Inweekly Oct. 29 2020 Issue

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Independent News | October 29, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 44

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11/3/20 FREE â–¶

winners & losers

outtakes

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5

pensacola votes 7

The American electorate really does face a binary choice between good and bad.

a&e

buzz 12

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, C.S. Satterwhite

contact us info@inweekly.net

free will astrology 22

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2018 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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October 29, 2020

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winners & losers

Like most of us, the Winners & Losers gang are exhausted and can't wait for the 2020 election season to be over. However, we got them to send in this all-winners version of the column. The original list was supposed to be in the 2020 Rest of the Best issue, but it got lost in the mail, forcing us to hook up our 1987 facsimile machine to get the final copy.

FORT PICKENS The National Park

Service's National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom accepted Fort Pickens, managed by Gulf Islands National Seashore, as one of over 650 sites, programs and facilities within the network. The fort joins 12 new listings from the 40th round of Network to Freedom applications, representing sites and programs in eight states across the United States. New listings were accepted in the final days of September, which represented International Underground Railroad Month in 11 states. Fort Pickens became a destination for freedom seekers starting in 1861.

Eight enslaved people sought their freedom at the fort one month before the start of the Civil War. The commanding Union officer, however, sent them back to slavery.

As a Union base throughout the war, untold numbers of freedom seekers chose to make their way to Fort Pickens later in 1861 and 1862. In 1864, elements of the 25th U.S. Colored Troops marched into the fort. From Fort Pickens, these Black soldiers fought to defend the Union and destroy slavery.

COX Cox Communications and Cox Automotive have worked together to support local nonprofits helping families along the Gulf Coast recover from Hurricane Sally.

Cox recently announced a pair of $50,000 grants awarded to both Manna Food Pantries and United Way of West Florida. These grants, awarded through the James M. Cox Foundation, will support local families as they continue to rebuild their lives following the storm. The James M. Cox Foundation is the charitable arm of Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications and Cox Automotive. In response to the growing strain on the community from Hurricane Sally, along with COVID-19, the foundation announced the two $50,000 donations to support people in need where Cox employees live and work.

ANDERSON SUBARU For the sixth consecutive year, the dealership donated to the Pensacola Breast Cancer Association. The contribution was $14,810.24 this year. All funds received by the Pensacola 44

Breast Cancer Association stay local and help to cover services such as free mammograms. Annual donations from Anderson Subaru to the organization have grown since the inauguration of the partnership in 2014 and total over $71,000 to date.

Anderson Subaru has chosen to partner with the Pensacola Breast Cancer Association as part of their annual "Share the Love" campaign. The Subaru of America initiative has donated more than $176 million over the last 12 years to both local and national charity organizations.

GULF POWER FOUNDATION The Gulf

Power Foundation recently awarded nearly $100,000 to local charitable or nonprofit organizations to support our communities throughout Northwest Florida. The recent quarterly grant recipients for the region included Bay Youth Summer Work Foundation, Every Child A Reader in Escambia, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Food4Kids, Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center and Studer Community Institute.

ST. JOE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Nemours Children's Specialty Care recently accepted a generous donation of $40,000 from St. Joe Community Foundation. Healthcare is one of the foundation's major pillars and provides grants to nonprofit medical programs in support of the betterment of the communities in which the St. Joe Community Foundation serves. Since its inception in 1999, the St. Joe Community Foundation has provided more than $26 million in grants on strengthening education, improving healthcare, protecting the environment and supporting local cultural interests.

STATE FARM State Farm Insurance gifted the University of West Florida $8,000 in scholarship funds to honor winners of the annual UWF College of Business Elevator Pitch Contest. Judges determine winners based on student presentations that promote a new and innovative business concept to community leaders from across the region.

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

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Call or text Cheryl Young at 850-712-4742 to see today!

FOR JOE BIDEN Last week, my editor, Joani Delezen, approached me to write our newspaper's endorsement of Joe Biden. Her logic was sound. I'm a Republican, someone who lived in the civil rights era and can remember the tenure of nine presidents from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump. Maybe I can add a different perspective to the election.

During high school, I followed the Watergate hearings, listened to Carter's malaise speech, bought into the optimism of the Reagan and Bush administrations, fretted over the moral character of the White House under Clinton, watched the war on terror escalate during George W. years and felt the hope of the Obama administration, only to see our country plunged into constant chaos under the current occupant of the White House.

Joe Biden is the clear choice to restore our democratic institutions and reunite our nation by being the president for all of us—not just those who voted for him.

Why do I believe Biden can do this?

Because he is the only choice that has demonstrated real compassion for others, and maybe more importantly, he understands loss.

At the age of 29, Biden was elected to the U.S. Senate by Delaware voters. Before taking office, his wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident. Five years ago, his son, Beau Biden, the Delaware attorney general, died of brain cancer.

When Joe Biden talks with Gold Star families, the families of those killed in the Parkland massacre and those who lost loved ones to COVID-19, you can see that he understands their pain and grief—a valuable quality for our Commander in Chief who can plunge our nation into war.

While the White House was hiding the dangers of coronavirus out fear it would hurt Wall Street and the 2020 re-election campaign, Biden understood the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an op-ed published by USA Today in late January, he warned the current administra-

tion's "shortsighted policies have left us unprepared for a dangerous epidemic that will come sooner or later." Over 226,000 deaths later, we know how right he was.

He has promised to double the number of drive-through testing sites and invest in the next-generation of testing. He will take the politics out of CDC and "provide clear, consistent, evidence-based national guidance." He will protect older Americans and others at high risk. In other words, he will put people above the stock market.

Biden also will give us an immigration policy that is more in line with Ronald Reagan's policy of welcoming people from other countries, especially those fleeing oppression. The separation of children from their parents and locking them in cages will end.

We will once again become that "shining city on the hill" that Reagan described.

Racism has long been a concern of this newspaper. White supremacists have become emboldened over the past four years. It was a civil rights icon, the late Rep. John Lewis, who revitalized Biden's campaign for the Democratic nomination. With Biden's campaign on life support heading into the South Carolina primary, Lewis endorsed the former vice president.

"It is my belief that we need Joe Biden now more than ever before," Lewis told the media. "He will lead our country to a better place. He will inspire another generation to stand up, to speak up and to speak out. Be brave, to be bold. That's why I'm committed to supporting him."

That better place is more than a white, rich man's country club. That better place isn't only for people who look, believe and work like me. That better place is one that secures the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, regardless of race, creed or color.

Because Biden will be brave, bold and compassionate on dealing with racism, COVID-19, immigration and the myriad of issues facing our nation, he has the endorsement of this newspaper. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Why do I believe Biden can do this? Because he is the only choice that has demonstrated real compassion for others.

October 29, 2020

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inweekly.net

: s e t o V a l e o d c i a u s G n n e o P i t c e El -

If you've been following along with Pensacola Votes the past few months, you probably know we've done a few different ballot summaries already—but since it’s election week, we decided to go big with this one.

For starters, we included salaries and core responsibilities for some of the offices (because let's be honest—most of us don't really know what all of them are in charge of). For the individual candidates, we included summaries of their qualifications

and anything else that stood out to us while researching them, plus any key endorsements they've earned. But if you think we're editorializing or focusing on issues you don’t care about, go to inweekly.net and check out the “Candidate Intro” columns we did earlier this month—those are just basic bio information and links to do your own research.

Alright, back to this ballot breakdown.

Depending on where you live, some of these races might not appear on your ballot. But everyone in Escambia County will see the six

amendments, the county referendum and the judicial section plus the following individual contests—President and Vice President, Representative in Congress District 1, State Senator District 1, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Sheriff and Tax Collector.

We didn't include the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller or County Commissioner District 3 races here because both incumbents (Pam Childers and Lumon May) are only on the ballot because they had write-in challengers at some point. But we

couldn't find much evidence that either of them are still running campaigns currently.

We also didn't include the presidential race here because at this stage in the game, you probably know more about either candidate than you care to. And really, there isn't anything we can say in a sentence or two that would do anybody much good.

But if you're curious where this newspaper stands on this race, we have made an official endorsement. Flip back to Outtakes on page 5 to read it.

BALLOT BREAKDOWN FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS, 1ST DISTRICT

Core responsibilities: Representing Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties in Congress Term: Two years, considered for re-election every even year Salary: $174,000 (source: pressgallery.house.gov)

Matt Gaetz

(Republican, Incumbent 2017-present) Platform information: gaetz.house.gov/issues Endorsed by: The NRA October 29, 2020

Gaetz is known to just about everyone who pays attention to national politics as President Trump's best ally in the House.

