursday, March 23, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at vinylmusichall.com.

RED AND THE REVELERS SINGLE RELEASE

PARTY W/ VALLEYFIRE AND COLOR THE VOID Show is 7 p.m., Saturday, March 25, at The Handlebar, located at 319 N. Tarragona St. $10. Visit thehandlebar850.com for details.

BLOOM DREAM, BED BUG GURU, CROW ROAD Show is Saturday, March 25, at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. Doors open at 8. $15 cover charge. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery for details.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

PRESENTS: BRONFMAN PLAYS RACHMANINOFF'S THIRD Pensacola Symphony Orchestra welcomes internationally acclaimed and admired pianist Yefim Bronfman, performing Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto, 7:30 p.m.,

Saturday, March 25, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets start at $24. Visit pensacolasaenger.com for tickets.

EASY GOING DJ LAB Show is every Saturday, noon-4 p.m., at Easy Going Gallery, 701 N. V St. Visit facebook.com/easygoinggallery for details.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

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

GARY-OKE Sing your heart out at Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., every Wednesday from 6-10 p.m. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.

JAZZ BY THE BOOK Joe Occhipinti performs at West Florida Public Libraries twice a month. The concerts are free. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m., the concert is at Pensacola Library, 239 N. Spring St. Visit mywfpl.com for details.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COL-

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

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE

QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues Society of Northwest Florida bring the "Blues" back to the Seville Quarter Entertainment District, located at 130 E. Government St. every Monday night in End O' the Alley starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE

QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

BAYOU HILLS RUN One of Pensacola's oldest running events, the Bayou Hills Run presented by Pensacola Sports takes place Saturday, March 18, at 7 a.m., from Pensacola's Bayview Park. Registration fees are $45 for the 10K, $35 for the 5K and $15 for the Kids Run. Prices increase after March 15. All proceeds from the race benefit Creative Learning Academy and Pensacola Sports. Registration and event information for the Bayou Hills Run can be found at pensacolasports.org/bayouhillsrun.

MARCH SLOW RIDE The next Bike Pensacola Slow Ride is Saturday, March 18, at 11 a.m., with a ride through North Hill. The ride will begin at Alabama Square, 401 W. Gonzalez St. More information at facebook.com/bikepensacola.

FREE YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Take in a free yoga class at Ever'Man, 327 W. Garden St. Visit everman.org for full calendar of events.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

Adoption • Paternity

Prenuptial Agreements

Dependency/DCF Hearings

Postnuptial Agreements

Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing

Alimony

Child Support Modifications

Collaborative Divorce

Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

autumnbeckblackledge.com

free will astrology

WEEK OF MARCH 16

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): I highly recommend the following experiences—1. ruminating about what you learned in a relationship that ended—and how those lessons might be useful now. 2. ruminating about a beloved place you once regarded as home—and how the lessons you learned while there might be inspiring now. 3. ruminating about a riddle that has long mystified you—and how clarifying insights you receive in the coming weeks could help you finally understand it.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): For "those who escape hell," wrote Charles Bukowksi, "nothing much bothers them after that." Believe it or not, Taurus, I think that in the coming weeks, you can permanently escape your own personal version of hell—and never, ever have to return. I offer you my congratulations in advance. One strategy that will be useful in your escape is this idea from Bukowski—"Stop insisting on clearing your head— clear your f*cking heart instead."

So

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini paleontologist Louis Agassiz (1807–1883) was a foundational contributor to the scientific tradition. Among his specialties was his hands-on research into the mysteries of fossilized fish. Though he was meticulously logical, he once called on his nightly dreams to solve a problem he faced. Here's the story: A potentially crucial specimen was largely concealed inside a stone. He wanted to chisel away the stone to get at the fossil but was hesitant to proceed for fear of damaging the treasure inside. On three successive nights, his dreams revealed to him how he should approach the work. This information proved perfectly useful. Agassiz hammered away at the slab exactly as his dreams suggested and freed the fossilized fish. I bring this marvel to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that you, too, need to carve or cut away an obstruction that is hiding something valu-

By Rob Brezsny

able. Can you get help from your dreams? Yes, or else in deep reverie or meditation.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Will you flicker and sputter in the coming weeks, Cancerian? Or will you spout and surge? That is, will you be enfeebled by barren doubts, or will you embolden yourself with hearty oaths? Will you take nervous sips or audacious guzzles? Will you hide and equivocate, or else reveal and pounce? Dabble gingerly or pursue the joy of mastery? I'm here to tell you that which fork you take will depend on your intention and your willpower, not on the caprices of fate. So which will it be—will you mope and fritter or untangle and illuminate?

