Inweekly Oct. 24 2024 Issue

winners & losers

winners losers

CRAIG NORMAN The executive chef and general manager of Innisfree's Red Fish Blue Fish and Water Pig BBQ recently won second place for his Southern-style gumbo at the Sizzlin' Steak Showdown. Norman placed in the Gumbo Shootout portion of the competition, earning high marks from judges. The two-day event at the Hadji Shrine was sanctioned by the Steak Cookoff Association and featured more than $13,000 in prize payouts. The proceeds benefited the Hadji Shriners of Pensacola. Norman attended culinary school at Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, S.C., and went on to cook for more than two decades at restaurants in Tallahassee and Pensacola and even onboard offshore oil rigs—all of which contributed to his knowledge of and love for Southern, Cajun and Creole flavors.

NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Audubon

International has officially certified its Greater Pensacola Operations campus as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The achievement highlights not only the natural beauty of the Beulah campus but also Navy Fed's commitment to sustainability. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program helps organizations protect natural resources, and this certification shows how dedicated recipients are to environmental stewardship.

SEVILLE ROTARY Its 12th Annual Steak CookOff at Seville Quarter drew more than 2,000 attendees and raised $33,500 to support Manna Food Pantries, Children's Home Society, ReadyKids, Gulf Coast Kids House and The ARC Gateway. First Place Judges' Choice was Guy Brothers Roofing, and the People's Choice Award went to The Campfire Fund. The Seville Rotary Steak Cook-Off has raised more than $375,000 for local organizations over the past 12 years.

UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA A team of four undergraduate students earned the finalist position, placing fourth at the second National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Supply Chain Case Competition. The competition bridged the gap between classroom learning and real-world application for procurement professionals. Supply chain management students Joshua Burrow, Amanda Eakin, Joshua Richardson and Jennifer Small competed against teams from eight other universities. Dr. Vitaly Brazhkin served as the team advisor.

RON DESANTIS U.S. District Judge Mark Walker granted a temporary restraining order to keep the DeSantis administration from threatening TV stations with criminal prosecution for playing Amendment 4 abortion rights commercials. Floridians Protecting Freedom, the political committee behind Amendment 4, sued to stop the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) from sending more cease-and-desist letters to Florida TV stations. The letters alleged the ads were "categorically false" and a "sanitary nuisance." The term "sanitary nuisance" was odd because it is a state law that usually regulates the improper disposal of human waste, garbage or improperly built septic tanks. In his order, Judge Walker wrote. "Under the facts of this case, the First Amendment prohibits the State of Florida from trampling on Plaintiff's free speech. To keep it simple for the state of Florida, it's the First Amendment, stupid."

DESPERATE MEASURES

Two St. Lucie County residents and a pair of Taylor County residents have filed a lawsuit against 20 supervisors of elections, including Santa Rosa County's Tappie Villane, for "widespread voter fraud" with Amendment 4. They do not want the votes to be counted in the Nov. 5 election. Why is this happening over half a year after over 997,000 petitions were verified by the state? Someone is worried they are losing.

DIRT CHEAP The discount retailer is closing all stores, including those in Pensacola, after the company filed for bankruptcy. Channel Control Merchants, its parent company, will close all its 68 stores that span eight states, including Florida and Alabama. Final store closing dates have not been announced. Dirt Cheap was the largest buyer of insurance claims in the U.S. while also adding manufacturer and retailer buybacks, closeouts, bankruptcies, overstocks, liquidations, customer returns and out-of-season goods. Liquidation sales are already underway at all locations, meaning some things will actually be cheaper than dirt.

PAM CHILDERS The Escambia County Clerk desperately seeks control of the Board of County Commissioners. Two of her candidates have won their races. Will she get that third vote on the commission she needs? We find out on Nov. 5.

Craig Norman / Photo Courtesy of Innisfree Hotels Ron DeSantis / Photo Courtesy of flgov.com

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

FLORIDIANS DESERVE FREEDOM

In January, the Florida Department of Transportation installed "Welcome to the Free State of Florida" signs on the state's major roadways. Sadly, we have been shown the state is only free for those who agree with Gov. Ron DeSantis.

If parents want their children to have a diverse education and desire they be exposed to various views, cultures and life experiences through books in their classrooms and school libraries, they cannot in Florida public schools. Their parental freedom regarding schoolbooks is restricted to those allowed by the most closed-minded parents in the school. The minority is given control over the majority.

Most Floridians (55%) have said they would vote "yes" on Amendment 4, which would limit the governor and lawmakers from interfering with a woman's reproductive rights. Another 26% said they plan to vote "no," while 20% said they were "unsure." KFF, a non-partisan organization focused on health policy, found that nearly three in four (72%) reproductive-age women in Florida think abortion should be legal in all or most cases, including the majority of Republican (51%) and Democratic (86%) women.

Yet Gov. DeSantis has used the full weight of his executive power to crush the majority from being heard since he signed legislation that banned abortions six weeks after the first day of a woman's last menstrual period. Florida voters fought back and gathered enough signatures to force Amendment 4, which restores abortion access until fetal viability, on the Nov. 5 ballot.

However, DeSantis can't suffer a political defeat, which is how he perceives Amendment 4. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference attached a financial impact statement to Amendment 4 that is inaccurate and misleading. When Amendment 4 supporters objected, the DeSantis-packed court system refused to hear the case.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) launched a webpage last month bashing the proposed amendment, prompting Florida Democrats to criticize the misuse of state funds. AHCA Secretary Jason Weida tweeted that the "Florida Cares" page was created to "combat lies and disinformation surrounding Florida's abortion laws." Florida Democrats claimed the webpage violated Florida statutes that bar state

employees from using their authority to interfere with an election.

"This anti-Amendment 4 website from AHCA is bullshit. Ron and his buddies know they're losing, and they're willing to do anything—including breaking the law—to rig the results in their favor," wrote Nikki Fried, the Florida Democratic Party Chair, in a statement. The page still exists.

Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) sent letters to TV stations ordering them to stop running a Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) ad and warning them they would be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor. FDOH alleged the ad included false and "dangerous" information and threatened to seek injunctions or possible criminal prosecution against the stations.

The lawsuit said the ad told the story of a woman who, while 20 weeks pregnant in 2022, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Doctors told the woman they could not treat her with chemotherapy or radiation while pregnant, so she had an abortion, the lawsuit said. The ad asserts that current Florida law would prevent abortions in such cases.

The FDOH attorney who sent the ceaseand-desist letters has resigned. In his resignation letter, he wrote, "A man is nothing without his conscience. It has become clear in recent days that I cannot join you on the road that lies before the agency."

FPF sued the health department, saying it was intolerable for the state to dangle "a sword of Damocles over anyone who would facilitate that core political expression—threatening broadcast ers with criminal prosecution if they air viewpoints the state disagrees with and silencing FPF's speech in the process."

Fortunately, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker temporarily barred the DeSantis administration from intimidating and coercing television stations. The temporary restraining order remains in effect until Oct. 29. He called out the DeSantis administration for violating the First Amendment.

$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger

A free Florida is not one where ideas are repressed, where freedoms are only granted to those of one political party, and where all Floridians cannot express their views without fear of reprisal.

Florida is not free under DeSantis. {in} rick@inweekly.net

more than 1,650 households achieve affordable homeownership. Gulf Winds has supported these efforts since 2016, donating more than $67,000 and volunteering at yearly events like the Executive Build and Women Build.

"Gulf Winds supports Habitat because they aren't just building houses, they're building stable foundations for families," said Daniel Souers, the Gulf Winds Credit Union President and CEO. "We love everything Habitat stands for in the community and are proud to support their mission of helping families through affordable homeownership, a mission that aligns closely with ours."

Women Build is a unique fundraising campaign hosted by Pensacola Habitat for Humanity. It empowers women from all walks of life to join forces to raise money, forge bonds and physically construct homes for other women in their community. Each year, Women Build demonstrates how powerful it can be when local women come together to tackle the challenge of affordable housing.

