Inweekly March 23 2023 Issue

In memory of

Lewis Bear, Jr.

Our community has lost a champion. Lewis Bear, Jr. was a longtime advocate and philanthropist for the Pensacola area. His accomplishments were myriad and significant. Our condolences go out to his wife, Belle, and the entire Bear family. He will be dearly missed.

1941-2023

winners losers

KATHLEEN PASSIDOMO The Florida Senate president said she does not support a proposal to lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 to buy rifles and other long guns in Florida—"We don't have it in the Senate. Nobody's filed it." The Florida House has moved forward with HB 1543, which would reverse part of a 2018 law that set the minimum age at 21 after a gunman killed 17 students and faculty members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Nikolas Cruz, then 19, used a semi-automatic rifle to carry out the attack. Passidomo said she has focused on issues in the law related to identifying and getting help for students who have serious mental and emotional issues to prevent such things as mass shootings.

MAREN DEWEESE The Mayor's Neighborhood Cleanups have become a fixture in Pensacola for over a decade. The program is a spin-off of cleanup efforts started by former District 3 Councilwoman Maren DeWeese, who asked volunteers to pick up trash along the bluffs on Scenic Highway. When she took office, DeWeese made "taking back the bluffs" an issue and led a volunteer work detail that cleaned up the underbrush and removed trash so that the area would have a safe, clean environment for families. Mayor Ashton Hayward picked up her program and spread it throughout the city.

FLORIDA'S ECONOMY Economists have added more than $7 billion to the state's general-revenue forecast for the current fiscal year and next fiscal year, despite concerns about housing struggles, lingering inflation and a "mild" recession. The forecast gives lawmakers more money to play with as they piece together a budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, which starts in July. The economists, meeting as the state Revenue Estimating Conference, added $4.27 billion in estimated general-revenue collections to the forecast for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. They also added $2.78 billion to projected collections in the 2023-2024 year. Inflation-elevated sales tax collections primarily drove the projected increases.

MANNY DIAZ The Florida Education Commissioner has launched the Commissioner's Book of the Month initiative. To prove he is not a racist, Diaz included among the four books in the inaugural list a book that Duval County last year took off its schools' bookshelves to avoid violating new state laws on school libraries—"Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates" by Jonah Winter. Last month, the Duval County School District reinstated the elementary-level biography—just in time for the Diaz Book of the Month club. Meanwhile, Escambia County Public Schools are reviewing "When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball."

PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY Will someone please stop this dumpster fire? A once beloved organization has resorted to lawsuits, finger-pointing and blaming scapegoats. An intervention is desperately needed to restore public trust and the reputation of this non-profit that has been around for 80 years. Maybe United Way, the Studer Community Institute, the University of West Florida, the United Nations or Oprah Winfrey would agree to serve as an impartial, thirdparty mediator to clear the air. The current board can't put out the fire.

OPENING DOORS OF NORTHWEST FLOR-

IDA

With the help of Escambia County and Community Health Northwest Florida, the organization that leads the area's Continuum of Care released the preliminary numbers from the 2023 Point-intime count, which recorded 949 people as homeless in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties—the highest since 2015. Those who work with the homeless say the actual number should be much higher, blaming the federal regulations regarding the survey and Opening Doors. It may be time to reexamine how to better handle the Continuum of Care.

FLORIDA CABINET Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't like to hold cabinet meetings when Nikki Fried was the agriculture commissioner, and it appears he still doesn't see much need for them. Why share power? The March cabinet meeting has been canceled. Instead, the governor held a brief conference call to approve his insurance commissioner pick and some land-conservation deals.

Kathleen Passimodo / Courtesy Photo Manny Diaz / Photo Courtesy of Florida House

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

HELP ME GROW

Last week, the Escambia Children's Trust board approved the issuance of an Invitation to Bid for a local organization to implement a Help Me Grow system in Escambia County for the early identification of developmental and behavioral concerns in children from ages birth-8. The selected organization will receive $1.6 million and start work on July 1.

Help Me Grow is a national program first implemented in Florida in Miami-Dade and Hillsborough counties as a 2-1-1 hotline to refer parents to service providers in 2011. The switchboard was later expanded to neighboring Monroe County. In the 2014-2015 session, Gov. Rick Scott budgeted $2 million through the Office of Early Learning to support statewide expansion.

The state money created five additional 2-11 regions and was later expanded to all 16 of the 2-1-1 regions covering Florida's 67 counties. The Florida Alliance of Information and Referral Services lists United Way of Northwest Florida's 2-11 as a Help Me Grow affiliate. However, the state cut funding in 2018 when it transitioned the program to the Children's Forum for administration. Achieve Escambia was interested in taking on Help Me Grow at the time but needed state funds to do it.

The ECT grant expands the program to include more screening, education for parents and case management. According to ECT executive director Tammy Greer, only 10% of referrals for services come from the 2-1-1 service, and pediatricians supply the remainder. Plus, the data regarding children with developmental delays is not coordinated.

However, we know that 16% of the children (6,061) in Escambia County public schools have disabilities, slightly higher than the state average of 15%. Surprisingly, the five elementary schools with greater than one out of five students with a disability are some of the district's higher performing schools—Warrington (grade C), Holm (C), Navy Point (B), Molino Park (A) and Lincoln Park (B).

We also know that children of color are less likely to receive screening before they enter the

school system. How many? We don't know because the data collected only provides a picture of received help, not those who didn't. The Hechinger Report covers inequality and innovation in education. It recently reported its research had found Black toddlers were five times less likely to receive services than their white counterparts.

At the board meeting on Tuesday, March 14, Kim Krupa, the ECT director of programs and performance, pointed out that Black students comprise 34% of all students with disabilities enrolled in Escambia County public schools.

"They're 42% of the thirdgrade students with disabilities. So that's the disparity that we want to fix. This is our baseline. This is the number that we want to turn around."

Currently, Ascension Sacred Heart manages the Early Steps program for Escambia County. Early Steps is Florida's early intervention system that offers services to eligible infants and toddlers, birth-age

4. Ascension Sacred Heart receives referrals, assesses the infants to determine eligibility and passes them on to providers.

How the Escambia County Help Me Grow Collaborative will interact with Early Steps is yet to be determined. Greer told her board that $1.4 million of the grant would go for direct services. "Because the earlier you intervene, the better the results, the better the outcomes, the more likely they are to be ready for kindergarten and academic success moving forward."

I spoke with experts outside of the area, and they suggested a less expensive three-part approach. They recommend a quick developmental screening tool that volunteers can easily give and invest heavily in early childhood screening. From screenings, case managers, managed by Early Steps, would funnel out for more intense screening and other services as needed. ECT could then partner with UWF on research and compile evidence-based outcomes.

However, I realize Help Me Grow sounds better, but, in the end, the effort will only be successful it has more screening, case managers and data analysis. The proposals are due April 26. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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.

PUNCHING BACK

Moore-Joseph saw shocked her. When she sounded the alarm, Moore-Joseph was informed that the Board was going to be getting a loan."

The next day, Moore-Joseph texted the Executive Committee, "Emergency: if our loan does not deposit by tomorrow, we will not make payroll on Thursday. We had auto payments to credit cards set up prior by Jenn (Bittner, the executive director who left in April 2021), and unfortunately, those went through."

That text prompted the interim executive to be summoned to meet with Adcox and Board member Hank Gonzalez at The First Bank. She claimed the men were immediately hostile. According to her, at the beginning of the meeting, Adcox said to her, "Manda Moore-Joseph Tom Dick Harry, however many husbands you have?" The conversation went down from there, allegedly leading to behavior that Moore-Joseph believed violated the National Labor Relations Act.

Pensacola Humane Society filed a counterclaim against PHS, its board president Gerald Adcox and treasurer Barbara Sawyer.

In February, the PHS Board of Directors filed a lawsuit against Interim Director Manda MooreJoseph and five other ex-employees, charging that accusations made and actions taken by former employees caused reputational and financial damage to the organization. In mid-December, a group of staff and volunteers—under the banner We The Organization—released an open letter accusing the board of financial mismanagement and making several requests, including the removal of board president Gerald Adcox.

"The board agreed to move forward with the filing of a complaint due to the numerous wrongful attacks in the press and social media postings by the named defendants as well as a plethora of other reasons that are detailed in the Complaint," Adcox told Inweekly via email on Feb. 2.

In the 53-page counterclaim filed on Monday, March 13, Moore-Joseph fired back and asserted that she engaged in protected activity under the Florida Whistleblower Act when she pointed out the alleged misappropriation of restricted donor funds and grants and the mismanagement by the board and its officers. She provided a narrative that appeared to show how poorly the nonprofit was run and defended herself against personal attacks made in the media.