So depending on your political leanings, that probably makes you an avid supporter or totally not a fan. He's also a regular on Fox News and is pretty active on Twitter. While in Congress, Gaetz has served as a member of the Budget Committee, the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He has an "A+" rating from the NRA. Gaetz's voting record includes a vote against legislation that would block President Trump's border wall, voting against regulation limiting the influence of foreign

entities in US elections, voting against the impeachment of President Trump and failing to vote on the House bill passed in early March providing financial relief related to COVID-19.

Phil Ehr (Democrat)

Platform information: ehrforcongress.com/issues Endorsed by: Reverend H.K. Matthews, Florida AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, The Kyle Project, Florida College Democrats, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Democratic Black Caucus and Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County

This is Ehr's second time running for the congressional seat. His first was in the 2018 primary. Ehr served in the United States Navy from 1982 to 2008 and has made his military service a cornerstone of his campaign, referring to his supporters as his "Ehr Force." He's a moderate Democrat but does support some key issues like criminal justice reform through things like banning choke holds and no-knock warrants.

Albert Oram (Independent)

Platform information: Not available We tried—we really did—but we couldn't find any information on this third-party candidate.

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STATE STATE SENATOR, DISTRICT 1 Term: Four years Salary: $29,697 (source: flsenate.gov)

Doug Broxson

Andrade's website boasts that he "consistently supported President Trump and has successfully worked to pass bills that help Make America Great Again." Andrade's focus includes his 100% pro-life record, defending the Second Amendment and being a "true fiscal conservative."

Dianne Krumel

(Republican, Incumbent 2016-present) Platform information: dougbroxson.com/ issues.cfm Endorsed by: Florida Chamber of Commerce

(Democrat) Platform information: votedianne.com Endorsed by: Sierra Club and Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County

Prior to serving in the State Senate, Broxson served in the Florida House of Representatives for multiple terms. He has sponsored legislation restricting abortion access to minors and the "Justice for Victims of Mass Violence Act," which specifies speedy trial requirements for perpetrators of mass killings.

If she wins, lifelong Pensacola resident Krumel would be the first Democrat to hold this seat in 25 years. Her path to politics began with the founding of local movement "Save Pensacola Beach," which fought for two years to halt the privatization of publicly owned land on Santa Rosa Island.

Karen Butler

(Democrat) Platform information: kbutler4flsenate.com Endorsed by: Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida and Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County A 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force, Butler's run for State Senate is her first political campaign. She is involved with a wide array of political and social organizations including the Okaloosa County NAACP, the Hispanic Caucus, the Democratic Black Caucus and the Democratic Women's Club.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 1

Term: Two years Salary: $29,697 (source: myfloridahouse.gov)

Michelle Salzman (Republican)

Platform information: michellesalzmanforhouse.com/issues Endorsed by: The Florida Medical Association, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, Inc. and International Association of Fire Fighters Salzman succeeded in defeating incumbent Mike Hill during the Republican primary in August. Salzman is a veteran of the United States Army, and her conservative campaign is focused on issues of safety, infrastructure and education. Salzman is a member of the NRA and boasts an "A" rating with the organization.

Franscine Mathis (Democrat) Platform information: franscine2020.com/issues Endorsed by: Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County

Mathis' platform is focused on "fight[ing] the problems that affect our most vulnerable" and cites water quality issues and criminal justice reform as key issues. Her website also says she believes healthcare is a human right.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 2

Term: 2 years Salary: $29,697 (source: myfloridahouse.gov)

Alex Andrade

(Republican, Incumbent 2018-present) Platform information: voteandrade.com Endorsed by: Governor Ron DeSantis, Congressman Matt Gaetz and the NRA 88

LOCAL ESCAMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF

Core Responsibilities: Patrol streets, make arrests, conduct investigations, community relations, handle civil disputes, manage school resource officer program and provide security details for events and businesses Term: 4 years Salary: $159,883 (source: edr.state.fl.us)

David Alexander III (Democrat)

Platform information: davidalexanderforsheriff.com Endorsed by: Emmitt Smith, local attorneys Aaron Watson and Gene Mitchell, retired Police Captain Steven Johnson, retired Police Sergeant Mike Simmons, Reverend H.K. Matthews and Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County Hailing from Warrington and a tenured law enforcement officer, Alexander would bring a true changing of the guard to the Escambia County Sheriff's Department.

His concern for the citizens of Escambia County and intention to listen were evident this summer through his participation and engagement with multiple community-led initiatives related to justice in policing.

Chip Simmons (Republican)

Platform information: chipsimmonsforsheriff.com Endorsed by: The NRA, Former Pensacola Mayors Mike Wiggins and Ashton Hayward, current Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, retired Police Chief John Mathis and community leader Willie Kirkland Jr. Currently chief deputy, Simmons would bring ample experience to the job. Like Alexander, he served as Pensacola Police chief, but he also has extensive experience in narcotic and violent crime apprehension. As assistant county administrator, he took over the county jail and established policies that reduced jail deaths. He also implemented body cameras at the police department.

TAX COLLECTOR

Core Responsibilities: Collection of taxes and fees, issues licenses and IDs, vehicle

registrations and titles, concealed weapons applications and renewals Term: 4 years Salary: $150,061 (source: edr.state.fl.us)

Scott Lunsford

(Republican, Incumbent 2016-present) Platform information: votescottlunsford.com Currently in his first term as Tax Collector, Lunsford began his tenure at the Escambia County tax collector's office in 2001. His notable contributions since taking office include returning $1.5 million in unused funds back to the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners and prioritizing technological and digital upgrades to increase efficiency in the Tax Collector's office.

Wendy Rich (No Party Affiliation) Platform information: electwendyrich.com While we appreciate a local candidate running as an independent to make a statement about public service and party affiliation, it's tough to find out much about Rich's professional experience and her plans for implementing change at the Tax Collector's office.

EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY, DISTRICT 3

Pensacola Human Relation Commission.

While serving as director of EPHRC, Avant filed a federal complaint with the Committee on Homeland Security against ECUA after they had received $150 million dollars to relocate the Main Street Plant. ECUA was found in non-compliance due to a lack of good faith effort to give equitable treatment in allocating contracts to women, minority and disable firms. He was endorsed by Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County.

ESCAMBIA SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT GROUP 1 Core responsibilities: Assist landowners in their efforts to secure financial assistance through Farm Bill Programs to implement conservation practices, conservation education, soil surveys and historical maps, local government advice and assistance and youth education Term: 4 years Salary: None

Betty Wilson (Incumbent)

Wilson is the incumbent secretary of the board and has a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Alabama.

Core responsibilities: Own, manage, finance, promote, improve and expand the water and wastewater systems of Escambia County and the City of Pensacola, plus provide sanitation services Term: 4 years Salary: $ 41,336 (source: edr.state.fl.us)

Matt Sharpsteen

Pueschel Schneier (Republican)

CITY OF PENSACOLA

Platform information: pueschelforecua.com Schneier is a local realtor, secretary of the Escambia County Republican Executive Committee and is serving her second term on the Citizens' Advisory Committee at ECUA. Her professional experience includes serving in the Army National Guard and owning a local housekeeping business, Great Change Cleaning Service. She resides in the Long Hollow Neighborhood and is a member of the Downtown Rotary, North Hill Preservation Association, East Hill Neighborhood Association and The UWF Historic Trust.

Larry Williams (Democrat) Platform information: facebook.com/electlarrywilliams

Williams is a Navy veteran and active in the local Pensacola faith community. You might recognize his name from his big campaign bus that's been hangout out around town for a while.

We couldn't find a candidate website or even a Facebook page for Sharpsteen. We did find one guy on Twitter with his name who's involved in Florida College Republicans and has ties to Pensacola, but he didn't mention running for this office.

CITY COUNCIL

Core responsibilities: Vote on ordinances (city laws) and resolutions (messages of support), vote and amend the city's budget submitted by the mayor, approve land use plans, conduct inquiries and investigations into city operation Term: 4 Years Salary: $21,486 (source: cityofpensacola.com)

DISTRICT 1

Jennifer Brahier

Platform information: brahiercares.com A newcomer to the local political arena, Brahier is a professor at PSC and has worked at UWF in the mathematics and statistics department. She has a long history of volunteering and advocating in the educational realm and presents a platform of access, transparency and advocacy for residents of District 1.

P.C. Wu (Incumbent 2004-present) John R. Johnson (No Party Affiliation) Platform information: pcwu.org/home Platform information: None available

We couldn't find much on this independent candidate other than his professional occupation is listed as gardener/landscaper a few places.