The first Pensacola Habitat for Humanity Women Build took place in 2014, raising just over $50,000. Today, after a decade of growth, relationship building and fundraising, Women Build stands as the single largest fundraiser for Pensacola Habitat for Humanity—a testament to how fully the community has embraced the organization's mission to create affordable

manager, said, "Women Build is unique because most of the fundraising happens outside our office, with many women united by one goal. Our community truly comes together to make a real difference, and it's incredibly inspiring to witness these incredible women get it done."

At the Gulf Winds event, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity CEO Sam Young said, "We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from Gulf Winds Credit Union. Their generous donation has not only helped us exceed our Women Build fundraising goal but also demonstrates their commitment to uplifting our community."

WAVE CENTER At its Oct. 15 meeting in Pensacola, the Triumph Gulf Coast Board approved funds for job training programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties and started negotiations for a grant for the American Magic/University of West Florida (UWF) WAVE Center.

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board gave the green light to its first grant with the Escambia County Public Schools. The $617,227 grant reestablishes the Automotive Service Academy at Tate High School. The funds will help renovate and equip a former auto body building into labs for an automotive service academy. This project will have a classroom academic component, but its primary learning environment will be the academy's auto-

motive service shop. The Escambia County School District guarantees completion of 225 Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certificates by the end of the 2029-2030 academic year.

Former School Superintendent Malcolm Thomas refused to accept any Triumph monies because the district would have had to refund funds if it failed to meet its benchmarks. The rejection put Escambia behind in preparing students to qualify for aviation mechanic positions at ST Engineering.

The Triumph Board also approved moving ahead with term sheet negotiations for a grant of up to $3.32 million for the University of West Florida's WAVE center at the Port of Pensacola.

The Center for Water and Vessel Engineering (WAVE) will serve as a research and development center for vessel engineering and related fields, connecting UWF faculty with organizations such as American Magic.

The program will include a facility to support the production of custom assemblies and unique hull designs required to develop technologically advanced sailing vessels and high-speed watercraft. The WAVE team will support the design of new sail configurations, foils and hulls made from sustainably sourced materials.

It leverages existing UWF expertise in material science, computational fluid dynamics, human performance, non-destructive material evaluation, design for manufacturability, control systems, data science and other related fields. WAVE also connects UWF engineering and technology students to watercraft industries in Escambia County and other coastal counties in Northwest Florida.

David Bear chairs the Triumph Board and the Tourist Development Council. He pointed out the WAVE Center's connection to tourism.

"The TDC funded the Foiling Week program that's going to happen in the spring," he said. "The WAVE Center will bring students in and teach them about foiling and all the advanced manufacturing and performance of hydrofoiling and marine technology. American Magic, Sail Pensacola and City of Pensacola are partnering to attract a bunch of people here to understand and learn more about foiling and that type of technology."

He continued, "Foiling Week is a program that the TDC funded that happens around the world.

This spring, it's going to be here in Pensacola. The only other place where it happened in the United States was Miami. And so, this pulls together economic development and tourism at that crossroad and uses American Magic as the catalyst."

OVER $1 MILLION AWARDED

IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area chose 12 grant recipients at its annual meeting on Oct. 13. With 1,208 members this year, IMPACT 100 awarded grants of $100,670 each to nonprofit organizations in our community for a total impact of over $1.2 million. Since its inception, IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area has awarded 165 grants totaling more than $17 million to worthy nonprofits serving Pensacola Bay Area communities.

"Each of these nonprofits is making an incredible impact in our community, and we are honored to support their efforts in creating meaningful change, said Kristin Longley, the IMPACT 100 president. "We look forward to seeing how these projects will touch the lives of so many in the coming year."

The grants were awarded to these nonprofits in five categories:

•ARTS, CULTURE & HISTORY: Parent Booster USA and UWF Historic Trust Pensacola Children's Museum.

•EDUCATION: Capstone Adaptive Learning and Therapy Centers and Pyramid, Inc.

•ENVIRONMENT & RECREATION: Dixon School of Arts and Sciences and Friends of Pensacola State Parks.

•FAMILY: My Father's Arrows, Northwest Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation and Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council.

•HEALTH & WELLNESS: Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition, Ministry Village at Olive and Vision of Hope.

On "Real News with Rick Outzen" the following day, Longley announced a new award the organization has created.

"We are a women's philanthropic organization, but we are so thankful for gentlemen like you who have supported us and our mission for so many years," she told Rick Outzen, the Inweekly publisher. "And because of that, we created an Impact award, and we will be giving you one of those as a longtime supporter of Impact 100."

The IMPACT 100 Membership season begins with the first Meet and Mingle event 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Portofino Island Resort, 10 Portofino Drive, Pensacola Beach. The event will be hosted by Levin Rinke Realty, Teri Levin, Abby & Robert Rinke. For a full schedule of upcoming Meet and Mingles, visit impact100 pensacola.org.

SPORTS MECCA The Escambia County Commission approved new agreements to host the Southeastern Conference Women's Soccer Championships and the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Championships through the end of the decade.

Since 2022, Escambia County has been the home of the SEC Women's Soccer Championship at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex, setting record-breaking attendance numbers. Under the new agreement approved last week, the championship tournament continue the soccer complex through 2026 with the option to renew annually through 2029.

The Pensacola Bay Center has hosted the men's and women's basketball championships for the Sun Belt Conference every February since 2021. Under the new agreement, the Sun Belt tournament will continue through 2030.

Twelve SEC soccer teams will compete for the 2024 SEC Championship title from Sunday, Nov. 3, to Sunday, Nov. 10, at the Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex.

"The Pensacola community has embraced and welcomed our staff, the teams and the players over the last two years," said Greg Sankey, the SEC Commissioner. "The SEC Soccer Tournament is an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region and will provide our studentathletes with lasting memories."

Fans can purchase tickets at pensacolasports.org. All-tournament passes are $45. Individual session tickets for the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $12 for adults and $7 for students and military personnel. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 10, are $17 for adults and $12 for students and military personnel. Taxes and service fees are included in the listed ticket prices.

On Sunday, Nov. 3, and Tuesday, Nov. 5, kids 12 and younger wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event. Admission is free for children 5 and younger at all games.

FIGHTING CITY HALL

The Pensacola City Council voted to cancel the ground lease for Divine Word Communication's radio tower in the flood-prone Long Hollow conservation district. North Hill Preservation President Melanie Nichols shared how she was harassed when she tried to get information about the tower in 2015 after the nonconforming original structure had been taken down.

City Administrator Eric Olson tried to get Nichols' bosses to reprimand her for using her official federal email account to communicate with city staff. Olson exaggerated the number of emails involving the North Hill Preservation president.

"All of the emails that I sent regarding the tower were from my Gmail account, but there were a lot of emails because I've been on the zoning board, the Architectural Review Board, the housing commission," she explained. "Every time you send an email, even a brief email about a meeting or a quorum or anything, it went into the city's database, whoever got the email and opened it every time it was opened, it created another email. And so, it would exaggerate the numbers."

She continued. "I didn't break any laws with

DON GAETZ FIGHT WILL FOR US!

the government, but because Eric Olson went to the Naval Academy, he called my boss, who went to the Naval Academy. And from one good old boy to the other, 'Oh, let's cause some problems for Ms. Nichols.'"

Nichols said she gave Mayor Ashton Hayward and Olson everything they needed to cancel the lease. "When I started researching, Divine Word Communications hadn't made lease payments in two years. They were in default on their lease payments. They had no insurance that they had provided the city. They could have canceled their lease and been done with it, but they dug in."

She aimed to maximize the Long Hollow stormwater basin and stop flooding businesses and homes. However, she was accused of stopping the religious radio broadcasting and suffered death threats and other personal attacks.

Nichols said, "It was an eye-opener to what can happen when you get on the dark side of an evil administration."