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): I applaud psychologists who tell us how important it is to feel safe. One of the most crucial human rights is the confidence that we won't be physically or emotionally abused. But there's another meaning of safety that applies to those of us who yearn to express ourselves creatively. Singer-songwriter David Bowie articulated the truth: "If you feel safe in the area you're working in, you're not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you're capable of being in. Go a bit out of your depth, and when you don't feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you're in the right place to do something exciting." I think this is a wise strategy for most of us, even those who don't identify as artists. Almost everyone benefits from being imaginative and inventive and even a bit daring in their own particular sphere. And this will be especially applicable to you in the coming weeks, Leo.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): You are in the sweet, deep phase of the Receiving Season. And so you have a right and a duty to show the world you are ready and available to be blessed with what you need and want. I urge you to do everything necessary to become a welcoming beacon that attracts a wealth of invigorating and healing influences. For inspiration, read this quote by author John Steinbeck—"It is so easy to give, so exquisitely rewarding. Receiving, on the other hand, if it be well done, requires a fine balance of selfknowledge and kindness. It requires humility and tact and great understanding of relationships … It requires a self-esteem to receive—a pleasant acquaintance and liking for oneself."

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran poet E. E. Cummings wrote that daffodils "know the goal of living is to grow." Is his sweet sentiment true? I would argue it's only partially accurate. I believe that if we want to shape our destinies with courage and creativity, we need to periodically go through phases of decay and decline. They make periods of growth possible. So I would say, "The goal of life is to grow and wither and grow and wither and grow." Is it more fun to grow than to wither? Maybe. But sometimes, withering is educational and necessary. Anyway, Libra, I suspect you are finishing a time of withering and will soon embark on a series of germinations and blossoms.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): All of us have elements of genius. Every person on the planet possesses at least one special talent or knack that is a gift to others. It could be subtle or unostentatious, like a skill for communicating with animals or for seeing what's best in people. Or maybe it's more spectacular, like composing beautiful music or raising children to be strong and compassionate. I mention this, Scorpio, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to identify your unique genius in great detail—and then nurture it and celebrate it in every way you can imagine.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The emblem associated with Sagittarius is an archer holding a bow with the arrow pointed upwards. This figure represents your tribe's natural ambition to always aim higher. I bring this to your attention because your symbolic quiver is now full of arrows. But what about your bow? Is it in tiptop condition? I suggest you do some maintenance. Is the bow string in perfect shape? Are there any tiny frays? Has it been waxed recently? And what about the grip? Are there any small cracks or wobbles? Is it as steady and stable as it needs to be? I have one further suggestion as you prepare for the target-shooting season. Choose one or at most two targets to aim at rather than four or five.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): It's prime time to feel liberated from the urge to prove yourself to anyone. It's a phase when your self-approval should be the only kind of approval you need, a period when you have the right to remove yourself from any situation that is weighed down with

gloomy confusion or apathetic passivity. This is exciting news! You have an unprecedented opportunity to recharge your psychic batteries and replenish your physical vitality.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): I suspect you can now accomplish healthy corrections without getting tangled up in messy karma. Here are my recommendations—1. As you strive to improve situations that are awry or askew, act primarily out of love rather than guilt or pity. 2. Fight tenderly on behalf of beautiful justice, but don't fight harshly for ugly justice. 3. Ask yourself how you might serve as a kind of divine intervention in the lives of those you care about—and then carry out those divine interventions.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In describing her process, Piscean sculptor Anne Truitt wrote, "The most demanding part of living a lifetime as an artist is the strict discipline of forcing oneself to work steadfastly along the nerve of one's own most intimate sensitivity." I propose that many Pisceans, both artists and non-artists, can thrive from living like that. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to give yourself to such an approach with eagerness and devotion. I urge you to think hard and feel deeply as you ruminate on the question of how to work steadfastly along the nerve of your own most intimate sensitivity.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK : What element is most lacking in your life right now? Your assignment—get more of it. newsletter.freewillastrology.com {in}

It's prime time to feel liberated from the urge to prove yourself to anyone.

news of the weird

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Madison County (Illinois) coroner Steve Nonn solved a nearly year-old mystery on March 2 when he released the results of an autopsy on Richard Maedge of Troy, Illinois. Maedge's wife, Jennifer, had reported him missing in late April last year after he failed to come home from work, KTVITV reported. His car, wallet and keys were at the house, but she couldn't find him. Police searched the house, which they described as a "hoarder home," but did not locate him. In fact, they searched twice, as Jennifer was also looking for the source of a "sewerlike" odor in the dwelling. Finally, on Dec. 11, as Jennifer pulled out Christmas decorations from a concealed storage space, she discovered Richard's mummified body. The coroner ruled that Maedge hanged himself and that there was no foul play in his death.