The court documents included 35 exhibits supporting her statements, including text messages, board memos, excerpts from the bylaws and memos. Russell Van Sickle of Beggs & Lane represents Moore-Joseph.

POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTER EST

Moore-Joseph described how a Lexus RX350—that was donated with the restriction that it wouldn't be sold—was sold by Adcox after storing it on his car lot. She alleged the board ignored its conflict of interest policy in the bylaws. The board minutes don't explain why the donor's restrictions were ignored. Moore-Joseph claimed Adcox did not submit to PHS staff the paperwork on the sale of the Lexus or any documentation to validate it was sold for market value.

an extension was taken. Though the PHS's fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, the board didn't have a budget at the time. However, the board voted also to give Jan Castillo, the executive director, a raise. The budget was approved on Jan. 27, 2022.

She alleged that in March 2022, PHS bought from Adcox a used Mercedes Sprinter van, "with an accident history," for a little over $61,000, though "the original MSRP of the van was about $41,000." The board minutes don't reflect the purchase or the conflict of interest, and PHS didn't receive the title from Adcox until July 2022. Moore-Joseph asserted the board gave Castillo another raise in July 2022 but failed to include it in the minutes.

TIMELINE

Three months later, Castillo was on the outs with the board. Moore Joseph gave a detailed timeline of Castillo's departure, her promotion to interim executive director and the unraveling of PHS operations that led to the memo from We The Organization.

On Nov. 9., Adcox and board member Eloise Lautier informed Moore-Joseph they wanted her to call a full staff meeting the next day "because Castillo resigned 'in the middle of her firing.'" At the staff meeting, the board president announced that Moore-Joseph would be the interim executive director without Moore-Joseph's permission or discussing how she would be compensated for the additional role.

On Nov. 16, she was invited to an Executive Committee meeting where she presented a proposal for her to be paid for holding the dual roles of development director and executive director. Moore-Joseph had discovered the absence of restricted funds when she needed emergency care for a dying dog and had to use her credit card. A full board meeting was called to discuss PHS's financial situation on Dec. 8.

On Nov. 17, the interim director notified the Executive Committee the shelter could not take in any new animals due to the lack of essential supplies. They would be closed on certain weekdays, and all overtime had been halted.

On Nov. 28, she was finally given access to the bank account info. The counterclaim states, "What

On Dec. 5, she notified the Executive Committee in a meeting that she didn't have the funds to cover payroll and that the restricted funds she had deposited had been used for operating expenses because of the auto-pay drafts set up. MooreJoseph asserted Adcox became agitated and dismissed her concerns.

At the Dec. 8 board meeting, Moore-Joseph told the board that the operating account had a negative balance of $11.243.12. Adcox volunteered to conduct a forensic audit in response to other board members suggesting one be conducted. PHS voted for Moore-Joseph to serve as Interim Executive Director in addition to her duties as Director of Development without additional compensation. The board approved a $100,000 line of credit, but only $20,000 was transferred from the line into the bank account. The We The Organization memo was sent out that night.

On Dec. 9, the PHS board sent an "Immediate Cease and Desist" letter to the email address for We the Organization, Moore-Joseph and three others. The board's focus was finding out who wrote the memo. The board directed MooreJoseph to "hold no meetings, formally or informally, with staff, volunteers or donors, either in person or by telephone, without at least two members of the Board of Directors in attendance."

A day after the board made her interim executive director, Moore-Joseph was placed under restrictions that made running PHS impossible. The interim director asserted that she made multiple calls to LandrumHR, PHS's human resources provider, to report retaliation and seek assistance, but LandrumHR would not discuss the situation.

On Dec. 12, a mandatory staff meeting was called. Board members wanted to know who wrote the memo, and staff and volunteers wanted to know what would be done to repair the organization. Moore-Joseph laid out her version of the meeting in court documents. Adcox told WEARTV that there was "zero evidence" to support the allegations in the memo.

Three days later, the board notified the director that she had failed to submit a required weekly written summary of all issues, concerns, questions and activities of PHS to the Executive Committee.

She had only served officially in the role for one week. Moore-Joseph was given one day to provide information on 25 items.

On Dec. 16, Moore-Joseph notified the Executive Committee that she would not take the interim director position but would like to remain development director.

On Dec. 28, she was told the board had terminated her employment. The remaining staff quit over the new few days, animals were transferred to foster homes and other shelters, and PHS shut down in January.

SORT OF AN AUDIT

In late February, PHS released a report produced by Saltmarsh, Cleveland & Gund that the nonprofit called a "type of financial audit," only it wasn't an audit. The CPA firm only focused on the specific areas of accounting that the PHS board permitted Saltmarsh to review. The report was titled "Independent Accountant's Report on Applying Agreed Upon Procedures."

Unlike traditional audit reports, the Saltmarsh report didn't include balance sheets or income and loss statements for 2021 and 2022. There were no footnotes to provide more detailed information that would be found in a traditional audit.

In her filing, Moore-Joseph alleged PHS, Adcox and Sawyer misled Saltmarsh "for the purpose of presenting falsehoods to the press and others to defame and retaliate" against her. To support her claim, she said Adcox and Sawyer failed to tell that CPA firm that the Lexus sold had been donated with a restriction that it not be sold and was done without the donor's permission.

Moore-Joseph asserted that the PHS board, Adcox and Sawyer intentionally avoided having Saltmarsh review restricted donor funds when the funds donated were less than $5,000 to avoid having to show those funds were missing and unavailable to the staff for their intended purposes.

She has asked the court for a restraining order, lost wages and benefits, compensatory damages for mental and emotional distress, reinstatement of job and benefits, attorneys' fees and any other relief the court deems appropriate.

Adcox responded to the counterclaim on ricksblog.biz. He wrote, "Did not happen at all, ridiculous from a woman who has been terminated from the last three jobs, and claims same thing exactly happened again at PHS."

He continued, "We were polite at all times to her in the meeting(s) she was in and even encouraged her to apply for permanent director job, not happy we were going to advertise for best candidate though. We also discussed that she would not receive a 110% raise even if she was selected by the committee we did not sit on, that's all that occurred."

Adcox added, "Sorry this is happening to an all-volunteer unpaid board who cares greatly about our animals."

Long-time supporters of PHS are also sorry for how this has been handled. Stay tuned. {in}

*Note—The counterclaim and exhibits can be found under "PHS" in the navigation bar on ricksblog.biz.

PLANTING GREENS IN A FOOD DESERT

The backpack program that initially fed 25 students now feeds about 525 at 17 schools, according to Tiffany Clark, director of operations for the Backpack Project. That equates to approximately 2,200 backpacks per month. Before the partnerships, the average cost of food equated to $2.25 per backpack. The average is up to $5.50 per backpack this school year. The program offsets the cost by buying in bulk at a local organic farm, Manna Food Bank supplementing grains and raising money through fundraising events.

The Heart of Pensacola has raised over $1.2 million between money and in-kind donations. Levin Papantonio Rafferty contributed $200,000 in seed money to launch the program, and the nonprofit then raised almost $500,000 last year during the fundraiser, Dinner on the Grounds. The Mougeys expect to raise hundreds of thousands more on May 11 when the Heart of Pensacola hosts Dinner in the Gardens at 5eleven Palafox.

By Tom St. Myer

The heart-aching sight of hungry children sluggishly moving about their day motivated maintenance employees at O.J. Semmes Elementary School to take action. In 2011, the maintenance crew formed Backpack Project USA and began filling backpacks with food and passing them out to underprivileged students on Fridays. Their generosity ignited a movement in the Escambia County Public Schools, and today, the backpack program is reaching unprecedented heights through a partnership with the Heart of Pensacola, feeding students a healthy and balanced menu that includes protein, vegetables, fruit, grains and dairy instead of carb-heavy foods such as Pop-Tarts, crackers, and macaroni and cheese.

BACKPACK PARTNERSHIP

Peter and Katrina Mougey initiated the program two years ago after the COVID-19 global pandemic halted the annual Heart Association

Gala that they were set to chair. The philanthropic couple turned their attention from the gala to enhancing the amount of nutritious food the school district puts in its backpacks by planting greens in what is otherwise a barren food desert for thousands of Pensacolians.

"Over 70% of kids in schools receive free or reduced lunches," said Peter, an attorney who is a shareholder and the chair of Levin Papantonio's securities and business litigation department. "When you examine where some of them live, sometimes there's not a grocery store within miles and you couple that with folks who don't have reliable transportation, a lot of the grocery shopping is being done at Dollar General, fast-food restaurants or places like 7-Eleven."