ECSO BUDGET In 2022, the Escambia County Commission approved a funding agreement that chair Commissioner Jeff Bergosh had reached with Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons to fund his agency through Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The agreement set the Sheriff's Office budget at $77.4 million for FY 2023, $82.7 for FY 2024 and $88.2 for FY 2025 to cover all costs for personnel services, operating expenses and capital outlay as required to operate the law enforcement agency.

The agreement also had additional contingency funds of $1.25 million for 2023, $1.25 million for 2024 and $1.5 million in 2025. The contingency

funds covered increased retirement costs, employee healthcare or higher fuel costs.

On "Real News with Rick Outzen," Sheriff Simmons said the three-year agreement has been good for both his agency and the county.

"Our deputies got a 5.5% pay increase. We increased our staff by three sworn deputies each year," he said. "My hope is that come spring, we start to think about this again because we want to make sure that we stay above competitive because, to me, there's no reason to be mediocre. There's no reason just to be competitive. Why can't we be the best?"

Sheriff Simmons continued. "Let's raise our expectations a little bit, and let's have maybe the highest-paid agency around here because we want to have the most professional agency in the state of Florida." {in}

We know the Presidential race has sucked up pretty much all the air in the room this election cycle. But Florida voters have a lot of key down ballot races and amendments to vote on, too. So, even if you're feeling a little burnt out, we hope you still turn out and make your voice heard.

To help you prepare, we created this election guide. It includes a ballot roundup, complete with links to all the candidates' platform information we could find, plus a cheat sheet for the amendments and details on early voting.

BALLOT BREAKDOWN

R-Republican, D-Democrat, NPA-No Party Affiliation, I-Incumbent

FEDERAL RACES

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT

 D onald J. Trump and JD Vance (R) donaldjtrump.com/platform

 Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz (D) kamalaharris.com/issues

 Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat (Libertarian Party) votechaseoliver.com/platform

 Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia (Party for Socialism and Liberation) votesocialist2024.com

 Randall Terry and Stephen Broden (Constitution Party) constitutionparty.com/randall-terry-for-president

 Peter Sonski and Lauren Onak (American Solidarity Party) petersonski.com/vision

 Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware (Green Party) jillstein2024.com/platform

UNITED STATES SENATOR

 R ick Scott (R) (I) rescueamerica.com

 Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) debbieforflorida.com/issues

 Feena Bonoan (Libertarian Party of Florida) feenabonoan.com/issues

 Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA) letsbe-american.com/issues

 Ben Everidge (NPA) benforflorida.com/issues

REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS DISTRICT 1

 M att Gaetz (R) (I) gaetz.house.gov/issues

 Gay Valimont (D) gayforcongress.com/issues

STATE & LOCAL RACES

STATE SENATOR—DISTRICT 1

 D on Gaetz (R) electdongaetz.com

 Lisa Newell (D) newell4florida.com

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1

 Franscine Mathis (D) mathisfranscine1.wixsite.com/franscine-mathis-for

 Michelle Salzman (R) (I) michellesalzmanforhouse.com/issues

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 2

 A lex Andrade (R) (I) voteandrade.com

 Haley "Hale" Morrissette (D) votemorrissette.com/policies

 Kim Kline (NPA) votekimkline.com/all-about-the-issues

COUNTY COMMISSIONER

DISTRICT 1

 Tyler Aulger (Write-in)

 Justin Smith (Write-in)

 Steven Stroberger (R) votestroberger.com

COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4

 R on Helms (D) facebook.com/revronhelms

 Ashlee Hofberger (R) (I) voteashlee.com

NON-PARTISAN LOCAL RACES

SCHOOL BOARD—DISTRICT 4

 Carissa Bergosh bergoshforschoolboard.com

 Rich Holzknecht rich4district4.com

SANTA ROSA ISLAND AUTHORITY

 Thomas Campanella

 Jeremy Johnson (I) facebook.com/jeremyforsria

PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT 1

 Jennifer Brahier (I) facebook.com/brahiercares

 Edward "Phil" Nickinson IV philfor1.com

PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL

DISTRICT 5

 Toni "Teniadé" Broughton (I) teniade.com

 Jenori Burroughs electjenori.com

JUDGES

You are voting on whether to retain these judges. A "yes" vote means they stay in office, and a "no" vote means the governor must appoint a new judge.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT

supremecourt.flcourts.gov/justices

•Justice Renatha Francis Appointed by Gov. DeSantis in 2022

•Justice Meredith Sasso Appointed by Gov. DeSantis in 2023

Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned voter, there's still a lot to know before every election, especially when it comes to early voting and mail-in ballot deadlines. So here's some general information every voter needs to know.

EARLY VOTING

Early voting in Florida started Monday, Oct. 21 and continues through Saturday, Nov. 2. Unlike Election Day, when you have to vote at your assigned precinct, registered voters can cast their ballot at the early voting location of their choice.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

All are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Saturday, Nov. 2

•Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office

213 S. Palafox, Second Floor

•Main Library

239 Spring St.

•Molino Community Center

6450 Highway 95A, Molino

•Asbury Place at Cokesbury Church

750 College Blvd.

•Southwest Branch Library

12248 Gulf Beach Highway

•Bellview Library

6425 Mobile Highway

•Escambia County Extension Services

3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment

•Brownsville Community Center

3200 W. DeSoto St.

•University of West Florida

11000 University Pkwy., Bldg. 78, Room 136

•Billy G. Ward Courthouse

7500 N. Century Blvd., Century

VOTE BY MAIL

If you plan to vote by mail, remember your ballot must be received in the Supervisor of Elections Office by 7 p.m. Election Day.

Don't stress too much if you requested a mail-in ballot and find yourself cutting it close to that deadline. You can skip mail altogether and

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL

1dca.flcourts.gov/judges

•Judge Stephanie Ray Appointed by Gov. Scott in 2011

•Judge Bradford L. Thomas Appointed by Gov. Bush in 2005

•Judge M. Kemmerly Thomas Appointed by Gov. Scott in 2016

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

We read a lot of other guides and visited tons of candidate websites while making this issue. So if you're looking to do some more research before voting, here are a few additional resources we learned something from.

League of Women Voters of Florida Non-Partisan Voter Guide lwvfl.org/vote2024

Life Is Hale's Hood Voter Guide '24 lifeishale.com

NAACP Florida Voter Guide naacp.org/resources/florida-voter-guide

Escambia County and Florida Voter Guides

Both can be found on escambiavotes.gov, under the "voters" tab on the homepage.

Campaign Finance Reports

The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office has the campaign finance reports of all local candidates on escambiavotes.gov under the "candidates" tab. Reports for state and multi-county candidates can be found at dos.fl.gov/elections under "Resources: Candidates, Campaigns & Committees." The financial reports for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives candidates can be found at fec.gov/data.

Florida Bar Retention Poll

This poll asks in-state Florida Bar members to rate judges and justices up for retention votes every two years. It is a great resource if you want to learn more about the judges on your ballot. floridabar.org/public/faircts/votes010/2020-meritretention-biographies

drop off your ballot in person at the Supervisor of Elections office or at any early voting location during operating hours. You can also surrender your mail-in ballot at an early voting location or your precinct on Election Day and vote in person instead. But the key thing to remember is to bring in your mail-in ballot and surrender it. If you cannot return the ballot, you'll have to vote via provisional ballot, and nobody wants that.

Have you already sent in your mail-in ballot? Don't forget to track it online at escambiavotes. gov/track-my-ballot.

ELECTION DAY

Polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5 to vote in person. You must present a photo and signature identification card. Acceptable forms of ID include Florida Driver's Licenses, student and military IDs and U.S. passports. You don't have to bring your voter registration card.

If you need assistance due to a disability or inability to read or write English, you are entitled to assistance in voting. You may bring someone

with you, or poll workers from different political parties will assist you. If you aren't sure where to go, you can use the "Find My Precinct" tool on the Supervisor of Elections site—escambiavotes.gov/ where-to-vote.

And remember—if you're in line when the polls close, you still get to vote. So don't leave just because the clock strikes 7 p.m.