Calvin Avant (No party affiliation) Platform information: voteavant.today

Dr. Avant is a local minister and has served as head compliance officer for the Escambia

Endorsed by: The Fraternal Order of Police, Pensacola Association of Realtors and Pensacola Professional Firefighters As the city council's longest-serving member currently in office, Wu has been a staple in local politics for many years and is running his last re-election campaign before reaching the city council term limit.

He served as council president from 20122013 and vice president from 2018-2019. inweekly.net

DISTRICT 5

Toni "Teniade" Broughton

Platform information: teniade.com Endorsed by: Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County, educator Mamie Webb Hixon, District 3 Councilman-Elect Casey Jones and District 7 Councilman-Elect Delarian Wiggins As a longtime resident of District 5's Woodland Heights neighborhood, Broughton holds numerous community leadership positions—including president of the John Sunday Society and chairperson of the Escambia County Equal Justice Initiative—in addition to serving in a professional capacity at Pensacola's Chappie James Museum.

Ron Helms

Platform information: helmsforpensacola.com Endorsed by: Pensacola Association of Realtors, the Environmental Caucus of Escambia County, the Florida LGBTQ+ and the Emerald Coast Equality LGBTQ Democratic Caucus Helms settled in Pensacola after a career in the Navy, moving into service as an ordained minister and starting two businesses in Pensacola.

JUDICIAL This section is typically one the most confusing for most voters, and we totally get why.

Seriously—who are these judges, and how do I know if they should stay or go?

To help us all answer those questions this time around, we looked up each one and found out who appointed them. We also noted any key decisions they've made that stood out to us.

If you still want to do a little more digging, a good resource is the Florida Bar Retention Poll—floridabar.org/public/faircts/ votes010/votes003.

This poll asks in-state Florida Bar members to rate judges and justices who are up for retention votes every two years. One Inweekly staffer said this is her go-to source for research and that she votes "no" on anyone who gets a "B-" or lower average. That might sound a little tough, but we like her style and agree that the bar should be pretty high for justices and judges.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT Term: 6 years Salary: $220,600 (source: vote411.org)

Justice Carlos Muñiz

Appointed in 2018 by President Trump Muñiz previously served as the deputy attorney general and chief of staff for Attorney General Pam Bondi. Muñiz has also served in some capacity for Betsy DeVos, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. Earlier this

month, he issued a majority opinion ruling that the statute of limitations prevented two women from going forward with a lawsuit against a church in Orange County related to allegations that they were sexually abused by workers at the church as children.

deputy attorney general and general counsel for the Department of State. From 1999-2002, Roberts served as the director of the Florida Division of Elections and oversaw the contentious recount after the 2000 presidential election between Vice President Al Gore and then-Governor George W. Bush.

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS Judge Adam S. Tanenbaum Term: 6 years Salary: $169,554 (source: vote411.org)

Judge Joseph Lewis, Jr.

Appointed in 2001 by Jeb Bush Prior to this appointment, Lewis operated as bureau chief for the Employment Litigation/ Civil Rights section for five years, in addition to several other positions within the Florida court system. He attended FSU College of Law and is involved with the Tallahassee Urban League.

Judge Scott Makar

Appointed in 2012 by Rick Scott Prior to this appointment, Makar was solicitor general from 2007-2012. As solicitor general, he argued successfully before the Supreme Court on behalf of the state in Graham v.

Florida, which established that a life sentence for a minor did not constitute a violation of the Eighth Amendment—the constitutional amendment barring cruel and unusual punishment. Prior to that, Makar was in private practice and was a founding member of the Jacksonville Bar Association.

Judge Rachel Nordby

Appointed in 2019 by Ron DeSantis Nordby received her doctorate from FSU College of Law in 2008. Nordby previously served as senior deputy solicitor general for Attorney General Pam Bondi. In that role, Nordby represented the state in legal arguments related to the constitutional amendment passed in 2016 legalizing medical marijuana. Nordby argued that the state could limit the consumption of medical marijuana to exclude smoking it.

Judge Timothy D. Osterhaus

Appointed in 2013 by Rick Scott Prior to this appointment, Osterhaus served as solicitor general of Florida and previously as deputy solicitor general. Osterhaus has also served as counsel at the Florida Department of Education. Osterhaus penned a majority opinion in 2019 which overturned a lower court ruling tossing out a requirement that women seeking an abortion must observe a 24-hour waiting period before receiving medical care. Osterhaus argued that such a waiting period ensured "medical informed consent standards" are observed.

Judge Clay Roberts

Appointed in 2007 by Charlie Crist Prior to this appointment, Roberts served briefly as deputy attorney general, executive

Appointed in 2019 by Ron DeSantis From 2016 to 2019, Tanenbaum served as general counsel for the Florida House, general counsel for the Department of State and chief deputy solicitor general of the Florida Department of Legal Affairs. Tanenbaum argued on behalf of the state in favor of an amendment banning gay marriage in Florida in 2008, saying that voters' decision to ban gay marriage should be respected.

BALLOT MEASURES Ballot measures—aka the part of your ballot that's most likely to produce test-taking anxiety. And again, we totally get why.

Typically, amendments are wordy, use tricky language and are sometimes straightup written to confuse voters. But the six statewide measures on this year's ballot aren't too bad honestly. Here, we included a brief summary of each, plus any key proponents or opponents. We used Ballotpedia and the League of Women Voters of Florida (LWVFL) amendment guide to research this section.

AMENDMENTS

No. 1 Citizenship Requirement to Vote in Florida Elections This amendment would change the state constitution to say, "Only a citizen of the United States who is at least 18 years of age and who is a permanent resident of the state, if registered as provided by law, shall be an elector of the county where registered." It currently says, "Every citizen." Opponents of Amendment 1 include the ACLU of Florida and LWVFL. Both feel this amendment is unnecessary and just serves to rally anti-immigrant voters.

No. 2 Raising Florida's Minimum Wage

Amendment 2 would increase the state minimum wage from $8.56 in 2020 to $15.00 in 2026. The increase would happen incrementally by year, starting September 2021. Florida For a Fair Wage is leading the campaign in support of this measure, which is also supported by Florida AFL-CIO and LWVFL. Opponents include Americans for Tax Reform, Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Home Builders Association and Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

No. 3 All Voters Vote in Primary Elections for State Legislature, Governor and Cabinet This amendment would change Florida's

primary elections for state legislators, the governor and elected cabinet members (like attorney general) to a "top-two" system— which means all candidates would be placed on the primary ballot regardless of party, and the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. Both major parties oppose this amendment and pretty much every organization that promotes diversity says it would have a negative impact on candidates and voters of color, including the NAACP of Florida and the Florida Legislative Black Caucus.

No. 4 Voter Approval of Constitutional Amendments

This amendment would require constitutional amendments to be approved by voters at two successive general elections to become effective. Currently, only one vote is required. Basically, this amendment would make it twice has hard to get an amendment passed. Opponents of Amendment 4 include the ACLU of Florida and LWVFL.

No. 5 Limitations on Homestead Property Tax Assessments; increased portability period to transfer accrued benefit.

This amendment would extend the period to transfer Save Our Homes benefits from two years to three years. It's supported

by Republican State Representative Rick Roth and opposed by LWVFL because they believe that "no tax sources or revenue should be specified, limited, exempted or prohibited in the Constitution." LWVFL also pointed out that this amendment would reduce property tax revenue available for funding local schools and other services like police, fire and infrastructure.

No. 6 Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, CombatRelated Disabilities

This amendment would allow a homestead property tax discount to be transferred to the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. The discount would be in effect until the spouse remarries or sells or otherwise disposes of the property. The LWVFL opposes this measure for the same reasons it opposes No. 5.

COUNTY REFERENDUM

Children's Trust of Escambia County— Authority to Levy One-Half Mill Ad Valorem Taxes

This referendum looks to establish a council and fund to help improve quality of life for children in the county. Achieve Escambia has been at the forefront of getting it on the ballot. If passed, property owners will see a half mill ad valorem tax on their property's taxable value. It's opposed by County Commissioner Doug Underhill and supported by LWV Pensacola Bay Area and several local nonprofits and advocacy groups.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES We read a lot of other guides and watched some streaming candidates forums while making this issue. So if you're looking to do some more research to before voting, here are a few additional resources we learned something from.