The Mougeys appreciated the efforts made to feed children but sought to streamline the process by joining forces and putting the resources under one umbrella. They found an ally in Superintendent Tim Smith, who paved the path for a partnership that benefits hundreds of students and potentially thousands in the near future.

The Heart of Pensacola fundraiser compliments the Backpack Project USA Family Fishing Rodeo, which raises thousands of dollars annually for the program. The 10th annual rodeo will be Sept. 7-9 at Grand Lagoon Yacht Club. The Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club is the primary sponsor.

"When you have an idea that grows from great hearts for kids, you get a great foundation," Smith said. "The community has come on board over the years with those who started the program, and we have all these individuals and entities who are of the same mindset."

The all-volunteer program saves families money as prices continue to soar at grocery stores, markets, restaurants and other food providers. A recent poll commissioned by the public-private coalition No Kid Hungry Florida found that over 75% of Floridians said buying food now is more difficult now than 12 months ago due to the rising costs of food and other essentials.

A significant percentage of Escambia County residents struggled to pay for food long before the prices skyrocketed. Feeding America reported in 2018 that 42,380 county residents qualified as food insecure and that

34% of the population met or surpassed the 200% poverty threshold.

Backpack Project USA depends on someone identifying a student as at risk for hunger on weekends, and organizers believe hundreds slip through the cracks, particularly at the upper-grade levels. Only three of the 17 schools involved in the program teach middle and high school students.

Clark and the Mougeys agree that extending their outreach to middle and high school students is imperative. The challenge they encounter is teenagers prefer to fit in, not stand out. Few will admit they come from families without the resources to properly feed them.

"If you were hungry in elementary, the circumstances might not have changed just because you went to middle school," Clark said. "We want to make sure we're following the kids that need it."

ADDING NUTRITIOUS FOOD

Another challenge is a significant number of students grow up unaware of what qualifies as nutritious food. The Heart of Pensacola is creating a messaging platform that encourages students and their families to understand that eating nutritious food improves their intellect. The goal is to impact over 50,000 households.

A portion of the education outreach by the Heart of Pensacola includes partnering with the University of West Florida Haas Center, the school district, Manna and the American Heart Association, among others, to quantify health and nutrition data. The group plans to establish metrics that show the positive impact of the program on the well-being of students.

The Heart of Pensacola outreach extends beyond students to patients through its Produce Rx program. The nonprofit partners with Baptist Health Care, Community Health of Northwest Florida, Health and Hope Clinic and Ascension Sacred Heart to deliver boxes of produce and whole grains to 200 patients, 50 from each facility, every other week. The Mougeys envision doubling the number of participants in the RX program.

"Food is the foundation for a healthy lifestyle," Katrina Mougey said. "That's where we have to start—from the ground up." {in}

Dinner in the Garden Fundraiser / Photo Courtesy Levin Papantonio Rafferty

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MORE CMP PROSPECTS Over 10 years since the Community Maritime Park officially opened, two mayors—Ashton Hayward and Grover Robinson—have sought developers to build on the remaining parcels. The most recent potential developer has been Inspired Communities of Florida, which the Pensacola City Council gave a year to reach an agreement on a $110 million apartment and retail development proposal that the council approved in February 2022.

Mayor D.C. Reeves shared with Inweekly that other prospects have been waiting in the wings since Inspired sent a letter to the city last November that it would not meet the February deadline.

"Once it's public that that letter came out, we've actually had a surprising, large amount of people inquire—kind of saying, 'Well, if it doesn't work out with them, we might want to take a look,' which given interest rates and given where we are right now, that's a pleasant surprise," Mayor Reeves said.

Inspired, in partnership with former Florida Gator and Dallas Cowboy star Emmitt Smith, has proposed to build up to 600 apartment units, a 900-space parking garage and up to 50,000 square feet of retail space on parcels 4 and 5 at the park—which is currently a parking lot and grassy knoll. Their November letter said the projects had become "financially infeasible" and asked for an extension until market conditions improved. The council extended the option until August 2023.

"We'll wait and see and continue to have conversations with Inspire," the mayor said. "As of right now, the property is under their control. However, regardless of what happens from here, we certainly are in a better position than I thought we might be, given the economic climate."

He added, "We do have urgency to get something done, to get property tax generated there and start to get some return on our investment from so many years ago.

INSULIN PRICE BATTLE CONTINUES Two of the three primary insulin providers announced substantial price reductions in March, but personal injury attorney Troy Rafferty says the reductions amount to a mere pittance considering the corporations jacked up the prices of insulin by over 1,000% since 2003.

Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi produce 99% of insulin. The Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm filed a mass tort against the three insulin providers for gouging customers through price fixing. The case is in the discovery phase and still proceeding even though Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk announced price reductions.

"It's actually kind of just a facade or putting a Band-Aid on a compound fracture," Rafferty said. "It's not really going to change anything, what they're doing right now."

Diabetes ranks as the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Depression, heart disease and stroke occur at a two to three times higher rate among diabetics. The number of Americans with diabetes tops 37 million and 8.4 million use insulin to control their blood sugar.

One in four insulin-dependent diabetics ration their intake due to the extraordinary costs. Rationing insulin intake results in high blood sugar and leads to complications, including headaches, frequent urination, increased thirst, exhaustion, blurred vision, unintentional weight loss and recurrent infections. Long-term complications include loss of vision, kidney failure, stroke, heart disease and amputation of lower extremities.

"All these executives sitting in these offices and these boardrooms have been preying on the sick and the ill, and it's just atrocious what they've done," Rafferty said. "… Parents are having to ration out insulin to their children because they have to have it and they can't afford it. And yet, these companies just kept year after year after year increasing the prices, and it's atrocious."

three primary insulin providers collaborated to raise rates at the expense of diabetics.

"We're going to find out exactly what we already know and that is that these companies in lockstep decided to just keep increasing the prices to increase their profits so they can buy more Armani suits and Gucci loafers and all this stuff," Rafferty said. "… In essence, they knew they had a captive market that absolutely needed the insulin; they drove up the price knowing that this would be something that they could get away with."

the flights shipping migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard and several other controversial issues.

The cost for a vial of insulin is hundreds of dollars. On March 1, Eli Lilly announced price reductions up to 70% for commonly prescribed insulins and an expansion of its Insulin Value Program that caps patient out-of-pocket costs at $35 or less per month. Novo Nordisk followed suit two weeks later, announcing plans to slash the price of insulin drugs by up to 75% in the U.S.

"We have been working to develop a sustainable path forward that balances patient affordability, market dynamics and evolving policy changes," Steve Albers, Novo Nordisk senior vice president of market access and public affairs, stated in a press release. "Novo Nordisk remains committed to ensuring patients living with diabetes can afford our insulins, a responsibility we take seriously."

Both providers are drastically reducing prices, but Rafferty said insulin costs pennies to produce and that companies could turn a "hefty profit" by charging a mere $2 a vial. Instead, diabetic families spend 40% of their post-subsistence income on insulin.

Rafferty further questioned why the U.S. charges substantially higher rates for insulin compared to other countries. Americans comprise only 15% of the global insulin market yet account for almost 50% of insulin-related revenue. Even with the reductions by the two providers, U.S. rates will still dwarf those of other countries.

"Many of these people have been suffering for decades over the cost of their insulin, and so to sit here and now go, 'Oh, well, we'll cut it. We'll cut down some,' is honestly despicable," Rafferty said. "It's a step in the right direction, I'll say that. But it's not nearly enough. It's got to keep going."

Rafferty is confident the discovery phase will reveal what he and others long suspected. The

PUBLIC RECORD LAWSUIT

The News Service of Florida reported that a Washington, D.C.based group filed a lawsuit on Thursday, March. 16, alleging that the Florida Department of Education has not complied with a series of public records requests about high-profile issues.

The group American Oversight filed the lawsuit in Leon County circuit court, alleging that the department has not provided records sought in eight requests since May 2022. The group, at least in part, is seeking records related to a controversial 2022 law restricting the way race-related issues can be taught in classrooms and a state decision this year to reject a proposed Advanced Placement African American studies course.

"To date, DOE has failed to produce a single record that is responsive to any of the eight requests at issue in this complaint," the lawsuit said. "The first and second requests at issue in this complaint have been pending for over 10 months now; the third request has been pending for over two months; and the fourth through eighth requests have been pending for more than one month at the time of the filing of this complaint. Each of these delays is beyond the limited reasonable amount of time allowed for retrieval, redaction and production of records."