NEWS YOU CAN USE Mushrooms have been in the news a lot lately, but you probably didn't know that Texas has a state mushroom: the Devil's Cigar or Texas Star. KXAN-TV reported that the Lone Star State's designated fungi is ultra-rare, growing only on decomposing cedar elm or oak tree stumps and roots in the U.S. and Japan. It comes out of the earth in a cylindrical shape, then "will open up into a three- to eight-pointed star," said Angel Schatz of the Central Texas Mycological Society. That's when it releases its spores and sometimes hisses. "It is a very cool mushroom to have as our state mushroom," Schatz said.

AWESOME! Kansans take their tornado sirens seriously, so it was no surprise that on March 4 in the Wichita suburb of Park City, a ribboncutting ceremony took place to mark the reinstallation of the city's oldest Thunderbolt siren, KSNW-TV reported. The sirens are remnants of the Cold War, and four of them are still in service in Sedgwick County. "About a year ago, we took them down, had them refurbished, and put them back up in our system," explained Jonathan Marr, deputy director for Sedgwick County Emergency Management. The feted siren had been in use for 70 years.

IT'S COME TO THIS Tattoo artist Dean Gunther of Manchester, United Kingdom, has made one man's body goals come true: He's inked a ripped six-pack on the man's torso, freeing the man from eating right and exercising more, the Daily Mail reported on March 6. "He decided that by getting a six-pack tattoo, he will always look summer-ready while still being able to enjoy beer and good food," Gunther said of his customer. The artistic tat took two days to complete.

COMPELLING EXPLANATION At a preliminary hearing in San Francisco Superior Court on March 6, police officers offered testimony about a Feb. 1 incident in which Dmitri Mishin fired a replica gun inside a synagogue, The San Francisco Standard reported. As officers interrogated Mishin, he explained that the shooting was an act of prayer he was giving for his neighbor's bird. Mishin, who pleaded not guilty, told officers he lives on a submarine and talks with North Korean and Japanese

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

leaders, and that weapons found in his home were movie props. After the shooting at the synagogue, he waved goodbye and left. Unsurprisingly, this isn't Mishin's first run-in with the law; his mother testified that he suffers from mental illness. The hearing was ongoing.

PICK ON SOMEBODY YOUR OWN SIZE David Jimenez, 65, of Maui, Hawaii, was arrested on March 6 for "pursuing a humpback whale," CBS News reported. Jimenez, who calls himself Dolphin Dave, was allegedly harassing the whale and dolphins in Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, where he was snorkeling. Jimenez was unrepentant, though: He told officers "he's not going to stop swimming with whales and dolphins 'because it's magical and others do much worse things.'" Humpback whales are protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

BRIGHT IDEA In China, women modeling lingerie for online retailers violates the country's rules about spreading obscene material, Insider reported on March 1. Instead, underwear companies are hiring men to model the clothing—and it's working out better than you might think. "The guy wears it better than the girl," one online commenter posted. Others argue that the restrictions are "depriving women of job opportunities." "We don't really have a choice," said one business owner, Mr. Xu. "The designs can't be modeled by our female colleagues, so we will use our male colleagues to model it."

POLICE REPORTS Belinda H. Miller, 50, was in jail four days after a Feb. 18 incident at a Popeye's restaurant in Richmond County, Georgia, WJBFTV reported. Miller became angry when her order was missing biscuits, the store's manager told police, and the mistake was corrected but that didn't appease her. Instead, she allegedly drove her SUV into the store's front window, narrowly missing a worker standing inside. She continued driving until debris inside the building stopped her car. Miller was charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage to property.

•Hayato Baba, 21, of Narashino, Japan, was taken into custody in March because he allegedly assaulted another man and stole his wallet outside a convenience store, Japan Today reported—all because the guy was taking too long in the restroom. Baba admitted to punching the victim twice in the face and taking the wallet.

IRONY Your Mates Brewing Co. has recalled cans of its Watermelon Sour Beer because of "excess alcohol," United Press International reported. The Australian brand said the beer could pose a risk of illness; it was unintentionally fermented twice, causing it to have a higher alcohol content and carbonation. The brand is sold in Queensland and online Down Under. {in}