WSRE's RALLY 2020 Candidate Forums wsre.org/rally October 29, 2020

Dream Defenders Fight PAC Florida Voter Guide facebook.com/ddfightpac

League of Women Voters Pensacola Bay Area—Meet the Candidate Livestreams facebook.com/lwvpba

Life Is Hale's 2020 Hood Voter Guide for Escambia County facebook.com/mylifeishale

BlabTV's Just Vote with Mollye Barrows blabtv.com/just-vote

League of Women Voters of Florida Nonpartisan Voter Guide lwvfl.org

Escambia County Voter Guide 2020 escambiavotes.gov 9

VOTING 411 We know that in addition to questions about what’s on your ballot, some of you might have questions about how to safely and securely cast it, too, especially this year. So here’s a rundown of some frequently asked questions and general information every voter needs to know.

STILL NEED TO VOTE?

If you’re reading this election guide, there’s a good chance you haven’t voted yet. Luckily for you, you’ve still got all three options available to get your vote on.

Early Voting

Early voting in Florida started last Monday and continues through this Saturday, Oct. 31.

Any registered voter can cast their ballot at the early voting location of their choice. In Escambia County, voters have 10 spots to pick from, and each are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily except Thursday, Oct. 29. Locations are opening at 11 a.m. Thursday due to the anticipated impact of Hurricane Zeta.

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS: •Supervisor of Elections Office 213 S. Palafox, Second Floor •Main Library 239 Spring St. •Molino Community Center 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino •Genealogy Branch Library 5740 B Ninth Ave. •Southwest Branch Library 12248 Gulf Beach Highway •Mobile Highway/Pine Forest Road Early Voting Center 6675 Mobile Highway, Ste. 11 •Escambia County Extension 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment •Brownsville Community Center 3200 W. DeSoto St. •UWF Conference Center University Parkway, Bldg. 22 •Billy G. Ward Courthouse 7500 N. Century Blvd., Century

Vote by Mail

If you’re reading this on Thursday or Friday and haven’t mailed in your ballot yet, you might be getting nervous. But you don’t have to—there are actually a few ways to get your ballot in still that don’t require you to sweat 010 1

postal delivery delays. You can drop it off to the Supervisor of Elections office or to any early voting location during early voting hours.

You can also surrender your mail-in ballot at an early voting location and opt to vote in person instead. Your mail-in ballot will be securely discarded, and your in-person ballot will be counted in its place. But the key thing to remember here is that you have to bring in your ballot and surrender it. If you are unable to return the ballot, you’ll have to vote via provisional ballot, and nobody wants that.

Already sent in your mail-in ballot? Don’t forget to track it online at escambiavotes.gov/ track-my-ballot. They are counting them as they come in, so once it’s marked “received,” it should take about 48 hours or less to be marked “counted.”

We also asked Supervisor of Elections David Stafford about mail-in ballots with issues not being counted since that topic is getting a lot of attention nationally. He assured us that if there’s a problem with a ballot—like the signatures don’t match or it isn’t signed at all—they are contacting the voter and trying to resolve the issue so the ballot can be counted.

Election Day

So you decided to vote on Election Day? OK—grab your mask and let’s do this.

First, find your precinct. This will be based on the address associated with your voter registration. You can use the handy “Find My Precinct” tool on the SOE to find your precinct—escambiavotes.gov/precinct-finder. And don’t worry if you moved recently and forgot to update your address information. The SOE can help you up to and even on Election Day with this—just call or stop by their office (595-3900, 213 S. Palafox, Second Floor).

Polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov 3. If you’re trying to gauge your wait time, according to the 2018 general election, the most voters per hour were before 8 a.m. and between 4 and 6 p.m.

No matter what time you show up, make sure you’re prepared and patient. Efforts to maintain safe social distancing standards and properly sanitize things might make the process a little slower than you’re used to.

To vote in person (early and on Election Day), you must present a photo and signature identification card. Acceptable forms of this kind 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.

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 pretty short wait times to vote. But voter suppression is still an issue and could happen anytime, anywhere.

If you experience a problem while trying to vote, don't just walk away. Try going to the SOE office and asking them what’s up. Or call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)—it's a nationwide non-partisan election protection hotline.

Watch Your Self(ie)

If you have Instagram, you've probably seen tons of posts warning you that taking selfies with your ballot is illegal. While this might sound kind of crazy, it actually is true in some states, and, of course, Florida's rules are super unclear.

Some legal experts say only photos of marked ballots aren't allowed in the Sunshine State; others say anything taken inside a polling location is a no-no. So rather than risk anything with your precious vote, we say just save the selfies for outside the poll location.

It’s safer on so many levels.

You also might have seen some posts telling you to leave your candidate swag in the car, but you actually don't have to. In Florida, voters can wear political or promotional apparel while voting. But you can't verbally express political views of any kind inside the polling place.

GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS This election definitely feels different on the ground, especially for people who are used to participating in large in-person get out the vote rallies and turnout drives. But there are still a few things happening to help get locals to the polls in the homestretch.

Souls to the Polls

Bishop Charles Young will host a safe and socially distanced “Souls to the Polls” event on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 3-6 p.m. at the Community Maritime Park, located at 351 W. Cedar St. Attendees will be able to participate from the comfort of their own vehicles by pulling in, dropping off their vote-bymail ballots and hearing from local faith and community leaders, gospel choirs, elected officials, musical entertainment and political candidates. For more information, visit soulstothepollsfl.com.

Roll to the Polls

Escambia County Good Trouble Seekers' Voting Project is hosting free daily shuttles to early voting sites. The service started last Friday and will continue through the last day of early voting—Saturday, Oct. 31.

PICK UP LOCATIONS: •Rosa Parks Transit Center 1515 W. Fairfield Drive •Town & Country Plaza 1708 W. Fairfield Drive •Woodland Heights Resource 111 Berkley St. •Fricker Community Center 900 N. F St. •Marie Young/Wedgewood, 6405 Wagner Road The shuttle drop-off locations are at the Main Library, Genealogy Branch Library and Brownsville Community Center. Call 490-5050 to schedule a ride. inweekly.net

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EAST GARDEN The Pensacola Commu-

nity Redevelopment Agency jumped into a public-private partnership on Monday, Oct. 19, with a collective of developers who have reimagined a chunk of downtown they've dubbed the East Garden District. The collaboration is aimed toward streetscaping, mix-used developments and tax revenue.

Chad Henderson, CEO of Catalyst HRE, laid out this vision for CRA members, asking them to view the project through the "lens of space-making" and described it as "a mix of experiences that would create a sense of place." The lead developer framed the project, centered around the intersection of Garden and Jefferson streets, as the next piece of the puzzle for downtown, expanding on other recent developments and the city's efforts to create a more walkable urban core.

"The power of a well-thought-out public-private partnership can really move the needle downtown," Henderson said.

As laid out on paper, the East Garden District project involves 20,000 square feet of repurposed properties along Garden Street, as well as 30,000 square feet of new mix-used developments. There are also plans for a 175,000-square-foot hotel, with accompanying parking garage at the intersection of Jefferson and Chase streets.

The city's contribution of $1,375,000 will go toward a road diet for a stretch of Jefferson Street between Garden and Chase.

Vehicular lanes will be reduced, sidewalks on either side of the road will gain a few feet and new landscaping and streetscaping will blend with a planned urban plaza.

In return for this investment, the col212 1

lective of developers—41 N. Jefferson St., LLC, 2 N. Palafox, LLC and 90 E. Garden Street, LLC—are forecasting new annual tax revenues of $2.8 million.

"A pretty good investment for the city," Henderson said, "not only from an economic perspective but from an experience perspective."

In general, developers invoked the spirits of CivicCon and Southtowne and said that the East Garden District project was designed to dovetail with the city's Complete Streets Initiative.

"It was about experience; it was about safety; it was about walkability and connectivity," Henderson described the project's inspiration.

The CRA board, comprised of Pensacola City Council members, appeared readily receptive to the project, as well as the publicprivate partnership aspect of the deal. They used words like "praise" and "beauty."

"It really, really looks very exciting," said Councilman P.C. Wu. Councilwoman Sherri Myers appeared to be the CRA's lone voice of dissent on the matter, expressing concerns about the project's impact on flooding in the area, but she was won over once she realized the project also involved relocating power infrastructure underground.

"I was inclined not to support this, but I feel the presence of telephone poles really distracts from a streetscape," Myers said.

"That would be the biggest incentive to me to support this—getting rid of those telephone poles."

The only real critique of this East Garden District project came from Dan

Lindemann, who owns property nearby on Palafox. While Lindemann didn't seem to have issues with the scope of the project, he was upset neighboring property owners had not been brought into the conversation during the project's planning phase.

Lindemann described his feelings regarding the process and what he viewed as lack of inclusiveness from both the developers and city administration as "resentful," "disappointed" and "confused."