On its website, American Oversight describes itself as a nonprofit watchdog that uses public records requests to "fight corruption, drive accountability and defend democracy."

Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has developed a reputation for dragging out replying to public record requests. The South Florida SunSentinel reported earlier this month that the governor's office has subjected certain requests for public information to an extra review, delaying media and citizen access to records showing how government policy is formulated and public money is being spent. A favorite tactic has been to release information shortly before major holidays so it doesn't get much attention because people are busy with other things.

Barbara Petersen, the executive director of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, a nonpartisan public interest organization, told the Sun-Sentinel that the extra review was "an effort to control the story, and the timing of the story, and I think that's pretty obvious. And I don't think anybody wants a government official deciding what gets told and when."

DeSantis has slow-walked requests for information on COVID data, his education policies, his recommendations concerning abortion restrictions,

LEAP FOR CHANGE

Since the beginning of their project in October 2022, the Leadership Pensacola Class of 2023 has received a total of 21 sponsorships at levels $500 and above and 10 in-kind donations at various levels towards their project, LeaP for Change. In addition, they have had 98 donations at $499.

The LeaP for Change project is an initiative that will benefit the Children's Home Society Care Closet at C.A. Weis Elementary School and Feeding the Gulf Coast. This initiative will provide and build Feeding the Gulf Coast food pantries in Ebonwood, Wedgewood, and Brownsville community centers and a Children's Home Society hygiene closet at C.A. Weis Elementary School.

The press release included a quote from an anonymous source—"These kids have no chance to learn or develop as an individual when their tummies are empty. It is hard not to feel sad for those students in your classroom who are suffering. I want to take them home and feed them a warm meal and give them a nice bed to sleep in."

The major sponsors are at the Platinum level are Dominguez Design-Build, Inc. and Closets By Design; Diamond, Andrews Institute and Cat Country Radio; Gold, Navy Federal Credit Union and Innisfree Hotels; Silver, Quint Studer, Clark Partington Attorneys at Law, State Rep. Michelle Salzman, Fiesta Pensacola, Visit Pensacola, University of West Florida-Office of International Affairs, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church, Meador & Johnson, Innisfree Hotels, Business Interiors, Cox Public Affairs, Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate, Florida Blue, Baptist Health Care and Florida Power & Light.

Leadership Pensacola 2023 is actively seeking both monetary and in-kind donations to help reach their goal. In addition to monetary and in-kind donations, the class is seeking donations such as nonperishable food and personal hygiene items as well as educational books for elementary-school-aged children and their families. By implementing these pantries and closet, it will help underserved communities have direct access to these resources.

All checks can be made out to the Pensacola Area Chamber Foundation with a reference to "LeaP Class 2023 Project." For mailing, send to Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 550, Pensacola, FL 32591. For more information, visit leapforchangepensacola.org.

ROGER SCOTT IMPROVEMENTS

The city of Pensacola will begin construction on improvements to Roger Scott Tennis Center on Monday, March 20, including replacing 12 hard courts to significantly improve the tennis playing experience at Roger Scott.

Construction will begin with the demolition of 12 existing hard courts, which will be replaced by 12 asphalt tennis courts.

During the construction of this project, 10 clay courts and five asphalt courts will remain open. All other asphalt courts will close starting Mon-

"All these executives sitting in these offices and these boardrooms have been preying on the sick and the ill, and it’s just atrocious what they’ve done." Troy Rafferty

day, March 20. In addition to replacing the hard courts, the project will include new sidewalks, drainage enhancements, electrical and lighting upgrades, new fencing and new grass.

Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2023, weather permitting. The approximately $3.86 million project is funded by a variety of Local Option Sales Tax funds, along with a $1.3 million contribution from Escambia County.

Owned and operated by the City of Pensacola, Roger Scott Tennis Center is Northwest Florida's largest tennis facility, featuring 18 hard courts and 10 clay courts. Roger Scott Tennis Center offers a variety of recreational tennis activities, including adult clinics, leagues, junior tournaments and more.

To learn more about Roger Scott Tennis Center, visit rogerscotttennis.com.

NEW THRESHOLD District 4 County Commissioner Robert Bender expects Pensacola Beach, which is part of his district, to have another robust tourism system based on the recent traffic count at the toll on the Bob Sikes Bridge. The beach had two 20,000-plus car weekends in March.

"The one before was just shy of 19,000 and some change," the commissioner. "Definitely,

we're starting to see the traffic come in. We've seen a steady increase over the last few years in both volume and the number of days at 20,000car threshold. Four years ago, that was considered a big day for the beach. We probably need to set a new threshold."

NEW CITY PARK The City of Pensacola invites the community to a ribbon-cutting event at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, to celebrate the completion of a new musical sensory garden at Kiwanis Park, located at 1801 W. Romana St.

The new musical garden provides inclusive, interactive play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to create music and explore their surroundings. It features a soft rubber play surface with a variety of outdoor instruments, including harmonic chimes, percussion, flower chimes and more. For more information about city parks, visit playpensacola.com.

FAVORHOUSE FACELIFT FavorHouse of Northwest Florida has received state funds to use toward improvements to their Escambia County Emergency Shelter. Grantarenaus LLC, a local Pensacola company, won the bid for the project, which includes all new flooring and paint

throughout the facility. During the renovations, Escambia County shelter residents will be temporarily housed at the Santa Rosa shelter. Programs and services will not be interrupted. Anyone experiencing intimate partner violence should call the 24/7 hotline for crisis intervention at (850) 434-6600.

"We are excited by the opportunity to give our emergency shelter a much-needed facelift. The shelter hasn't had any major renovations since Hurricane Ivan and things are definitely outdated," FavorHouse Executive Director Tracie Hodson said. "The survivors we serve in shelter are escaping from abuse and processing their trauma. We want to provide a fresh space for them to begin to build their new independent lives."

FavorHouse is actively seeking volunteers to help with additional mini beautification projects in conjunction with the remodel to round out the project. If anyone is interested in volunteering, sign up at favorhouse.org.

ECSO BLAZER ACADEMY The Escambia County Sheriff's Office's next Blazer Academy is set to begin in May. The Sheriff's Blazer Academy immerses young men ages 13-15 in an environment that will provide mentoring and instruction

on many topics such as courtesy, responsibility, empowerment and respect. The academy accepts 25 students per session, and completed applications should be sent to Delarian Wiggins at dcwiggins@escambiaso.com. Check the ECSO Facebook page for more details.

PATIENCE REQUESTED City of Pensacola

Sanitation crews are working diligently to collect an increasing amount of yard waste as peak season begins for yard waste collection in the spring and summer months. Due to an increase in yard waste being placed curbside for pickup, some city Sanitation customers may see a slight delay in their collection schedule.

Customers who do not receive yard waste collection the morning of their usual pickup day can expect to receive service either later that morning or by the following day. All customers will continue to receive weekly yard waste collection, even if they experience a slight delay in service.

The public's patience is appreciated during this time, and crews are working to provide yard waste pickup service to customers as efficiently as possible. This is only impacting yard waste pickup for sanitation customers. Garbage and recycling pickups continue to run on schedule. {in}

Arts & Entertainment

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

VegFest Goes Slutty

Being vegan should never mean that you can't be creative in the kitchen."

Attendees can expect a variety of activities too, fit for all ages like a children's area created by a local Girl Scout troop (and yes, some Girl Scout cookies are vegan).

"VegFest is also bringing back free yoga throughout the day, face painting, vegan-inspired clothing, a beer and wine garden, speakers and over 40 vegan vendors, just to name a few," said Hancock.

Through community events like VegFest, Hancock says she has seen the expansion of vegan culture in Pensacola in recent years, with plenty of room left to grow.

"It would be nice to see it flourish more," said Hancock. "I think by creating such a large festival it definitely helps."

Speaking of vegan culture, what about those who are vegan-curious or simply want to enjoy a thriving food festival?

"We are not here only for people who have already chosen this lifestyle," said Hancock. "We started this festival for us but also for people who are curious."

Restaurant founder Pinky Cole's Slutty Vegan has traveled a long way to make it to Pensacola.

Starting in 2018 in Atlanta, Ga., Slutty Vegan was founded as a ghost kitchen to serve vegan food after hours when plant-based options were slim. Pretty soon, the sexy-branded vegan junk food pop-up expanded to food trucks, then a hometown brick-and-mortar and then locations in major cities around the East Coast.

Now, the beloved Black and woman owned brand is headed to Pensacola for the first time to participate in VegFest on Saturday, March 25.