ELECTION PROTECTION

We are pretty lucky here in Escambia County to have a decent number of polling sites and typically short wait times to vote. But voter suppression is still an issue and could happen anytime, anywhere.

Don't just walk away if you experience a problem while trying to vote. Try going to the Supervisor of Elections office and asking them what's up. Or call 1-866-OURVOTE (1-866-687-8683)—it's a nationwide non-partisan election protection hotline.

FLORIDA AMENDMENTS

Six proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution are on the ballot this election. The Florida Legislature has proposed most. Howev er, Amendments 3 and 4 were proposed through the state's petition process, which required 891,589 signatures each to get on the ballot.

paragraphs from the 2023 Financial Impact Estimating Conference to the sections for Amendments 3 (recreational marijuana) and 4 (reproductive rights). The statement accompa nying Amendment 4 has been highly controver sial. A circuit court judge ruled that the initial financial impact statement was legally defective and ordered a new one be written. The state ap pealed, arguing that no court could review the ballot statements, no matter how inaccurate or misleading. The new financial impact statement wasn't much better. However, the First District Court of Appeal and Florida Supreme Court refused to rule on whether the courts should also review the new statement. After failing to get a court hearing, the ACLU of Florida pointed out, "The unlawful financial impact statement appended to Amendment 4's ballot summary does not alter the effect of Amendment 4, which, when passed, will provide crucial protections to limit government interference with abortion."

In Florida, passing an amendment requires the support of at least 60% of voters. Only two other states require 60% or higher: Illinois and New Hampshire.

We know this part of the ballot can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Our advice is to study what each amendment is actually proposing so you don't get hung up by the language. To help you do just that this election, we worked up a breakdown for each amendment that includes the most common "for" and "against" arguments and what a "yes" and "no" vote will mean.

AMENDMENT 1 PARTISAN

ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS

FOR: Because public education has become polarized, school board elections have already become partisan.

AGAINST: Partisan school board races exclude NPAs (No Party Affiliated voters) from voting in primaries and increase political polarization. WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: "Yes" changes school board elections to partisan elections beginning in 2026, requiring the candidate's political party to be designated on the ballot and triggering closed primary elections. "No" keeps primaries open for all voters.

AMENDMENT 3 ADULT PERSONAL USE OF MARIJUANA

FOR: Tax revenue from the legal cannabis industry will reach over $4 billion in 2025. No evidence from the 37 states that have legalized marijuana shows that it increased underage consumption in the regulated marketplace. Florida law already bans smoking in public areas, so Gov. DeSantis' complaint of smelling pot everywhere isn't valid.

AGAINST: Opponents claim the amendment is misleading, and marijuana is illegal under federal law and will remain illegal even if it passes. They also assert it gives the corporations growing, distributing and selling marijuana a monopoly.

WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: "Yes" legalizes recreational marijuana use in Florida by adults 21 years old and older, allows individuals to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and authorizes existing Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell and distribute marijuana products and accessories. "No" keeps the recreational use of marijuana illegal in Florida and maintains the current regulations for medical use.

AMENDMENT 4 LIMIT GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH ABORTION

FOR: The Florida Legislature has made abortions nearly impossible, even if the woman's life is in danger and the pregnancy isn't viable. Doctors face possible felony charges and loss of their medical licenses. Supporters believe Floridians deserve the freedom to make personal medical decisions, free of government intrusion. The amendment does not change the Legislature's constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.

FOR: Since 1997, the Escambia County School Board has levied a one-half cent sales surtax to fund new construction, renovations and additions to existing schools, land acquisition and improvements to schools. The voters have approved each 10-year renewal because of the belief that sales taxes are a better funding source than property taxes.

to protect the patient's health. "No" keeps the current six-week ban in place.

AMENDMENT 5 ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE VALUE OF CERTAIN HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS

FOR: Homeowners who qualify for a homestead property tax exemption will pay less property tax. The exemption would increase each Jan. 1 if the Consumer Price Index also increases. AGAINST: The amendment would reduce revenue available to cities and counties by millions of dollars.

WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: "Yes" reduces the property taxes on primary residences and the tax revenue available for county, city and special district programs and services. "No" leaves the homestead exemption as is.

AMENDMENT 6 REPEAL OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUNDING

FOR: The money could be better used for other programs, such as education, health care and housing, rather than political campaigns. AGAINST: The matching fund program gives small-dollar donors a greater voice and encourages candidates to seek support from broad groups of voters. If the program is repealed, wealthy donors and special interest groups would no longer be limited in the amounts they can contribute.

WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: "Yes" ends Florida's public campaign financing program and removes spending limits for publicly funded candidates for Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture. "No" means no changes to the program or spending limits.

AGAINST: The School Board has closed or consolidated 19 schools in mostly Black neighborhoods.

WHAT YOUR VOTE DOES: "Yes" begins another 10-year period for the sales tax, beginning Jan. 1, 2028, for all public schools. "No" ends the tax at the end of 2027, forcing the School Board to find other funds for its construction projects.

Arts & Entertainment

Women Saving POTUS

The all-female cast of Pensacola Little Theatre's (PLT's) satirical play "POTUS" couldn't keep a swear jar around at rehearsals, otherwise they'd all lose a coin or two.

Barbara Jacobs, the show's director and PLT's Studio 400 chairperson, thinks the audience should be aware the first word in script is "cunt," and it features curse words throughout. It should come as little surprise, though, seeing as how the show's subtitle is "Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive."

"The president has just said in a press conference something about his wife having a 'cunt-y morning,' and it kind of goes from there," Jacobs said. "What are they going to do to spin this? How are they going to deal with the countries that are upset? What's going to be the stance of the press? And it rolls rapidly from there."

Cast member Eleanore Armani finds special importance in the language of the play.

"It explores derogatory terms, especially against women, and how they are used and viewed—not only on that level of government, but around the world, and what kind of decorum a political leader is supposed to have," Armani said.

"I think it's really cool, and just the hoops that especially women have to jump through in order to get things done and take care of things, and often, [they] don't get the credit that they deserve."

Armani's favorite aspect of "POTUS" is the juxtaposition of farce with serious subject matter, she said.

"The quippy-ness, the speed of it and the timeliness of it—it couldn't be done at a better time, literally and figuratively," Armani said. "It is a real think piece."

Believe it or not, PLT didn't intentionally plan "POTUS" around the 2024 U.S. presidential election; it just worked out that way, explained Jacobs. They stumbled upon Selina Fillinger's political satire at a Script Teasers meeting, where they read scripts monthly, and

laughed hard at it—sans familiarity with the plot, comedic timing, costumes or sets.

"We just couldn't stand how funny it sounded," Jacobs said. "… To direct something, you kind of have to see the story in your brain. I just see this story playing out in all of its lunacy. I could watch it happening, and that's why I wanted to direct it, because I could see it. I wanted other people to be able to see it too."

Despite its title, the play isn't as political as it sounds (there's no party affiliation), Jacobs said. In fact, she sees it as a bit of a respite from the intensity of today's political climate.

"They can get a good laugh or maybe [leave] thinking that things often seem worse than they are and are not as bad," Jacobs said. "They get pretty crazy at various points, but they all manage to get it all straightened out, and it's the women who saved the day."

Jacobs thinks Script Teasers attendees were initially drawn to the characters.

"The characters were really strong, and they were really strong women—and yet they each had their own weaknesses," Jacobs said. "They weren't perfect, which is always interesting. Some of them, you expected when you were first introduced to them, for them to be one thing, and they turned out to be either so much

Armani admires her character specifically. Harriet, the chief of staff, has many layers, she said.

"She's my age, and she has had to fight as a woman to get into the position where she is, and that comes with a lot of backstory [of] what she had to go through, and what she had to endure, and how she's done it," Armani said.

Armani fantasizes about being as "badass" as Harriet in her own daily life, she said.