"We want to be good neighbors," Henderson said, also addressing flooding concerns with project aspects such as pervious pavers, the planting of trees and inclusion of bioswales.

Developers said work should begin in the first quarter of 2021 and also that aspects of the project, such as the hotel, may be a bit market dependent. The CRA ultimately ended up unanimously approving the publicprivate partnership, as well as the project's concept.

"It's just good urbanism and it makes sense, and I'm thrilled to see it happen," said CRA Chair Jared Moore.

CPAC GROWING PAINS Growing pains

look to have befallen the City of Pensacola Citizens Police Advisory Committee. Dr. Cedric Alexander, the law enforcement consultant brought on board to work with the committee, let members know at its Tuesday, Oct. 21, meeting that they may be straying from the path.

"If I were to blindfold myself and walk through that door," Alexander said, "I would think I was in a city council meeting."

This was about an hour or so into the meeting, with committee members waistdeep in a discussion with Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter about a recommendation that officers undergo trauma-informed policing (TIPS) training. The talk was dense and stagnate and straying toward the abyss of a budgetary debate.

Alexander suggested that the committee was still "finding its feet." He provided a new mantra —"making the main thing the main thing"—and said the committee should recalibrate its focus upon the "stilltensions that exist in the community."

Committee Chairman Rev. Joseph Marshall appeared to agree. He said that there are indeed tensions in the city that need addressing, lest Pensacola slip into territory experienced in other cities around the coun-

try, where the issue of systemic racism in law enforcement has boiled over into violence.

"There's a ticking time bomb out there," Marshall said. "If tomorrow night something goes down and it's not appropriate, Pensacola is going to blow up."

Committee member Autumn Blackledge challenged this notion—"I understand the undercurrent; I understand what's going on, but we're not going to be the next Wisconsin"—but also said discussions might be veering into the weeds.

"If that's really true," she said, "the last thing we need to be talking about is if we're going to get TIPS in the budget in 2022."

Marshall assured Blackledge his read was accurate and invited other committee members to corroborate the assessment. A number of the committee's Black members said they too felt this time-bomb element.

"There is indeed tension in our city," said Kendra Carr-Pineda.

"Morris Court could be like Wisconsin or any other place in America," said Kyle Cole, relaying a recent incident with PPD officers.

"Pensacola could easily blow up right now.

There's some nasty police out there."

Another committee member, Kyle Kopytchak, suggested that such assessments were antidotal, that the discussion should be centered on verifiable data, that Black people should file complaints when they encountered problematic officers—"If the complaints pour in, the data goes up."

"Ticking time bomb doesn't say much," he said. "How are we going to deal with ticking time bombs if there are no facts?"

Vice Chairman Jonathan Green said that he viewed the filing of complaints as a "formality," useful only for the purpose of compiling data and potentially identifying trouble spots in a police department.

"As a Black man that files a complaint," he said, "I already know I'm not going to get justice from it."

Drew Buchanan said he thought the proverbial time bomb had already exploded in instances such as last summer's PPD killing of Tymar Crawford and advised the committee to take such warning to heart.

"The bomb's already gone off," Buchanan said. "You have to listen to the people on this board because they're not the ones speaking; they're speaking for their constituents."

Committee member Hale Morrissette, a member of Pensacola Dream Defenders, which was instrumental in pushing the city to establish the CPAC in the year following Crawford's death, said that she agreed there are tensions in the city.

"It takes one rally of people that are completely fed up for something to happen," she said.

But Morrissette said she felt like the city's thus-far peaceful discussion on sysinweekly.net

temic racism in law enforcement was due to the local activist community pushing for venues such as the CPAC and advised that the committee pull its nose out of budgetary particulars and concentrate on exploring as many "solutions" as possible prior to formalizing recommendations to the city.

"We need to look at all these solutions," Morrissette said, "and then we need to come back and prioritize."

Such mission-oriented discussion served as the meat and potatoes of the CPAC meeting, but the group also managed to approve another recommendation to the city—that PPD deprioritize low-level 20-grams-or-less marijuana possession.

CITY HOMELESS EFFORTS CHALLENGED A leading homeless advocate

took city officials to task this week, telling them that municipal efforts to address the issue of homelessness are falling short.

Mike Kimbrel said, "Y'all are not addressing homelessness. It's very frustrating."

Kimbrel, the director of the Alfred Washburn Center and co-founder of Satoshi Forest, both of which serve the area's homeless community, had been invited to the Pensacola City Council's agenda conference Oct. 19 by Councilwoman Sherri Myers to speak about the recent installation of benches at Pensacola City Hall, but the conversation quickly evolved into a discussion about the city's efforts to address the issue of homelessness.

"It's paramount that we address this holistically and from every angle," Kimbrel said.

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson pointed to efforts launched in 2019 between the city and Escambia County, as well as organizations serving the homeless community, as evidence of the city's intent to address the issue. He said that the coronavirus pandemic had stalled that conversation this year.

The mayor said that ultimately "a whole series of different small solutions" would need to be realized in order to have an impact on

homelessness—mentioning day centers and tiny houses, among other potentials—but also that such efforts would need to be coordinated, both logistically and budgetarily, with entities such as Escambia County.

"Everybody's going to have to buy into it," he said. "That's the only way it's going to be sustainable."

But Robinson also focused on what he described as a monopolization by homeless people of the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza downtown on Palafox.

"All these spaces are public," he said.

"That means they are open to all the people; they are not to be monopolized by a certain group of people."

And the mayor mentioned that the downtown business community was not pleased with the scene and that there had been a number of instances—a stabbing at a restaurant, tire slashings and a homicide—that were raising concerns and creating a "conflict of space."

Mayor Robinson suggested other locations to be used by organizations working to provide food to the homeless community, such as in Hollice T. Williams Greenway, a healthy distance from the downtown core.

And as for the new benches—benches that Kimbrel said were installed to "lure the homeless to city hall"—the mayor said they were an improvement on the existing offerings.

"I do believe that they are considerably more comfortable than the current slabs that are out there that were probably architecturally designed to keep people from sleeping and sitting and doing other things," Robinson said.

Kimbrel disagreed, "They are unsightly.

There doesn't seem like there was much planning to it. One of the benches is facing a brick wall."

Councilwoman Myers also disagreed, saying, "We're getting ready to do millions of dollars of streetscaping and we put in benches like that?"

But these new benches served only as

an impetus for the wider discussion. Kimbrel used the opportunity to point toward $50,000 in the city's budget dedicated to address the issue of homelessness and described it as "kind of insulting."

"What we need is compassion and what I'm hearing—and I hope you don't take offense to this Mr. Mayor—but I'm hearing more interest in what the business community feels on this," Kimbrel said. "And the business community, at this point, needs to put up. They need to put some money on the table."

Council members seemed generally sympathetic to Kimbrel's argument. Myers said the city needed to find the "political will" needed to commit, President Jewel Cannada-Wynn pointed to the need for a day center in her district and Councilman Jared Moore told Kimbrel that, "I appreciate how you've dedicated your life to improving the situation."

"We're going to have to put this on the top shelf and deal with it at once," concluded Councilman John Jerralds.

RECOVERY TOWN HALL State Rep. Alex Andrade will host a Town Hall Meeting highlighting the Hurricane Sally Recovery effort. The informational meeting and Q&A will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, at Hilton Pensacola Beach.

The event will focus primarily on Pensacola Beach and Gulf Breeze businesses that have been affected by the damage to the Pensacola Bay Bridge. Rep. Andrade will discuss business resources and provide updates on the status of repairs.

The Florida Department of Transportation, Escambia County Commissioner Robert Bender, Gulf Breeze Mayor Cherry Fitch and other officials will be in attendance.

"It is heartbreaking to see these locally owned businesses, stores and restaurants kept on life support the last six months due to COVID and now suddenly see another six months of a complete standstill," said

Rep. Andrade after visiting and speaking with local business owners in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach. "There is almost no traffic driving through Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach, so if you have the opportunity to visit these communities, please do so."

POST-ELECTION ROUND-UP Repre-

sentatives from several Pensacola-area groups working on climate issues will gather at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, to discuss election results and planned projects and actions for the months ahead. This is a great chance to learn more about what local groups are doing and how to get involved. Groups represented include Sunrise Movement, 350 Pensacola, Fridays for the Future, Healthy Gulf and Environment Florida.

This is an online event with registration available at rb.gy/v0hdsm. The presentation is part of a regular presentation series on climate change and related issues sponsored by 350 Pensacola. For more information, visit the 350 Pensacola Facebook page or email 350pensacola@gmail.com.