Inweekly spoke with Slutty Vegan's Chief Marketing Officer Christy Mason about their upcoming visit.

"As a brand, when we get a chance to be a part of things that speak to the community and speak to veganism, it's just a perfect marriage for us," said Mason.

"We are as a brand are always interested in doing one of two things, and one is being a part of community events," Mason told Inweekly.

The other is promoting veganism through great food, of course.

"We are a vegetarian or vegan brand that's all about flavor and taste and all the wonderful great things that you can do with veganism. When we have the opportunity to marry those things—veganism with being a part of cultural moments—we make that happen. So we're excited to be a part of VegFest this year."

VegFest attendees can expect a curated menu

of some of the best cheekily named junk food treats Slutty Vegan has to offer, and the brand will preview the event's menu in the days leading up to the festival on social media.

"No matter what else is on the menu, we will for sure have our One Night Stands," said Mason. "It is kind of our quintessential Slutty Vegan burger that people have kind of come to expect from us."

The One Night Stand is a plant-based burger topped with vegan bacon, cheese and special slutty sauce. Other possible options include the Sloppy Toppy (with jalapenos), Chick'n Head (fried chick'n with buffalo sauce) or the Fussy Hussy (classic cheeseburger), just to name a few.

Forget to check the menu ahead of time? No worries, as customers will have time to browse the full selection while waiting in the well-known Slutty Vegan line.

"There's almost a bit of consumer pride in being a part of our now famous line—to be able to have that experience and be able to share that. It is 100% a true statement that we generally have lines and part of the fun is that's a little bit of the experience," said Mason.

Interested to see what all the fuss is about, but not living the vegan lifestyle? No worries— Slutty Vegan and VegFest both welcome all.

"We continue to provide really great delicious vegan food for consumers who already kind of fall into that, you know, dietary set, but it also introduces veganism to a subset of consumers who

words and reframe what veganism means is just a really powerful and fun and really kind of sexy narrative to have because it did does get people talking."

MORE ON VEGFEST

Founded in 2018, Pensacola VegFest has persevered through a variety of venues, COVID restrictions and evolutions to make it to where it is today as one of Pensacola's most unique and anticipated annual festivals.

With a small team of organizers, event founder Whitney Hancock is excited to return this year with an even bigger, better festival for Pensacola locals and visitors alike.

"We are going to be seeing a lot of returning faces along with several new faces at this year's VegFest. We have vendors coming from all over, including California, New York and Georgia, just to name a few," said Hancock.

"We are honestly excited to see every vendor; we look forward to our festival food for an entire year at a time."

Though the Slutty Vegan truck may be the most anticipated addition this year, Hancock says attendees can also get excited about new cooking demos, a throwback to the festival's first year back in 2018.

"Cooking demos will happen throughout the day, and we are so excited for them," said Hancock. "Our chefs will be showing us how to cook up vegan meals at home and handing out recipes.

"We say this every year, and every year this is still our focus—veganism is not just about eating salads or some plain raw vegetables. This is about good food, good people and caring about our bodies, home and our animals."

For Hancock, the practice of bringing people together for a vegan food festival is about more than a good meal—it's about building community.

"Food builds community and is the cornerstone to connecting with others. Through food, people build connections, knowledge, happiness and trust. We bring good food to the area just for that purpose, and in doing so, we make such a huge difference in both our home and in the bigger picture." {in}

PENSACOLA VEGFEST 2023

WHAT: A vegan food festival that also features live music, yoga, cooking demos and more

WHEN: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St.

COST: $5 admission, free for kids 12 and under

DETAILS: pensacolavegfest.com, @pensacolavegfest

SLUTTY VEGAN

sluttyveganatl.com, @sluttyveganatl

Photo Courtesy of Slutty Vegan

By Savannah Evanoff

Gino Rosaria Won't Stop

throughout my teenage years, I never had a piano. But I would always go to people's homes and practice on their pianos, because a lot of people I knew had pianos as decoration in their living rooms, so they would let me come over and practice. I would be there for hours practicing."

When he turned 18, he moved to the U.S., and everything changed. It was a big transition moving to a country where everything was readily available and in abundance, he said.

"I was not used to that—even for music," Rosaria said. "I thought I knew a lot about music before I came here. I realized that there was so much that I did not know because we didn't have that information available to us on the island growing up. It just wasn't there. Internet wasn't big back then like it is now. I didn't even know what a viola was, that a viola existed until I came here. I was able to go see an orchestra play. I had never seen an orchestra."

He took viola lessons for two years, just out of curiosity.

Rosaria's family hadn't pushed music in his life. There, you couldn't make a living through music.

"I've been exposed to so many different cultures, to where when I play, I can bring all these elements together and create my own sound I think is different from what a lot of other people are doing," Rosaria said.

The title track of his new album is a boogie type of song, he said.

"You can almost play it on repeat, and it just makes you want to dance the whole time," Rosaria said. "A lot of people tell me that they play that song a lot, and never get tired of it."

While Rosaria isn't a big dancer himself, he likes to make others dance.

"I love to be able to create something that allows people to enjoy themselves to it," Rosaria said. "I feel like through that, I can be a blessing in their life. People go through a lot of things and have rough days and sometimes you can just dance it off and for a little while you can forget about your problems and have a good time."

"Interlude," is different from any other on the album.

but album, "Still Waters Run Deep," in 2019, and, to his surprise, it hit Billboard the first week.

"A bunch of radio stations picked up my music, and it just took off from there," Rosaria said. "When I released the second album, I named it 'Don't Stop Now,' because I was on a good roll and I decided, I can't stop now and I gotta keep going."

Rosaria's latest album is two years in the making, and he's excited to finally release it after being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept was to make it fun.

"Even though it's instrumental music, I want people to be able to get up and dance to it," Rosaria said. "A lot of people hear jazz, and they think of music you lounge to or music you sit by the fireplace and listen to. I wanted to bring that to a different level and make it more fun aspects of jazz, where people can enjoy and have a good time to music that doesn't have words in it."

for a bigger venue at Pensacola State College.

The concert will feature opening act Adrian Crutchfield, who played saxophone for Prince the last five years of Prince's life.

"He was the one who was in charge of the choreography for the horn players," Rosaria said. "He worked very closely with Prince, but he's also an amazing sax player. It's going to be an exciting and high-energy show and we're going to have a good time."

The truth is, not much has ever stopped Rosaria—not even not having an instrument. He's loved music since he was a kid, always wanting to be around musicians and listening to music where he was born and raised in Curacao in the Caribbean.

His first instrument was a child's keytar from his parents around age 2 or 3.

"I started taking piano lessons at 12, but even then, I still didn't have a piano," Rosaria said. "All

"Those kinds of opportunities are just not available as they are here," Rosaria said. "They were more into, 'Focus on your schoolwork,' and all of that stuff."

Because of it, Rosaria hustled, double majoring in computer science and music and working simultaneously. He earned his master's in classical music performance.

While Rosaria studied and loved classical music, jazz won him over—he was inspired by the likes of jazz pianists Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum and Michel Camilo.

"Most of them had a classical background and then they switched over to jazz," Rosaria said. "I like the freedom of it. I like the ability to be able to create on the spot. I can play the same song at three different concerts, and it never sounds the same because it's jazz. It's just whatever you feel in the moment."

What Rosaria believes sets his music apart is where he was raised. His culture is a blend of many others, he said.

"I just sat at the piano and played the first thing that came to my mind, and I recorded it," Rosaria said. "I never changed it. I didn't edit it. I left it the way it was. And I put that on the album. So it is some raw ideas that I put on the album and that's a pretty brave thing to do."

Brave is certainly a theme in his life.

"I never thought that someday I would be flying all over the U.S.," Rosaria said. "Growing up, I heard of musicians who did that, like, 'Man, it's so cool that they get to do that,' but I never thought I would be able to do it myself one day." {in}

GINO ROSARIA ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 25

WHERE: Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Blvd., Bldg. 23 COST: Tickets start at $45 DETAILS: ginorosaria.com

Gino Rosaria / Courtesy Photo

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

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.

SOCK HOP FOR CENTRE 4 EXCELLENCE

The Sock Hop is a fundraising event for The Centre 4 Excellence of Pensacola to fund Jamie's Mom's House, an organization that helps those who have lost loved ones from the opioid crisis, and the A.W.A.R.E Initiative, which is taking part in the fight against human trafficking. The SOCK Hop is 5-9 p.m., Saturday, March 25, at Moose Lodge, 8851 Lewis St. More information at centre4excellence.org.