"Just being able to keep so many balls in the air, keep your cool and stay in control—and just make things happen and not put up with any shit from anyone," Armani said of her character.

Some of the cast members have significant stage experience like Armani (it's at least her sixth show), and many are PLT's Crystal Award recipients. Some are new to theater entirely.

"That's fun, too, because they're learning from people who have got some experience under their belt," Jacobs said. "And it's been fun watching them develop and bring life to some really interesting personalities."

This will mark Jacobs' fourth time directing a full production; she's worked with PLT almost 24 years. The most challenging part of directing such a humorous play is how visual in nature it is, Jacobs said.

"It's the 'what' the actors are doing that's funny," Jacobs said. "And some of it is the

script—at the heart of it—is hysterically funny, and then there is a lot of comic timing involved, delivery. And we have some masters of comic timing, and that's going to be a lot of fun, too."

The best part for her has been the assistance of a "completely complete" production team. In community theater, you often go without.

"You might not have somebody willing to be your props person or to help design the set properly … a costumer you can rely on—and the list really goes on," Jacobs said. "I have just lucked into a perfect combination of old volunteers and new volunteers that have just made every one of those pieces fit together … and that's been a lot of fun, because everybody gets to bring something that they're experienced in and excited about into the equation and put it all together to make the story."

Jacobs appreciates having Holly Jo Taylor, an arts student studying set design, on board. Jacobs refers to it as a "flexible set," because it suggests different spaces in the White House, rather than completely portraying them.

"She put together a set design that met the needs I had for people coming and going and moving about and being involved in this very familiar, yet unfamiliar location in the United States," Jacobs said. "As long as you're willing to believe that there are both no walls and walls at the same time, it works brilliantly."

Jacobs recommends people buy tickets early; PLT has actually had to add shows to its schedule lately to accommodate the audience demand.

"I think that's a strong endorsement that we have pretty much sold out houses for every performance," Jacobs said. "So I'm quite proud of that." {in}

POTUS: OR, BEHIND EVERY GREAT DUMBASS ARE SEVEN WOMEN TRYING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE

WHAT: A political satire presented by PLT's Studio 400

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Thursday, Oct. 31 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3

WHERE: The Clark Family Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St.

COST: $20 general admission, $30 café tables

DETAILS: pensacolalittletheatre.com

Eleanore Armani and Renee Jordan / Photo Courtesy of Pensacola Little Theatre

a&e happenings

BOO AT THE ZOO Boo at the Zoo returns to the Gulf Breeze Zoo with activities for all ages including trick-or-treating while enjoying festive Halloween decorations in the wild and not-sospooky setting of the Zoo. Events are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 28-30. Cost is $10 for zoo members and $20.95-$27.95 for regular admission with train rides included. Visit gbzoo.com/event/boo-atthe-zoo for details.

TRUNK OR TREAT

Join the Healthy Start Coalition and Healthy Families of Escambia County for their second annual Trunk or Treat 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Enjoy free candy, fun and activities in the field across the street from Healthy Start in Downtown Pensacola, 318 N. Alcaniz St.

ICONS OF HORROR The Sapphic Stage presents the Icons of Horror drag show 8 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

SPIRITS & SPELLS: A HAUNTED CRAFT COCKTAIL WORKSHOP

Enjoy a 90-minute cocktail experience with all ingredients. All participants get a takehome professional barware set. Event is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at The Loft at the Mercantile, 2 Intendencia St. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at rustedarrowmercantile.com/events.

MUMMY AND ME CHARCUTERIE

NIGHT Parents and kids can enjoy making a charcuterie board together 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $85 for one adult and one child. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

34TH ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE WALKING AND TROLLEY TOURS

Choose from Madness and Murder Walking Tour, Seville Spirits Walking Tour and Trolley of the Doomed Tour. Available times and days are 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26. Ticket prices start at $8. Visit historicpensacola.org/plan-your-visit/hauntedhappenings for details.

ODD HALLOWS EVE Dark beer releases, live band karaoke, costume contest MI SU street food and classic Halloween movies starts 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.

BOO-ERY AND HAUNTED WALK TOUR WITH PERDIDO PERFORMING ARTS

Join Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., for a haunted tour around the brewery 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Enjoy live performances, local food trucks, music and of course spooktacular fun for the whole family. Admission is free for children ages 3 and younger. Details are available at facebook.com/garysbrew.

HALLOWEEN MOVIE NIGHTS AT

LAGUNA'S Watch "Hocus Pocus" at 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 25 outside Laguna's, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. S'mores, popcorn and treats will be available for purchase.

HALLOWEEN BEER GARDEN BASH

Specialty brews, live DJ and more are 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road.

MEWVIE NIGHT AT COASTAL CAT CAFÉ

Watch "Hocus Pocus" while cuddling adoptable cats 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $32 and includes complimentary snacks and drinks. Details are at coastalcatpcola.com.

GLSNRWEEN SHOW WITH [GLSNR], BLIND TIGER, HOPOUT, CAVAE MUNDI, SPIRAL Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

DRAG ME TO THE WELL SHOW Halloween

drag show featuring Raven Samore, Becky Belle Bottoms, Anye Sanchez, Wyntier Kandiey 9-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. For ages 21 and up. Details at facebook.com/ thewellpensacola.

COSTUME PARTIES AT O'RILEY'S LOCATIONS Costume parties will take place Saturday, Oct. 26 at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. and Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. The costume contest is 11 p.m. with cash prizes. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT PERFECT

PLAIN Halloween festivities at all Perfect Plain venues Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday Oct. 27. Enjoy drink specials, scaryoke, costume contests, a dance party and a pet costume contest. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewing com.

BARKTOBERFEST This family friendly event features contests and activities for dogs and their humans 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Seville Square. Proceeds benefit Pensacola Humane Society. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

HOWL-O-WEEN PET COSTUME CONTEST

Bring your pups to the seventh annual HowlO-Ween Pet Costume Contest 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. The contest is free to enter, and dog

parents that also come dressed in costume can receive 15% off their tab.

CANDY COCKTAIL COMPETITION A night of sweet creativity is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Tickets and information available are at facebook.com/ thewellpensacola.

VAMPIRE'S BANE DINNER Multi-course meal from Chefs Matthew Brown and Chris Voorhees is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $90 a person. Menu details and tickets are available at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY Visit the Pensacola Museum of Art for live music, interactive art experiences and free admission to the museum. The block party is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT ARTEL GALLERY

Artel Gallery will have a special Halloween night event celebrating the opening reception of Cinco Banderas. Costumes are highly encouraged for the night of festivities 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at 223 S. Palafox St. Visit artelgallery.org for details.

SPOOKY RAVE Horror themed rave is 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Event is for ages 18 and older. Tickets are $15 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

HALLOWEEN SHOW AND COSTUME PARTY AT 309 This Halloween Show features Fuckin Nothin, Study, Goodwin Rainer and Outlook Bleak. Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details are at facebook. com/309punkproject.

MEOWLOWEEN PAWTY Visit Coastal Cat Café wearing your costume and ready to cuddle cats, listen to spooky music and of course eat some candy 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at 1508 W. Garden St. Tickets are available at coastalcatcafepcola.com.

FLORA-BAMA HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST Wear a costume and get in free Thursday, Oct. 31 at Flora-Bama, 17401 Perdido

Photos Courtesy of Pensacola Humane Society and Luna Maya

Key Drive. Sign up for the costume contest to win a cash prize. Details are at florabama.com.

GASOLINA PARTY: DIA DE LOS

MUERTOS EDITION Day of the Dead party for ages 18 and older is 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $15 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

LIBERATION! PRESENTS: NIGHTMARES

FROM BOURBON Wear your costume out a second time and celebrate Halloween weekend 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at Subculture, 701 N. V. St. Come out and enjoy spooky DJs, decor and drag performances. Tickets are at Liberation! Pensacola Facebook page.

40TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN RACE 5K AND FUN RUN Sacred Heart Cathedral School will host runners and walkers of all ages Saturday, Nov. 2. The race will begin 8 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, on the corner of 12th Avenue and Moreno Street. The course map is available at bit. ly/shcsracecourse. On race day, late registration and packet pick-up will be open 6:30-7:45 a.m. At 9 a.m., the 1-mile Fun Run begins. Register for the race at bit.ly/pumpkin5k.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

DRIVE FOR CHARITY AT STEP ONE ALFA

ROMEO Visit Step One Alfa Romeo, 5600 Pensacola Blvd., 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 when all test drives will equal a $50 donation to Pensacola Opera. A $500 donation will be made if a car is purchased. Details are at facebook. com/pensacolaopera.

FALL PAW PALOOZA & FUNDRAISER Meet adoptable pets, vie for raffle prizes, enjoy live music and dog photos and more 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details are at facebook.com/garysbrew.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -

TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

CALL TO ARTISTS

CINCO BANDERAS There is a call to artists for Artel Gallery's "Cinco Banderas." There is no theme and no size limit. Entry fee for two pieces is $35. Drop off art 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27. For more information, visit artelgallery.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

CELEBRATING OUR ANCESTORS AND BOOK TALK Kick off "Celebrating Our Ancestors" 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 with a book talk featuring Joe McGill and Herb Frazier, co-authors of "Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery." With a fireside program and sleepover following at 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged. On Saturday, Oct. 26 a slave dwelling cooking program is 8-10 a.m. followed with a celebration event 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All events will be held in the Historic Village, 201E. Zaragoza St. Details and information are at fpan.us/projects/ celebrating-our-ancestors.

89TH ANNUAL PENSACOLA INTERSTATE

FAIR Enjoy 11 days of rides, food, fun, music and gaming through Oct. 27 at the Pensacola Fairgrounds, 6655 Mobile Highway. Opening day will have $1 admission for all ages. General admission is $14 for adults, $6 for children ages 4-11 and free for children 3 and younger. Unlimited ride wristbands are $25 for Monday-Thursday use (also Sunday, Oct. 27) and $30 for Friday-Sunday use. Individual ride credits will also be available. There is also a $5 parking fee, which will be collected upon exiting the fair parking lot. For a full list of bands and entertainment, visit pensacolafair.com.

TAM TAYLOR AT CLUB 27 COMEDY Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are at club27comedy.com

POTUS Watch this new show at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, Saturdays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, Thursday, Oct. 31 and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3. Tickets are $20-30. Details are at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

CINEMAS IN THE SAND Watch "Monsters Inc" starting sunset Friday, Oct. 25 at Gulfside Pavilion, weather permitting. For more information and updates, visit facebook.com/visitpensacolabeach.

OPEN BOOKS $1 BOOK SALE Visit Open

Books at 1040 N. Guillemard St., and stock up on books for $1 each 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27. Details are at facebook. com/openbooksbookstore.

PENSACOLA POP COMICS GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK CLUB The next Graphic Novel Book Club meeting is 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. The discussion will be on "Here" by Richard McGuire. Pop Comics is located at 909 N. 12th Ave.

HARVEST FEST

Jubilee Church will host its annual Harvest Fest 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5910 N. W St. It will feature hayrides, inflatables, baseball and basketball challenges, face painting and more. Event is open to all kids 18 and younger. Visit facebook.com/jubilee. church for details.

SHOUT OUT

Celebrating the Wins That Lift Us All — Auburn’s Chris Rembert

“It’s an awesome feeling. Nothing could top this day.”

Auburn, FSU Clash in Pensacola’s Historic “Fall Ball” Event

It was really neat, and the Blue Wahoos staff, the grounds crew, the front office staff, the music and everything else that goes into putting on an event like this was first class and I absolutely loved it.

— FSU coach, Link Jarrett

A perfect Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium set the stage for a memorable “Fall Ball” event as Auburn and Florida State faced off in two seven-inning games.

The jam-packed ballpark witnessed Auburn’s Chris Rembert, a former Pensacola Catholic star, shine in his collegiate debut, collecting three hits, four RBIs, and scoring three runs as Auburn claimed 4-1 and 9-5 victories.

FSU coach Link Jarrett praised the atmosphere and organization of the event, “To open up and provide this hospitality to both teams and for the fans to come out here and spend the time and the money to watch these teams play … it was a full day and it was really something we conjured up and never did I envision it

would turn into an event like this.”

Auburn coach Butch Thompson highlighted the significance of local talent returning home, “This is amazing for college baseball here. The City of Pensacola is a winner today.”

The games were the first between two major colleges at Blue Wahoos Stadium since 2020. The sold-out event featured a pregame party, and an aerial flyover. Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves, an FSU alumnus, was instrumental in making the game happen.

The exhibition attracted 30 MLB scouts, showcasing future pro talent. Both teams utilized full rosters in the non-consequential games, providing valuable experience for players.

Auburn’s Chris Rembert, a former Pensacola Catholic star.

FSU’s Carter McCulley, a former Pensacola Catholic star.

a&e happenings

WISTERIA TAVERN MARKETS Wisteria Tavern will host monthly market dates for the fall with live music and food trucks. Markets are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15 at 3808 N. 12th Ave. Details are at wisteriatavern.com.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Enjoy an exhibition of work from 2023 Artists in Residence at the 309 Punk House. This exhibition consists of artists from myriad underrepresented cultural backgrounds and is diverse in race, class, sexual orientation and gender. This exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA), 407 S. Jefferson St., through Nov. 24. Details are at pensacolamuseum.org.

DRAW TOGETHER: A LIVING EXHIBITION

As a living exhibition, the works and curation of the gallery space will continue growing as viewers are invited to participate in the art-making process. UWF and the surrounding communities can visit TAG, in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway, to view and interact with the exhibition. Public workshops, facilitated by Jarrod Goldman and inspired by game-based art activities, will take place in TAG 5-8 p.m. Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13. The exhibition runs through Nov. 21. The final iteration of the exhibition can be viewed during the closing reception, held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 in TAG.

ECLECTIC FIDELITIES Artwork and performances celebrating women in the arts is on

view through Dec. 13 at Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts, Building 15, 1000 College Blvd. Artists lectures and workshops are in November.

KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY

Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.

SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS

Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

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

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

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

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens

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

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

FOOD + DRINKS

LATTE ART THROWDOWN & COCKTAIL COMPETITION Contestants battle it out for best barista with cash prizes up to $300. The event is 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Lily Hall, 415 N. Alcaniz St. There will be free beer until it's gone, cocktails and small bites to purchase. Entry fee for the competition is $15. For details, visit Eventbrite.

ARAGON WINE MARKET 16TH ANNIVERSARY Free wine tasting and small

Tom Dahlborg is an internationally recognized speaker and writer focusing on stopping bullying and amplifying positive childhood experiences. His multiple award-winning book, The Big Kid and Basketball … and the lessons he taught his Father and Coach, has led to significant youth sport and school system improvements and improved child experience and well-being.

a&e happenings

bites, with prizes and more, is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25 at Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave.

DINNER DETECTIVE INTERACTIVE SHOW

Solve a mystery in the middle of dinner with this interactive show 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 South Ninth Ave. Tickets are available at thedinnerdetective.com/pensacola/murder-mysterytickets-showtimes.

SECOND ANNUAL HOT DIGGITY DOGS

FEST Food trucks, live music, vendors and more are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Community Maritime Park, 351 W. Cedar Ave, for a $5 entry fee. Details are at apexshowsandevents.com.

MEAN GIRLS BRUNCH Movie-themed brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 at Bodacious, 407D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $40 and available at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

TROLLEY BAR TOUR Five Flags Trolley Co. hosts this hop-on/hop-off tour of the favorite bars in downtown Pensacola. Dates are through Dec. 31. For tickets and information, visit pensacolawinterfest.org/pub-and-party-trolley-indowntown-pensacola/.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern. com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT

Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m. to midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

75 CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and

$5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.

DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.

SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit

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

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar. com for details.

TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m. to midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9 -11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.

DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman

Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

FIESTY FRIDAY NIGHTS Drink specials start 8 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge. com for details.

TGI FIREBALL FRIDAY Drink specials are all day Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

POKER NIGHT AT SIR RICHARD'S Poker Night is 6 p.m. Saturdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

LIVE MUSIC

THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND Show is 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.

BRAVE NEW WORLD, OVERSIGHT, SAFETY TRAINING Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.

EVERCLEAR Show is 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at vinylmusichall.com.

HOTEL CALIFORNIA: A SALUTE TO THE EAGLES Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER & DYING FETUS Show is 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at vinylmusichall.com.

PENTAGRAM STRING BAND, MARIGOLD'S APPRENTICE, TUFFALO AND THE TREEWALKERS Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

THE KAMERMAN PIANO SERIES AT UWF

Recognized for its "unconventional transcriptions" and "multidisciplinary performances," the group is known for its improvisation techniques, recompositions and original works. Show is 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at UWF Music Hall, 11000 University Parkway. Details are at uwf.edu/cfpa.

JUVENILE AND MANNIE FRESH Back that Azz Up Anniversary Tour comes to Pensacola 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.

BOSS' DAUGHTER, HANS GRUBER AND THE DIE HARDS, OUTLOOK BLEAK, WHITE PHOSPHORUS Show is 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.

PENSACOLA BAY CONCERT BAND: 'INTERSTELLAR, INTERDIMENSIONAL, AND INCANTATIONS' Concert is 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 28 at the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio, 1000 College Blvd. Admission is free. Donations to Manna Food Pantry are accepted.

PIG, UNITCODE MACHINE Show is 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets and information are at thehandlebar850.com.

AN EVENING OF WORD AND SONG Performances from students of the 2024 Irish Experience cohort are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at UWF Music Hall, Building 82 at 11000 University Parkway. Details are at uwf.edu/cfpa.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER Show is 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 29 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

EXHORDER, FORSAKEN PROFITS, DEAD DEVILS Show is 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details are at thehandlebar850.com.

MATTHEW WEST Show is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are at pensacolasaenger.com.

RITUAL 6: GITH/INDUSTRIAL DANCE

PARTY Show is 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.

GIMME GIMME DISCO Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details are at thehandlebar850.com.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: AMERICAN STYLE: COPLAND, STEPHENSON & BERNSTEIN Show is 7:30 p.m. Satur-

a&e happenings

day, Nov. 2 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets and information are available at pensacolasaenger.com. Watch the dress rehearsal at 1:30 p.m. with tickets at $10. Dress rehearsal tickets are available at pensacolasymphony.com.

KISS TRIBUTE BAND Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are $20 and available at vinylmusichall.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS Enjoy live music at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St.

•Glen Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays

•Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays

•John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24

•Lee Maskery & The Natural Disasters 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY

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

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

KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's

Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern. com for details.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

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

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

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

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

KARAOKE NIGHTS AT SIR RICHARD'S

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

HAPPY HOUR LIVE MUSIC AT O'RILEY'S Drink specials and live music are 4-7 p.m. Fridays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO AT SIR RICHARD'S Enjoy live music outside 8-11 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.

SUNDAY KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS

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

KARAOKE NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S IRISH

PUB Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight Sundays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Details are at orileyspub.com.

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS Games are at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and information are at pensacolabaycenter.com. Upcoming dates:

•7:05 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26

•7:05 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9

PUBLIC ICE SKATE Tickets are $15 for adults and kids with skate rental or $12 for adults and kids with their own skates. Season passes and private sessions are also available. Skate sessions are located at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St.

Upcoming dates:

•9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26

•1:30 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27

•4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28

PENSACOLA RACE FOR INCLUSION Special Olympics Florida's Race for Inclusion starts with a fun run at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Bayview Park, 2000 E. Lloyd St. The timed 5k run/walk begins 8 a.m. Details are at raceforinclusion.org.

OCEAN HOUR WEEKLY CLEANUPS Ocean Hour Pensacola hosts weekly cleanups 7:45-9 a.m. Saturdays. On Oct. 26, the site is Morgan Park. Follow Ocean Hour at facebook.com/ oceanhourfl for more details and locations.

ISLAND FIGHTS The next Island Fights is 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and information are at pensacolabaycenter.com.

CYCLE SUNDAY Join Bike Pensacola and Emerald Republic Brewing Co. for some social time among fellow cycling folks 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at Emerald Republic Brewing, 1414 W. Government St. Bike Pensacola will lead a 30-minute Slow Ride and then return to Emerald Republic for some brews, food and fun. Details are at facebook.com/bikepensacola.

YOGA UNCORKED AT 5ELEVEN Yoga classes are 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 5eleven, 511 S. Palafox St., with Disko Lemonade running the yoga class. Register for the class at diskolemonade.com.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF OCTOBER 24

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Secrets and hidden agendas have been preventing you from getting an accurate picture of what's actually happening. But you now have the power to uncover them. I hope you will also consider the following bold moves: 1. Seek insights that could be the key to your future sexiness. 2. Change an aspect of your life you've always wanted to change but have never been able to. 3. Find out how far you can safely go in exploring the undersides of things. 4. Help your allies in ways that will ultimately inspire them to help you.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): From the early 1910s to the late 1920s, silent films were the only kind of films that were made. The proper technology wasn't available to pair sounds with images. "Talking pictures," or "talkies," finally came into prominence in the 1930s. Sadly, the majority of silent films, some of which were fine works of art, were poorly preserved or only exist now in second- or third-generation copies. I'm meditating on this situation as a metaphor for your life, Taurus. Are there parts of your history that seem lost, erased or unavailable? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to try to recover them. Remembering and reviving your past can be a potent healing agent.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): An old proverb tells us, "You must run toward the future and catch it. It is not coming to meet you, but is fleeing from you, escaping into the unknown." This adage isn't true for you at all right now, Gemini. In fact, the future is dashing toward you from all directions. It is not shy or evasive, but is eager to embrace you and is full of welcoming energy. How should you respond? I recommend you make yourself very grounded. Root yourself firmly in an understanding of who you are and what you want. Show the future clearly which parts of it you really want and which parts are uninteresting to you.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Early in his musical career, Cancerian innovator Harry Partch played traditional instruments and composed a regular string quartet. But by age 29, he was inventing and building novel instruments that had never been used. Among the materials he used in constructing his Zymo-Xyl, Eucal Blossom and

By Rob Brezsny

Chromelodeon were tree branches, light bulbs and wine bottles. I'm inviting you to enter into a Partch phase of your cycle, Cancerian. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to express your unique genius—whether that's in your art, business, personal life or any other sphere where you love to express your authentic self.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Life's unpredictable flow will bring you interesting new blessings if you revamp your fundamentals. Listen closely, Leo, because this is a subtle turn of events: A whole slew of good fortune will arrive if you joyfully initiate creative shifts in your approaches to talking, walking, exercising, eating, sleeping, meditating and having fun. These aren't necessarily earthshaking transformations. They may be as delicate and nuanced as the following: 1. adding amusing words to your vocabulary; 2. playfully hopping and skipping as you stroll along; 3. sampling new cuisines; 4. keeping a notebook or recorder by your bed to capture your dreams; 5. trying novel ways to open your mind and heart; 6. seeking fresh pleasures that surprise you.

new freedom and spaciousness. That, too, was fantastic! Then, you luxuriously indulged in the sheer enjoyment of your whimsical explorations and experimentations. Again, that was marvelous! Now you're ready to spend time integrating all the teachings and epiphanies that have surged into your life in recent months. This might be less exciting, but it's equally important.

SCORPIO

(OCT. 23-NOV. 21): As a teenager, I loved the music of Jefferson Airplane. I recall sitting on the couch in my New Jersey home and listening to their albums over and over again. Years later, I was performing on stage at a San Francisco nightclub with my band, World Entertainment War. In the audience was Paul Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane. After the show, he came backstage and introduced himself. He said he wanted his current band, Jefferson Starship, to cover two of my band's songs on his future album. Which he did. I suspect you will soon experience a comparable version of my story, Scorpio. Your past will show up bearing a gift for your future. A seed planted long ago will finally blossom.