REALITY CHECK You want to start a business. Is your idea a good one? With the craziness of 2020, is it even a good time to consider starting a new business? LLC? Partnership? Corporation? Join the Florida SBDC from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Nov. 5, for a live online webinar to address these questions. In this webinar, you will learn how to assess the feasibility of your business idea, and the eight good reasons to start a business during or after a crisis or recession will be identified and explained.

This workshop will help you determine if your business idea matches any of the eight reasons. No fee. Register at sbdc.uwf.edu under "Training & Events." Registration ends 24 hours prior to start time. A link for joining this no-cost webinar will be sent to those who register. {in}

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13

On Oct. 22, The Studer Community Institute held the Light Up Learning fundraiser for early brain development at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Josh Sitton, Light Up Learning Host Marty Stanovich, Master of Ceremonies Quint Studer, Founder of Studer Community Institute

BOARD OF DIRECTORS • Tosh Belsinger • Cindi Bonner • Will Dunaway • Thomas Greek • Chad Henderson • Jules Kariher • Van Mansker • Jean Pierre N’Dione • Mort O’Sullivan III

• Tia Robbins • Kathy Sandstrom • Joy Sharp • Lisa Nellessen Savage • Josh Sitton • Quint Studer • Michelle Snow • Bert Thornton • Bruce Watson

Shannon Nickinson Director of Early Learning snickinson@studeri.org MISSION To improve the quality of life in our community

VISION To make our community the greatest place to live in the world

WEB Studeri.org

FACEBOOK StuderInstitute

Reggie Dogan Early Learning Project Manager rdogan@studeri.org Brittani Hunter Events and Volunteer Coordinator bhunter@studeri.org

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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THANK YOU

LIGHT UP LEARNING VOLUNTEERS Thank You to Our Volunteers • Madrina Ciano Chair of Light Up Learning • Rikki McWilliams • Katy Hendry • Angela D’Alessandro • Fenoy Butler • Karen Fleming • Wendy Countryman • Chase Heard • Mackenzie Watson • Tina Bosso • Heather Lassiter • Elizabeth Baer • Kevin Hammer • Stacy Hammer • Donna Hatley • Alice Ferguson • Melissa Arceneaux • David Ritchie • Theresa Ritchie • Janie Hayes • Jessica Duncan • Amanda Nelms • Derek Nelms • Brent Isbell • Luz Neil • Kate Henson • Jerald Henson • Sabrina Shaw • Angelique Smith There is still time to give!

Text: LightUpLearning to 56651

Photos by Madrina Ciano, Phil Salzman and Kristina Wright

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

October 29, 2020

15

THANK YOU

LIGHT UP LEARNING SPONSORS

Our Programs to Help Build a Brain The Studer Community Institute is a nonprofit that works to improve the quality of life in our community. We believe that work starts with our children. With only 47 percent of Escambia County’s children being ready for kindergarten, SCI works to increase that rate by helping parents be better first teachers.

Since 2017, we have worked to create tools, programs and

partnerships to help parents learn more about the power of language and interaction in the first three years of life to build a child’s brain.

SCI’s work is informed by research-backed strategies to help parents understand why it is important to talk more with their children, and how that is the key to building a brain, building a life and building a community.

Only 47% of children in Escambia County are ready for kindergarten

Brain Bags

The Basics Pensacola

Each year, 5,200 women give birth in the three birthing hospitals in Escambia County. SCI makes sure those families each receive a Brain Bag, an early literacy gift bag that includes a storybook, a developmental guide, a toy and other resources to help support parents.

It includes a video lesson reinforcing teaching points to increase mom’s How moms rate their knowledge about early brain development knowledge of the and the role parent talk and interaction have in that development. importance of talking The video lesson is based on a research to their baby: partnership between SCI and the University of Chicago’s TMW Center Moms before for Early Learning and Public Health. they receive The Brain Bags are stored, assembled their lesson BEFORE and delivered by Arc Gateway’s Pollak Moms after Industries, which offers life- and workthey receive skills training for adults with developmental their lesson disabilities.

AFTER More than 13,000 Brain Bags have been handed out since the program began.

7.2 9.7

SCI is a local affiliate of the Boston Basics Network founded at the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University. The Basics are five, fun and simple ways that every family can use.

The aim is to teach parents “the basics” of healthy brain building: 1) Maximize love; manage stress.

2) Talk, sing and point.

3) Count, group and compare.

4) Explore through movement and play.

5) Read and discuss stories.

The Basics uses video lessons and a text messaging service around a curriculum to reach parents where they are and help them learn and use these concepts to boost the time and the quality of the interaction they have with their children.

OUR PARTNERS IN THE BASICS: Healthy Start Coalition of Escambia County; Healthy Start Coalition of Santa Rosa County; Children’s Home Society Escambia County, Children’s Home Society Santa Rosa County; 90Works; Pathways for Change Family Center; Escambia County Health Department Healthy Start nurses; Families First Network Early Childhood Court team; Community Action Program’s Early Head Start team; Alpha Center; Community Drug and Alcohol Council parenting classes; and a handful of private childcare providers.

Parent Outreach

This is a partnership with Area Housing Commission to reach parents with children under 4. The program’s curriculum includes 16 weeks of lessons focused on the importance of parent talk and interaction in healthy brain development in the first three years of a child’s life — and the role that interaction plays in a child’s kindergarten readiness. It then adds lessons in financial literacy, self-sufficiency and building parenting capacity in families.

Since summer 2017, 240 mothers, fathers and grandparents have been served through parent outreach. 80 parents earned certificate of completion awards in parent outreach. All reported increasing the minutes they spent daily reading to their children. They now reported reading daily, at an average of 25 minutes per day with their children.

The Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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inweekly.net

THANK YOU

LIGHT UP LEARNING SPONSORS

We care for kids the way Bubba plays golf.

With all heart.

SIBLINGS BRAIN BUILDERS

Our specialized doctors and care teams provide world-class heart, bone, joint, ear, nose and throat care, and more.

From an ER designed just for kids, to the region’s most advanced-care NICU, we’re here for families like yours — the tiniest babies, growing teenagers and everyone in between.

Siblings can have an influence on academic success. This is due to something referred to as the “sibling spillover effect” found in a 2014 study.

Older brothers and sisters also can be vital in the early childhood brain development of siblings.

This is especially true for low-income and underserved families — a demographic over-represented among children who struggle with reading — where older siblings can pass along school values to the home and home values to the school.

Launched in five Escambia County schools in 2019, SCI Sibling Brain Builders has two tracks: — MIDDLE SCHOOL: A teacher champion works with students with siblings under 5 to create lesson plans for them that include children’s books that the students read at home with their siblings. We had 21 students in the first group of Brain Builders.

— ELEMENTARY: At four Title I schools, librarians partner with SCI to provide pupils with books and reading materials to take home to share and read with their younger siblings.

At two schools, students use Reading Logs to track the number of minutes they read with a younger sibling at home and return those forms each week. Students who meet their monthly reading goals receive a free book.

Through March 13, 2020 we’ve had 120 students participate, logging about 501 hours of reading.

At two schools, a fourth-grade class paired with a K4 classroom to have the older students read for 30 minutes one day a week with the younger students. Students at both age levels received books for meeting their monthly reading minute goal. K4 students saw anecdotal improvement in their social-emotional development skills; fourth-graders saw an average increase in their reading fluency scores of 38 percent.

Find a specialist at StuderFamilyChildrensHospital.com

© Ascension 2020

The customer’s journey is complex. Marketing to them doesn’t have to be.

MAKING PLAY SMART Play helps children build their bodies and their minds.

It’s how they grow socially and emotionally, building the “soft skills” that adults will look for in them later on — critical-thinking, problem-solving, working in a team, coping with disappointment.

The Make Play Smart decals encourage families to play together and reinforce skills like counting, letter naming, shape and color identification, which are built into the decal designs.

Our partners at Kool Graphics have designed and installed nine sets of these decals in parks from Cantonment to West Pensacola. We would love to see these in more parks.

Access to technology at home is critical to the quality of a student’s education, yet many students in America lack internet access. That’s why we’re working to provide opportunities for families and students by offering low-cost internet to qualified households with the Cox Connect2Compete program.

Visit www.Cox.com/C2C for full details.