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O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB MARCH MADNE

ZZ FUNDRAISER O'Riley's Irish Pub's March Madnezz charity fundraiser is Saturday, March 25, from 4-7 p.m., located at 321 S. Palafox. The event is open to people 21 years of age and up. Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of The Emerald Coast. The fundraiser will feature several opportunities for attendees to donate. A live and silent auction will each be held, featuring prizes donated by both local and national businesses. A form for cash donations and prizes for the auction is available on the official event page on orileyspub.com. Tickets to the event can be purchased for $25 on the March Madnezz Event-

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. The next event is Tuesday, March 28. For more information visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

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 PRO -

GRAM 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

309 ZINE FEUD 309 Punk Project announced a Zine Feud. Requirements include a minimum page count of 16, minimum print run of 15 and no reprints. Deadline is June 1. Send or deliver at least one copy of your zine before 5 p.m. on June 1 to Alabama Contemporary Art Center, 301 Conti St., Mobile, AL 36602, or 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave. Pensacola, FL 32501.

Submitted zines will be included in the 2023 Zine Challenge and be part of the 309 archives. For more information, visit 309punkproject.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: THE ADDAMS FAMILY From the creators of the "Jersey Boys," Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and Drama Desk Awardwinning 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 24 & 31; 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, March 25 and April 1; 2:30 p.m., Sundays, March 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 WORK-

SHOPS 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., Saturday, March 25, at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $50-$100. Register online at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

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. ThursdaySaturday (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.

GULF BREEZE CELEBRATES THE ARTS

FESTIVAL The Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival will be held at the Gulf Breeze High School parking lot on March 25 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and on March 26 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be over 100 local and national artists displaying a wide variety of Fine Arts. There will also be a Student Art Show, a local artists show, a silent auction and artists demonstrations. McGuire's Pipe Band will perform on Saturday. Proceeds support local school art programs and a Pensacola State College scholarship fund. Visit gulfbreezearts.com for more information.

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.

PENSACOLA UNITED AGAINST NAZIS

Rally is 4 p.m., Sunday, March 26, at the Seville Square gazebo.

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

INFERNO BURLESQUE

The next Inferno Burlesque show is 8 p.m., Friday, March 31, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25-$500 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

MILLION DOLLAR TIME MACHINE A roundup of impersonators from the past decades. Show is 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 31, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. Tickets are $59$89. Visit pensacolasaenger.com to purchase.

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.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193

Don't miss Cabaret drag showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors Open at 8 p.m. Show -

brite Page. Free appetizers and drinks will be available while supplies last.

a&e happenings

time at 10 p.m. For more information, contact Taize Sinclair-Santi, show director, at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST

TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours 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 ghosthunting 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 Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave., from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with over 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., from 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday of the month.

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.

FIRST CITY ART CENTER MEMBERS

SHOW The third annual members show at First City Art Center's Gallery 1060 will be on display April 12-28. The show features works from members of FCAC. An opening reception will be Friday, April 21.

FIGURES OF IMAGINATION AT EASY

GOING GALLERY The opening reception is 5-9 p.m., Thursday, March 23. 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 Flori da. The Adams-Onis Treaty, debated and ini tially agreed upon in 1819, resulted in Spain ced ing 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 giv ing the entire Florida territory over to the Unit ed States. Ratified in 1821, the treaty was cause for celebration in Pensacola, the capital of West Florida, as it officially became part of Ameri ca. 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 Pe riod. 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, in side this recreation of a seamstress shop vis itors will be able to explore the dress of yes teryear. On view at the Pensacola Museum of History through June 2023. Visit historicpen sacola.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

ST. JOSEPH'S FISH FRY LUNCH Enjoy a fried fish basket with a side and desert 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 (850) 449-4709, 206-2410.

SPRING EQUINOX AT ODD COLONY Ush er in the Spring season with the Floral Saison re lease, plant and floral vendors, MI SU street food

a&e happenings

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 Barrancas 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, 2 p.m., Saturday, March 25. Visit facebook. com/garysbrew for details.

CRAWFISH & BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE

Cub's Crawfish will be boiling up and serving crawfish, corn and potatoes from noon4 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.

HALFWAY TO OKTOBERFEST AT GARY'S

Join Gary's Brewery and Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave., for its Halfway to Oktoberfest celebra-

tion, 5-9 p.m., Friday, March 31. Gary's will have delicious German beers flowing, swag, Hip Pocket Deli food truck, keg tossing, stein-hoisting, German music, snow cones and more. Be sure to wear your lederhosen or dirndl's if you have them. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew 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.

LIVE MUSIC

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.

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.

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.

GINO ROSARIA ALBUM RELEASE CON -

CERT Billboard Artist Gino Rosaria presents "Don't Stop Now" album release featuring Adrian Crutchfield, Saturday, March 25, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Located at Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Blvd. Tickets are $45-$95 and can be purchased at Eventbrite.

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.

HOUNDMOUTH Show is 8 p.m., Monday, March 27, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

ERIC JOHNSON TREASURE TOUR Show is 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. Tickets are $25 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

REGGAE FEST Seville Quarter's Reggae Festival is Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2, at End O' the Alley Courtyard, located at 130 E. Government St. Grab a Red Stripe Beer and Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum and prepare to celebrate the spirits of the islands all weekend long.

FREE THROW Show is 6:30 p.m., Friday, March 31, at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Featuring Can't Swim, Heart to Gold and Early Humans. Visit handlebar850.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 BREW -

ERY 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.

a&e happenings

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY 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

NAS PENSACOLA WEEKEND PUBLIC AC-

CESS Public access to NAS Pensacola March 25 and 26 will be available from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. through the West Gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. All guests 18 and older must have a valid state or federal picture ID, such as driver's license or passport.

While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available to anyone with family interred at the cemetery through the Visitor Control Center at the Main Gate.

OCEAN HOUR WEEKLY CLEANUPS Ocean

Hour Pensacola host weekly cleanups on Saturdays from 9-10 a.m. On Saturday, March 25, the group will be at Opal Beach. Meet at 8:45 a.m. Ocean Hour provides bags, gloves, grabbers and bug spray if needed. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Follow Ocean Hour at facebook.com/oceanhourfl for more details.

2023 WATERBOYZ SPRING CLASSIC

2023 Waterboyz Spring Classic surf contest is happening Saturday, March 25, at the Pensacola Beach Pier starting at 8 a.m. There will be multiple divisions for men, women, and groms, along with the Bro Am Division. The top 3 winners of the Bro Am will receive a huge cash prize thanks to local sponsors. For more information, visit waterboyz. com/collections/events.

PENSACOLA BOAT SHOW Day Break Marina, 811 S. R St., welcomes new partner L&M Marine who will provide boat sales and service onsite. Bring the family, test drive your next boat and enjoy food, music and fun for the whole family, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25.

PERDIDO KEY CHAMBER HIGH HEEL CLASSIC WOMEN'S GOLF SCRAMBLE

The High Heel Classic Golf Scramble supports the charities and initiatives of the Women Mean Business Committee. The event will be at 10 a.m., Monday, March 27, at Pensacola Country Club, 1500 Bayshore Drive. Visit business.visitperdido. com/events for details.

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS Games are played at the Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets are available at iceflyers.com.

Upcoming home games:

• 7:05 p.m. Friday, March 24

• 7:05 p.m. Saturday, March 25

• 4:05 p.m. Sunday, March 26

PUBLIC SKATE Pensacola Bay Center hosts public ice-skating sessions October-April. All public skate sessions last one hour. Sessions typically occur on the weekends and after Ice Flyers Home games. Capacity is limited for each session, so get your tickets early.

Upcoming times:

• 9:30 Friday, March 24

• 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25

• 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26

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.

LIVE JAZZ AND SWING DANCING On the first Friday of each month from 6:30-11 p.m., enjoy a live band for dancing Lindy, Foxtrot, East Coast and West Coast Swing. Fun, friendly atmosphere with lessons for all levels, no partner required. Located at The Way You Move Dance Studio, 918 Winton Ave. Cost is $15. More information at thewayyoumove.us.

WEST COAST SWING DANCE Join the fun Wednesdays from 6:30-10 p.m. for $5 and the fourth Saturday of each month 6:30-11 p.m. for $10. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio, 918 Winton Ave. More information at thewayyoumove.us

BALLROOM, LATIN, SWING DANCE On the Second Saturday of each month from 6:3011 p.m., enjoy a mix of music for all dancers. All levels welcomed; no partner required. The Way You Move dance studio, 918 Winton Ave. Cost is $10. More information at thewayyoumove.us

FREE YOGA IN THE PARK Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center will offer free yoga throughout 2023 as a part of its Wellness in the Park Series. One-hour outdoor yoga classes will be led by Breathe Yoga and Wellness Center on the first Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. at Bayview Park. The next date is Sunday, April 2.