How will you wield your flair? Here's what I hope: You will dispense blessings everywhere you go. You will nurture the collective health and highest good of groups and communities you are part of. P.S. In unexpected ways, being unselfish will generate wonderful selfish benefits.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In an old Irish folk tale, the fairies give a queen a crystal cauldron with special properties. If anyone speaks three falsehoods in its presence, it cracks into three fragments. If someone utters three hearty truths while standing near it, the three pieces unite again. According to my metaphorical reading of your current destiny, Virgo, you are now in the vicinity of the broken cauldron. You have expressed one restorative truth and need to proclaim two more. Be gently brave and bold as you provide the healing words.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Let's review the highlights of the recent months. First, you expanded your perspective, blew your mind and raised your consciousness. That was fabulous! Next, you wandered around half-dazed and thoroughly enchanted, pleased with your

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): My horoscopes are directed toward individuals, not groups. Yet it's impossible to provide oracles about your personal destiny without considering the collective influences that affect you. Every day, you are impacted by the culture you live in. For instance, you encounter news media that present propaganda as information and regard cynicism as a sign of intellectual vigor. You live on a planet where the climate is rapidly changing, endangering your stability and security. You are not a narrow-minded bigot who doles out hatred toward those who are unlike you, but you may have to deal with such people. I bring this to your attention, Sagittarius, because now is an excellent time to take an inventory of the world's negative influences—and initiate aggressive measures to protect yourself from them. Even further, I hope you will cultivate and embody positive alternatives.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): I suspect you will be extra attractive, appealing and engaging in the coming weeks. You may also be especially convincing, influential and inspirational. What do you plan to do with all this potency?

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Do you fantasize about being a masterful manager of your world? Have you imagined the joy of being the supreme sovereign of your holy destiny? Do you love the idea of rebelling against anyone who imagines they have the right to tell you what you should do and who you are? If you answered yes to those questions, I have excellent news, Aquarius: You are now primed to take exciting steps to further the goals I described. Here's a helpful tip: Rededicate yourself to the fulfillment of your two deepest desires. Swear an oath to that intention.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): The Liberation Season is here. How can you take maximum advantage of the emancipatory energies? Here are suggestions: 1. Plan adventures to frontier zones. 2. Sing and dance in the wilderness. 3. Experiment with fun and pleasure outside your usual repertoire. 4. Investigate what it would mean for you to be on the vanguard of your field. 5. Expand your understandings of sexuality. 6. Venture out on a pilgrimage. 7. Give yourself permission to fantasize extravagantly. 8. Consider engaging in a smart gamble. 8. Ramble, wander and explore.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: Is there any joy or pleasure you deny yourself for no good reason? {in}

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

news of the weird

FIELD REPORT At the annual World Conker Championship in Southwick, England, on Oct. 13, veteran player Dave Jakins, 82, won the men's tournament, the Associated Press reported. (Conkers is a traditional game played using the seeds of horse chestnut trees threaded on string; players try to strike and break each other's conkers.) But controversy followed when Jakins was found to have a steel conker in his pocket. His opponent, Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, said his own conker "disintegrated in one hit" after Jakins struck it. "He was very closely watched by four judges," said St. John Burkett, chair of the event's organizing committee. "It looks like it was absolutely impossible for him to cheat." Jakins has denied cheating.

SAW THAT COMING An unnamed woman in Kitsap County, Washington, admitted to authorities that she'd been feeding about "a dozen" raccoons in her yard over the past 35 years, The New York Times reported. Several weeks ago, more raccoons started showing up, and on Oct. 3, the homeowner had to call 911 when about 100 animals arrived and became more aggressive. "Anytime she comes out of her house," said sheriff's department spokesperson Kevin McCarty, "they swarm her until she throws them food. ... The new ones showing up scare her." The woman fled her home, and local trappers were going to charge $500 per animal to remove the raccoons. So the state department of fish and wildlife stepped in, suggesting that she simply stop feeding them. "The raccoons appear to have started dispersing now that they are no longer being fed," the department said.

IRONIES When cops in Portland, Oregon, pulled over a 1994 Ford Taurus that had been stolen on Oct. 9, they met Reginald Reynolds, 35, and Mia Baggenstos, 37, along with their toys: a loaded .357 Magnum, a bag of methamphetamine, $1,360 in cash, three white pills that Baggenstos said were OxyContin, and a meth pipe. The Smoking Gun reported that a vehicle search yielded more meth, two scales, and a "brown bag that said on it, 'Definitely not a bag full of drugs.'" Inside, they found more meth—a total of about a half-pound. Both were charged with multiple felonies.

•In Stadtallendorf, Germany, on Oct. 16, a state-ofthe-art fire station that had been open less than a year ... burned to the ground, The Guardian reported. The fire started in a vehicle and quickly spread, destroying 10 fire engines and causing between 20 and 24 million euros' worth of damage. "It is a nightmare for a firefighter," said district fire inspector Lars Schafer. He went on to say that the station was not required to have fire alarms because it was classified as a building holding equipment. Schafer said the building would be reconstructed quickly, for safety and for local morale.

OOPS! In early October, The New York Times reported, passengers aboard a Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia, to Tokyo were treated (or not) to an R-rated film with "sexual material and brief graphic nudity" on their seat screens—and it couldn't be turned off. Because of technological problems, passengers weren't able to choose their

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

entertainment, so the crew queued up "Daddio," starring Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn, and let it run for about an hour before switching to something more family-friendly. "It was super uncomfortable for everyone," one Reddit user wrote. "We apologize to customers for this experience," a Qantas spokesperson said.

•The BBC apologized on Oct. 10 after releasing a weather forecast predicting winds in London of 20,000 kilometers (13,000 miles) per hour, Yahoo! News reported. Matt Taylor, a meteorologist for the network, soothed concerns: "Hurricane Milton hasn't made it to us here in the U.K.!" He added that a data glitch had caused the extreme forecast, also warning of overnight temperatures of 759 degrees Fahrenheit in Nottingham. "Folk are working to solve the issue," Taylor assured Brits.

UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPON In Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Oct. 14, police responded to a report of an explosion, WPBF-TV reported. As they arrived at the scene, Joseph Moreton, 39, began yelling at them from his backyard, then came into the front yard holding a flamethrower. Police asked Moreton to drop the weapon, but he wouldn't—luckily, one officer was close enough to grab it out of his hands. Moreton then moved inside his house and got a flashlight, which he tried to blind officers with. Law enforcement tased him, and he was taken into custody. Moreton was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer.

BRIGHT IDEA Perfumer Michal Gilbert Lach was inspired by his childhood trips in the 1980s to vegetable markets in Zywiec, Poland, to create his newest scent: Polish Potatoes. TVP reported on Oct. 15 that Lach's latest perfume is going viral on social media. "I create my scents as an olfactory deja vu," said Lach, who visited the markets with his grandparents. "The farmers market was a gateway to another world. Going to the market was like hunting for treasure." Which is what buyers will have to find before picking up a bottle: 1.7 ounces of Polish Potatoes will set you back $185.

ANIMAL ANTICS Paraglider Marshall Mosher of Atlanta, Georgia, was drifting over the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt on Oct. 14 when he noticed something unexpected walking around the top of the structure, the New York Post reported. Mosher posted a zoomed-in photo of a dog on Instagram with the caption, "A dog climbed all the way up the Great Pyramid of Giza!" Viewers worried about the dog's safety, but back on the ground, Mosher posted again standing next to the adventurous dog and explained that dogs in the area often climb up and down the 454-foot-tall pyramid. People have nicknamed the pooch Anubis Pup after the Egyptian god of the underworld who's often portrayed with a canine head. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2024 Andrews McMeel

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings

Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements

Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications

Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

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