*Offer available to customers in Cox services areas who (i) meet program eligibility criteria, (ii) have not subscribed to Cox Internet service within the last 90 days, and (iii) have no unpaid debt for Cox services or unreturned equipment. Families with K-12 children are eligible if they qualify for one of the following programs: the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, LIHEAP and/or TANF; who receive Tenant-Based Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers or Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA); and/or who live in Public Housing. Not available in all areas. “No annual contract” means no specific term period requirement and no early termination fees. $9.95/month includes Connect2Compete Internet service (up to 25 Mbps download speeds) and one wifi modem rental (may include refurbished wireless gateway). Additional equipment is extra. Equipment must be returned on service cancellation. Advertised program pricing available while eligibility criteria are met. Includes Cox Wifi Hotspot network access at multiple locations across the country. See www.cox.com/hotspots for available coverage areas and hotspots. No installation charge for standard install on one prewired outlet Additional installation, applicable taxes, and other fees are extra. Actual Internet speeds vary and are not guaranteed. See www.cox.com/internetdisclosures for complete Cox Internet Disclosures. Then-current Internet service and modem rental rates will apply when program eligibility requirements are no longer met. Offer, prices and eligibility requirements are subject to change. Other restrictions apply. Offer and eligibility are also subject to Connect2Compete program terms and conditions. Visit Cox.com/C2C for complete details. Connect2Compete is a program to provide home Internet service for families. It is not a school program, and is not endorsed or required by your school. Your school is not responsible for Connect2Compete accounts. No school funds were used for this notice.

All services and plans subject to Cox Residential Customer Service Agreement: cox.com/rcsa (including mandatory arbitration provisions), Acceptable Use Policy: cox.com/aup PAD107483-0010 (including Cox’s right to terminate service for abuse of network), and other policies: cox.com/policies. © 2020 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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There is still time to give!

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a&e

By Savannah Evanoff

Getting to Know the "Best Band"

The Juice is Okay and Justin Moore (aka Loyal Customers) / Photo by Cameron Mosley

The Juice is Okay is OK—actually, they're more than OK. The indie/experimental band— known to many as simply TJIO—recently found out Pensacola voted them "Best Band" in Inweekly's Best of the Coast poll.

After forming as a joke post-eighth grade at Workman Middle School, they didn't have a preconceived notion for their trajectory.

Adam Babis (bass guitar) is grateful to the voters.

"It's really exciting to have our name in a magazine that has other prominent features of Pensacola, like Vinyl Music Hall—we've played there only once—and chizuko," Babis said. "It's nice to have our name next to all of those—and as a winner.

We really worked hard to get that name going. It's satisfying."

Cameron Mosley, the band manager and unofficial fifth member, doesn't want to brag too much, but he thinks Pensacola should keep these guys on its radar.

"I know Dead Bugs won last year, so that was pretty crazy to get that recogni-

October 29, 2020

tion so soon," Mosley said. "These guys are really talented."

And their band cohesiveness and fan base can likely be attributed to their longtime friendships. Mac Wilson (drums) said they're basically best friends and they've been on a movie kick lately because of COVID-19.

"We pretty much hang out as much as we can," Wilson said. "I'm glad it's stayed that way. We've stayed super close, which is nice."

TJIO's first performance was Babis and Matthew Masuca (rhythm guitar) on the side of the road at a Gallery Night. They were the original songwriters, though it has since shifted into a group effort, Masuca said.

"For the first two years, it was kind of a strange folk-punk thing going on," Masuca said. "We were 13 and listening to a lot of Neutral Milk Hotel, Against Me!, Toadies and stuff we grew up together with."

They had been playing songs practically forever before actually putting them on the album "A Familiar Space" in 2019. The band adopted an indie sound but invented a new genre for their second album, "Fantasy

Hand," called "F-sharp B," in which all the guitar notes are, well, F-sharp and B. "That was the manipulating factor for changing all of the way our songs sound, but it's still got that style we have," Masuca said.

"I don't really know how to describe that style. Jokingly, we call it 'Juice Rock,' but there is a whacky-ness to the songwriting, something that gives it flavor."

And their name isn't a reflection of their music, Masuca said; it's more like a point of reference. He thinks it originates from a Weezer song and a bottle of juice in the right place at the right time.

"I was talking to some family yesterday about this," Masuca said. "They had to stop me and say, 'What is The Juice is Okay?

What does that even mean?' The Juice is Okay was like our band name that we rolled with. We even changed it at a few times because we thought it was stupid. By that time, people at Gallery Night and our friends were into it. It's just weird enough. But it's not too out there to where you can't remember it."

They've embraced the acronym, TJIO, which is also the name of their first EP. It's featured on most of their merch.

"If you know what that is, you're in the club I guess," Masuca said.

The band had to cancel a monthlong tour up the East Coast because of the coronavirus outbreak, said Devin Thomas (guitar). They miss performing.

"We get up there and play the songs how we want to," Thomas said. "I wouldn't say we don't prepare. But sometimes we

get up there and wing it. We like to get up there and have a good time and don't take anything too seriously."

While they can't perform, they have been strangely, but pleasantly, productive, Masuca said. They're working on their third and fourth albums simultaneously—and they couldn't be more different.

On the third, they are collaborating with Justin Moore (aka Loyal Customers) out of Panama City.

"They're super cool," Masuca said. "It's really avant-garde stuff. We got him mixing and producing the whole project with us to give it some different flavors. It's a very concept-heavy album."

The fourth record is DIY like their second, Masuca said. They have more equipment this time around.

"That record's going to be a lot sledgier, a lot darker and heavier because we wanted to try that out," Masuca said. "Some of it's thrashy; some if it's funky. It's like a doom funk record.

We're jumping around a lot with the sound. It's been hard to practice because stylistically, it's weird to try to stay consistent. That inconsistency is the theme of next year's work."

How many albums they release in 2021 is contingent on the U.S. presidential election, Masuca said only half-jokingly. "(In) 2021, these albums will be out at some point," Masuca said. "We have a political bet. If Trump wins, we only get to do five albums next year. If Biden wins, we get to do six."

They still don't know the band's trajectory, but they're cool with it.

"I wanna see how far we can push ourselves with types of sounds we want to do and how much we want to put out," Wilson said. "I don't know how far it will go, but I want to take it as far as we can." {in} You can check out The Juice is Okay on Spotify and follow them on Twitter @thejuiceisokay to keep up with those post-election albums.

19

a&e happenings Attending "normal" events might not be happening yet—but that doesn't mean local businesses and nonprofits aren't still keeping the community connected in creative ways.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS FOR THE KIDS

FISHBEIN ORTHODONTICS TRUNK OR TREAT Bring the kids for this free, so-

cially distanced event 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. There will be prizes, treats and more.

Event is free to all. Fishbein Orthodontics is located at 4900 Marketplace Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/fishortho.

KIDS PUMPKIN PAINTING Bring your little ghouls to decorate mini pumpkins and enjoy holiday treats while watching a Halloween movie at Bodacious from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 31. Costumes are encouraged for both kids and their parents joining them. Cost is $25 per person.

Bodacious is located at 407-D S. Palafox.

Register at bodaciousshops.com.

TRICK OR TREAT WITH EAST HILL PIZZA, DOLCE & GELATO AND J'S BAKERY Visit East Hill Pizza, at 2030 N. 12th Ave, and neighboring businesses for trick or treating and food and drink specials from 4-6 p.m. on Halloween, Oct. 31.

AN AL FRESCO HALLOWEEN WITH WEST FLORIDA PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Join West Florida Public Libraries for a visit across space, time and reality. The libraries' mega mobile diorama supported by a cast of unique characters will be on site for more fun. Prizes and activities will be available.

Appropriate social distance measures will be observed. For more information, visit mywfpl.com.

Dates and locations as follows: Friday, Oct. 30, 3-5 p.m.—Westside Branch Library, 1301 W. Gregory St. Saturday, Oct. 31, 4-6 p.m.—Molino Branch Library, 6450-A Highway 95A, Molino

BOO AT THE ZOO Designed for a younger

audience, families can enjoy scare-free, daytime fun for children and the young at heart.

Gulf Breeze Zoo's Boo at the Zoo festival includes Halloween entertainment and kidfriendly fun around every corner. Explore the trick-or-treat trail complete with candy, treats and toys, bounce houses, face painting, along with the entire zoo.

The trick-or-treat trail has been expanded to incorporate social distancing and CDC guidelines. Tickets must be pre-purchased this year in order to comply with these recommendations to ensure a safe, fun environment for everyone. Vendors at trick-or-treat stations will be following CDC guidelines as well.

Boo at the Zoo is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 31. For tickets and more information, visit gbzoo.com.

SOUTHWEST BRANCH LIBRARY BOO…KS & TREATS The slightly spooky

staff at Southwest Branch Library, located at 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, looks forward to handing out "Make Your Own Boo…k" materials, treats and Friends of SWB Library swag for youth 18 and under from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Parents, you can pull up in your vehicle at the drive-thru to pick up (while supplies last).