FREE PILATES IN THE PARK The City of Pensacola Parks and Recreation Department and PURE Pilates presents a free one-hour outdoor pilates classes on the third Sunday of every month at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar St. The next date is March 19.

PENSACOLA PARKRUN The Pensacola Rec Plex North parkrun is 7:30 a.m. Saturdays. The weekly timed 5K run or walk takes place at the University of West Florida and is open to everyone, regardless of fitness level. For more information, visit facebook.com/rpnparkrun or email recplexnorth@parkrun.com.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

By Hunter Morrison

A Film Festival for All

learned that it would fit with everything the 309 house is doing in March."

Film festivals like these are formed with a desire to have a stronger local underground film scene and a curiosity as to what that might look like. Cummings believes that Pensacola needed an exploratory, collaborative and de-commodified space to make this happen.

"Having a face-to-face artistic community is important because it contextualizes your art in terms of people you can freely interact with and people who share experiences with you," Cummings said. "Without that, your only reference point for art making is a giant culture industry caught up in its own logic."

Before it closed locally, Sluggo's was a place to go to see low-budget, DIY video projects from time to time. Without places like it, creators often do not have the space to show off their work.

Ready, set, action. DIY Pensacola will be hosting its first-ever DIY Short Film Fest this Friday, March 25, and screening video projects submitted through an open call.

The festival, put on in part by the 309 Punk Project, is an opportunity for people to make movies with their friends or share a film they've been keeping to themselves.

Inspired by past showings of DIY films at the former Sluggo's locations around town, the event will once again bring low-budget short films to the community.

"I've had the idea of doing a DIY Short Film Fest for a while," said Ty Cummings, lead organizer of the DIY Short Film Fest. "I talked to Brandon Ballard from the 309 Punk Project and

"It's like how the local music scene can turn stale when there aren't any venues for new or underground artists to book," Cummings said. "Even if a lot of people are sharing art online or in big venues, without the right communal context, there is no world-building, and there is no scene."

"In a scene, people are exposed to the art of everyday people. Without that proximity, artists only make decisions in terms of commercial art," Cummings added.

Most of the submissions for the DIY Short Film Fest are art films, experimental films or comedy sketches. Some have been made by a single artist, while others have been made by 10 or more people. Films submitted have been shot on cell

phones, film and digital cinema cameras, and everything in between.

One of the artists featured is Kodi Roberts, a Chicago/Pensacola-based filmmaker whose work specializes in ethnographic documentaries. New to filmmaking, her first film, titled "Fiddly Bits," aims to connect sociological examination with filmmaking. The film focuses on three friends and their conversation as they assemble and paint miniature figurines for use in a tabletop board game.

"Most broadly, the film considers how identity is navigated, negotiated and constituted through the medium of miniature wargame figurines," Roberts said. "Topics discussed include political geographies of the local wargaming community, gender stereotypes and counternarratives among hobbyists, and the extent to which customizing one's miniatures may or may not be an articulation of the self."

In many ways, this film has served as an overture to her broader work, both as a researcher and filmmaker. A graduate student at DePaul University, Roberts' film is a companion piece to her academic research.

"I was curious about the mismatch between some academic research and my friends' own accounting of why they participate in tabletop wargaming," Roberts said. "Much of the current literature focuses on abstract ideas of politics and violence, without looking at the actual gaming habits or self-description of tabletop gamers. I knew many hobbyists who talked about their miniature crafts as creative, open-ended and even liberatory explorations of self-identity. I suspected that an ethnographic film would be an effective way to bring these latter voices into conversation with stereotypes about the politics of wargaming."

"Fiddly Bits" took about two months to research, edit and produce. Even just a few minutes of edited footage has several hours of raw footage behind it and even more hours of planning to capture that footage.

"From the outset, I knew I wanted 'Fiddly Bits' to be seen and engaged with not only by academics, but also by creatives, nerds and cool punks in communities I have been a part of," Roberts said.

"In this way, without venues like 309 and the DIY Short Film Fest and their audiences, a film like 'Fiddly Bits' could never be fully realized."

Today, most filmmakers are aware of how standardized video and film have become in terms of content and technique. Even so, there is much uncharted territory when it comes to moving images. The DIY Short Film Festival encourages filmmakers to explore this uncharted territory and traverse beyond their imagination.

"A lot of film fests have essentially become showrooms for distributors to shop for projects," Cummings said. "When that's the case, there's little reason to accept or submit a film that doesn't have commercial appeal or a strong promotional campaign. For people who have careers in the industry, this model is fine. But for a DIY scene, it can't be like that. It has to be open to people who have no money or equipment and prioritize meaning, joy and exploration over production."

Cummings says the call for submissions for this first festival has been promising. People are digging up old projects, collaborating with new people and trying filmmaking for the first time. He added that this is a good sign for what the film scene could be like in Pensacola's future.

"I think the idea of having your art screened at a local DIY fest is just the right context for a lot of people," Cummings said. "Even for people who are already passionate about making videos and movies, it can quickly slouch into portfolio-building or trying to fit their aspirations into a scalable commercial venture. When you explicitly ask people to make anything they want and share it with their community, with no other pretense, I think it gets the right gears turning." {in}

PENSACOLA DIY SHORT FILM FEST

WHAT: A screening of short from video projects

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 24

WHERE: 309 Punk Project, 309 N. Sixth Ave.

DETAILS: @diypensacola

Image and design by Talon Burr

Winner Best Late Night Eats & Best Bar–West Pensacola/Perdido Key Runner Up Best Hot Dog, Best Bar Ambiance & Best Bar for Games

free will astrology

WEEK OF MARCH 23

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): If we were to choose one person to illustrate the symbolic power of astrology, it might be Aries financier and investment banker J.P. Morgan (1837–1913). His astrological chart strongly suggested he would be one of the richest people of his era. The sun, Mercury, Pluto and Venus were in Aries in his astrological house of finances. Those four heavenly bodies were trine to Jupiter and Mars in Leo in the house of work. Further, sun, Mercury, Pluto and Venus formed a virtuoso "Finger of God" aspect with Saturn in Scorpio and the moon in Virgo. Anyway, Aries, the financial omens for you right now aren't as favorable as they always were for J.P. Morgan—but they are pretty auspicious. Venus, Uranus and the north node of the moon are in your house of finances, to be joined for a bit by the moon itself in the coming days. My advice— Trust your intuition about money. Seek inspiration about your finances.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "The only thing new in the world," said former U.S. President Harry Truman, "is the history you don't know." Luckily for all of us, researchers have been growing increasingly skilled in unearthing buried stories. Three examples—1. Before the U.S. Civil War, six Black Americans escaped slavery and became millionaires. (Check out the book "Black Fortunes" by Shomari Wills.) 2. Over 10,000 women secretly worked as codebreakers in World War II, shortening the war and saving many lives. 3. Four Black women mathematicians played a major role in NASA's early efforts to launch people into space. Dear Taurus, I invite you to enjoy this kind of work in the coming weeks. It's an excellent time to dig up the history you don't know—about yourself, your family and the important figures in your life.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Since you're at the height of the Party Hearty Season, I'll offer two bits of advice about how to collect the greatest benefits. First, ex-basketball star Dennis Rodman says that mental preparation is the key to effective partying. He suggests we visualize the pleasurable events we want to experience. We should meditate on how much alcohol and drugs we will imbibe, how uninhibited we'll allow ourselves to be, and how close we can get to vomiting from intoxication without actually vom-

By Rob Brezsny

iting. But wait! Here's an alternative approach to partying, adapted from Sufi poet Rumi—"The golden hour has secrets to reveal. Be alert for merriment. Be greedy for glee. With your antic companions, explore the frontiers of conviviality. Go in quest of jubilation's mysterious blessings. Be bold. Revere revelry."

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): If you have been holding yourself back or keeping your expectations low, please STOP! According to my analysis, you have a mandate to unleash your full glory and your highest competence. I invite you to choose as your motto whichever of the following inspires you most: raise the bar, up your game, boost your standards, pump up the volume, vault to a higher octave, climb to the next rung on the ladder, make the quantum leap, and put your ass and assets on the line.

and regret that well up within you. Allowing yourself to fully experience these feelings will help you be as bold and decisive as you need to be to graduate from the old days and old ways.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Your higher self has authorized you to become impatient with the evolution of togetherness. You have God's permission to feel a modicum of dissatisfaction with your collaborative ventures—and wish they might be richer and more captivating than they are now. Here's the cosmic plan: This creative irritation will motivate you to implement enhancements. You will take imaginative action to boost the energy and synergy of your alliances. Hungry for more engaging intimacy, you will do what's required to foster greater closeness and mutual empathy.

ding any relaxation strategies that diminish you as you focus on and celebrate the relaxation methods that uplift, inspire and motivate you.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): According to an ad I saw for a luxury automobile, you should enjoy the following adventures in the course of your lifetime: Ride the rapids on the Snake River in Idaho, stand on the Great Wall of China, see an opera at La Scala in Milan, watch the sun rise over the ruins of Machu Picchu, go paragliding over Japan's Asagiri highland plateau with Mount Fuji in view, and visit the pink flamingos, black bulls, and white horses in France's Camargue Nature Reserve. The coming weeks would be a favorable time for you to seek experiences like those, Leo. If that's not possible, do the next best things. Like what? Get your mind blown and your heart thrilled closer to home by a holy sanctuary, natural wonder, marvelous work of art—or all the above.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): It's an excellent time to shed the dull, draining parts of your life story. I urge you to bid a crisp goodbye to your burdensome memories. If there are pesky ghosts hanging around from the ancient past, buy them a one-way ticket to a place far away from you. It's OK to feel poignant. OK to entertain any sadness

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio poet Richard Jackson writes, "The world is a nest of absences. Every once in a while, someone comes along to fill the gaps." I will add a crucial caveat to his statement: No one person can fill all the gaps. At best, a beloved ally may fill one or two. It's just not possible for anyone to be a shining savior who fixes every single absence. If we delusionally believe there is such a hero, we will distort or miss the partial grace they can actually provide. So here's my advice, Scorpio: Celebrate and reward a redeemer who has the power to fill one or two of your gaps.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Poet E. E. Cummings wrote, "May my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple." That's what I hope and predict for you during the next three weeks. The astrological omens suggest you will be at the height of your powers of playful exploration. Several long-term rhythms are converging to make you extra flexible and resilient and creative as you seek the resources and influences that your soul delights in. Here's your secret code phrase—higher love.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Let's hypothesize that there are two ways to further your relaxation—either in healthy or not-so-healthy ways—by seeking experiences that promote your long-term well-being or by indulging in temporary fixes that sap your vitality. I will ask you to meditate on this question. Then I will encourage you to spend the next three weeks avoiding and shed-

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Please don't expect people to guess what you need. Don't assume they have telepathic powers that enable them to tune in to your thoughts and feelings. Instead, be specific and straightforward as you precisely name your desires. For example, say or write to an intense ally, "I want to explore ticklish areas with you between 7 and 9 on Friday night." Or approach a person with whom you need to forge a compromise and spell out the circumstances under which you will feel most open-minded and open-hearted. P.S. Don't you dare hide your truth or lie about what you consider meaningful.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean writer Jack Kerouac feared he had meager power to capture the wonderful things that came his way. He compared his frustration with "finding a river of gold when I haven't even got a cup to save a cupful. All I've got is a thimble." Most of us have felt that way. That's the bad news. The good news, Pisces, is that in the coming weeks, you will have extra skill at gathering in the goodness and blessings flowing in your vicinity. I suspect you will have the equivalent of three buckets to collect the liquid gold.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK : Name one thing about your life you can't change and one thing you can change. newsletter.freewillastrology.com {in}

freewillastrology.com

Go in quest of jubilation’s mysterious blessings. Be bold. Revere revelry.

Your higher self has authorized you to become impatient with the evolution of togetherness.

BONFIRE OF THE VANITY PLATES Maine's vanity plate free-for-all is at an end. The state's review process for custom license plates was effectively ended in 2015, after which residents coul—and did—put nearly anything on the tags, including profanities. Lawmakers have now had enough: The state is reestablishing a review process and recalling hundreds of "inappropriate" plates, NBC Boston reported. But resident Peter Starostecki wants to know: What's inappropriate about soy products? The state recalled his plate, "LUVTOFU," because it "could've been seen as a reference to sex instead of admiration for bean curd," as NBC put it. Starostecki is one of 13 motorists to appeal their plates' recall so far, all of which have been denied. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said vehicle owners can still express themselves— but that they should do so with bumper stickers, not state-issued tags. "We have a public interest in keeping phrases and words that are profane or may incite violence off the roadways," she said. So, Maine motorists, consider yourselves safe from tofu-induced road rage. For now.

IT WAS A CUTICLE EMERGENCY Pop quiz: If you crashed your car into a building, what would you immediately do? Maybe call emergency services? See if anyone was hurt? We're betting you wouldn't answer with "get a manicure next door to the place I just destroyed," but that's what an Ontario woman did earlier this month. Per CTV News Toronto, which obtained security footage of the incident, a Jeep plowed into the storefront of Guilty Pleasurez Dezzert Cafe on March 3, shattering windows and destroying merchandise. Thankfully, the bakery—owned by siblings Tanvir and Simran Bawa—was not yet open for the day, and no one was inside. Tanvir rushed to the scene after getting a frantic call from the pair's mother, while his sister got the news from a worker at KC's Nails and Beauty Shoppe, the nail salon next door to Guilty Pleasurez. The employee told Simran that the driver was inside KC's, getting her nails done. Tanvir told CTV that he spoke to the driver: "I was like, 'Are you OK?' ... and she's just giggling. She's like, 'Yeah, I'm fine.'" His sister added, "I'm telling you, this whole time, not one single apology from them. ... This is pretty much my bread and butter." Simran said the bakery had sustained "serious structural damage," but that their insurance provider was requiring the shop to stay open for the time being—despite the shattered glass and a front door that doesn't fully open. In the kind of understatement only Canadians can pull off, Simran said, "It's not been the most pleasant time."

ALL THE COOL CATS ARE DOING IT If you saw the phrase "cocaine cat" trending recently, here's why: A wild cat that was captured in Cincinnati tested positive for exposure to cocaine, NPR reports. In events only recently made public, a big cat named Amiry escaped from his owner's car during a police stop in January. Soon after, local dog wardens started getting calls about a possible leopard stuck in a tree. Responders retrieved Amiry, brought him to a shelter and called in an expert. Per NPR, "The expert suspected Amiry

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

was actually a serval: a long-legged, big-eared wild cat that is native to sub-Saharan Africa and illegal to own in Ohio." A DNA test confirmed that hunch—and also found narcotics in the cat's system. (After an incident last year involving a monkey on amphetamines, the shelter now tests all "exotic" animals that come through its doors.) Amiry is currently living at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. He suffered a broken leg during his ordeal, but is recovering well, says lead trainer Linda Castaneda. "Amiry is young and very curious," she said. "He is exploring his new space and eating well." No charges have yet been filed against Amiry's former owner, but the case remains open.

LOOKIN' FOR LOVE Sometimes, even the selfappointed top bachelor needs a little help. Robert Siegfried, 43, of Janesville, Wisconsin, was tired of dating apps and decided to try a new tactic, reports WISC-TV. He took out a billboard featuring a photo of himself; next to that are the all-caps words "DATE ROBERT" in what some might call a desperate shade of red, followed by "Wisconsin's #1 Eligible Bachelor." The sign states that Robert is "looking for a local, honest woman." Said lucky lady can reach him at the number plastered on the billboard. If you do reach out to Robert, you might want to ask him about the restraining order that was put in place against him last year, according to online court records, which is set to last for four years. Meh, that's probably nothing to worry about. Get dialing, ladies!

FREE THE TORSOS! According to Berlin's local government, everyone will soon be allowed to go topless at the city's public pools, regardless of gender. Up till now, women who bared their breasts at Berlin pools were asked to cover up or leave, and were sometimes even banned, reports NBC. After a local woman filed a discrimination complaint with a government office for equal treatment, the Berliner Baeder-Betriebe (which runs the city's public pools) decided to update its policies. Doris Liebscher, the head of the office involved, praised the decision because "it establishes equal rights for all Berliners, whether male, female or nonbinary, and because it also creates legal certainty for the staff at the Baeder-Betriebe."

•Owners of Club Castaway, a strip club in Whately, Massachusetts, are looking for a way to stand out in a "saturated" market, Boston.com reported. So they've decided to transition their business into a topless cannabis dispensary. "We do have some experience on the cannabis side and some on the nudity side," said co-owner Nick Spagnola. "We want to replace this nightclub scene and alcohol with something that is harmless in comparison." Club Castaway shut down during the pandemic and has not yet reopened; details and licenses for its new incarnation are still being worked out. {in}