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR PHOTO EVENT Century Branch Library,

located at 7991 N. Century Blvd., is offering a children's Halloween photo prop opportunity on Halloween day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Photos may be included on West Florida Public Libraries Facebook photo contest (with parental permission), so wear your favorite costume.

While waiting to take photos, children may pick out a book or video for check out from the ghoulish display. Staff will pass out fun bags and candy will be available at the circulation desk.

MONSTER MARCH AT THE MOLINO BRANCH LIBRARY Saturday, Oct. 31,

4-5:30 p.m. at the Molino Branch Library. Can you flap your wings like a bat? Can you lurch like a mummy? How about prance like a princess? Come to Molino Branch Library's track for a socially distanced spooky walk with just a few tricks and a couple treats on Saturday Oct. 31, from 4-5:30 p.m. The Molino Library is located at 6450-A Highway 95A.

SOCIAL MEDIA HALLOWEEN COSTUME PHOTO CONTEST If you attend

a Halloween event at one of the West Florida Public Libraries, you can have your photo taken and submitted for the social media Halloween costume contest. If the kiddos aren't able to make one of our events, parents can submit their photo to happening@mywfpl.com along with a photo release form.

All participants can submit their photos through Nov. 1. A Facebook album will be posted at facebook.com/westfloridapubliclibraries on Monday, Nov. 2. Whoever gets the most likes wins a prize. There will be first, second and third place winners.

Voting ends on Friday, Nov. 6, at noon.

Winners will be contacted by Wednesday, Nov. 11, and pickup instructions will be given then. All participants (guardians of youth) must sign a photo release form to be entered. No personal information will be shown, such as name, age, etc., for youth ages 18 and under.

FOR ALL (MOST) AGES

ONE BLOOD HALLOWEEN BLOOD DONATION DRIVE Visit Maritime Park,

located at 351 W. Cedar St., 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and donate blood.

All donors receive a free Blue Wahoos hat, Halloween T-shirt, $10 gift card, Chick-filA coupon and a wellness checkup, including a COVID-19 antibody test. Make an appointment at oneblood.org/wear.

FLICKS ON THE FIELD: TRUNK OR TREAT EDITION Head to Pensacola

Greyhound Park at 951 Dog Track Road on Friday, Oct. 30, for a screening of "Hotel Transylvania" and trunk or treating beginning at 6 p.m. Concessions available on site. Visit perdidochamber.com for more information.

GRIZZLY BLACKLIGHT HALLOWEEN PARTY Get your spooky axe down to

Grizzly Axes for black light axe throwing and costume contest. The costume contest is Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m., and the top three couples costumes and top three singles costumes will win prizes. Grizzly Axes is located at 6300 N. Davis Highway.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ grizzlyaxes.

SANGUINE AT ASHER & BEE Join Asher & Bee for an ancestor veneration event to remember loved ones past on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m. Bring a picture for the communal altar. For more information, and to register, visit facebook.com/asherandbee.

TALKING TO THE DEAD, VIRTUALLY

Join an All Hallows Eve Victorian seance with Historic Pensacola 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Learn about the fascination, history and theatrics of spiritualism and Victorian seance.

The living history department will share the origins of All Hallows Eve and the rise of spiritualism in the Victorian era and demonstrate the theatrics common in a Victorian seance.

Zoom link will be emailed after registration.

Cost is $5. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

CHILLS BY THE CAMPFIRE VIRTUAL EVENT Join a virtual ghost tour and listen

to ghost stories by a virtual campfire 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30. Cost is $5. Zoom link will be emailed after registration. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

RIDE IT FORWARD FUNDRAISER FOR PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE On Halloween morning, from 8-10 a.m., Ride Society and Pensacola Little Theatre will host a spooky ride to start the day located outside the theatre at 400 S. Jefferson St., which is referred to as one of the most haunted spots in Pensacola. Because nothing is scarier than a generation without access to arts education, all proceeds from the rides will fund PLT's traveling theatre troupe that takes art education into Title I schools. PLT performers will be joining the fun to add tricks and treats to the rides. For more information or to make a donation to PLT, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

30TH ANNUAL HAUNTED HOUSE WALKING AND TROLLEY TOURS

It's the 30th Anniversary of the Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours at UWF Historic Village. This year, they are offering original tour routes only—Seville Spirits Walking

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Tour, Adults-Only Redlight Walking Tour and the Trolley of the Doomed. The Adults-Only Redlight Walking Tour is at 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 31. Tickets are $15 each. Seville Spirits Walking Tour is at 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 31. Tickets are $15 each and $8 for children 12 and under. Trolley of the Doomed Tour is at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit historicpensacola.org.

HALLOWEEN DRAG AT DOLCE AND GELATO Enjoy a fabulous night of seasonal

drag and bingo at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave., 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

Admission is $10 per person. Costumes encouraged; masks required. Bring cash to tip performers. For more information, facebook. com/dolcegelatopensacola.

PENSACON PRESENTS FREE HALLOWEENFEST Pensacon, Pensacola's

all-inclusive annual pop-culture convention, will present a free outdoor festival to celebrate Halloween on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Pensacon HalloweenFest will be a full day of spooky pop-culture fun in Museum Plaza in downtown Pensacola. Offering an outdoor convention-style atmosphere with a Halloween theme, the day will feature vendors, live entertainment, celebrity guests, artists, panels, food trucks, trick-or-treating and other fun in a safe and family-friendly environment. Costumes are encouraged, and the day will include costume contests for children and adults with a nominal entry fee for the adult contest.

Among the celebrity guests scheduled to appear is actor Corin Nemec, known for his roles in "Stargate SG-1," "The Stand" and "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." Nemec and other guests will be on hand to meet fans and, for a fee, sign autographs and pose for photos.

Kids in costumes will receive a free Halloween bag and are encouraged to trick-ortreat with the vendors set up across the plaza.

Masks will be required at all times in Museum Plaza and associated venues and activities. Vendors will be spaced out across the plaza to encourage social distancing, and ample hand sanitizing stations will be made available. Attendees are encouraged to stay with their groups and maintain six feet of distance from those outside their bubbles.

Vendor and performance applications are now being accepted, and sponsorship packages are available. For more information, email halloween@pensacon.com or visit pensacon.

THIRD ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PET COSTUME CONTEST Stop by Perfect

Plain on Oct. 31 and show off your bestdressed pet. Enjoy drink specials and prizes (for best-dressed animals and their humans).

Contest begins at 2 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

VIRTUAL PUMPKIN PARTY For those who never miss a Strong Street Studio's glass pumpkin patch, you don't have to miss out during the pandemic. This year, the pumpkin patch will be online. Shipping will be available as well as curbside pickup for locals. Check out the pumpkin inventory Oct. 31 and Nov. 14. For more information, visit strongstreetstudioglass.com.

October 29, 2020

HOLLAND FARMS PUMPKIN PATCH & MAZE Enjoy all the fall activities at Hol-

land Farms, located at 2055 Homer Holland Road in Milton. A $12 wristband allows you to pick a pumpkin and enjoy activities such as corn box, zip lines, petting zoo, pedal tractor cart racing and more. The farm is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 7.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ hollandfarmsonline.

FOR ADULTS

PAINT & SIP: SPOOKY SEASON Celebrate the spooky season with an evening of drinking wine, painting pumpkins and eating (personal) charcuterie boards at Bodacious on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $35. Bodacious is located at 407-D S. Palafox. Visit bodaciousshops. com for more information.

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT ODD COLONY Join Odd Colony for a spooky

Halloween evening 6 p.m.-midnight with a costume contest, classic Halloween movies and drink specials. Admission is free.

Odd Colony is located at 260 N. Palafox.

Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for more information.

PICK YOUR POISON HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL PARTY Head to Casks &

Flights for a Halloween cocktail party, complete with adult masquerade ball, live DJ, door prizes, giveaways and specialty food and drinks. The evening starts at 8 p.m. Halloween night. Casks and Flights is located at 121 S. Palafox. For more information, visit facebook.com/casksandflights.

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER SHOWS THIS MONTH AT SEVILLE QUARTER

Seville Quarter will be hosting its first-ever series of Murder Mystery Dinner Shows in Heritage Hall throughout the month of October. Expect three different shows for the entire family to enjoy "Rocky Horror Murder Mystery" will be on Oct. 29, 30, 31.

All shows run from 6-9:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online through Eventbrite for $45 each (not including tax or gratuity). Ticket includes choice of two entrees—menu coming soon. Guests are encouraged to dress up for all three shows. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

HAUNTED ROOM AT ESCAPE ON PALAFOX Escape a haunted room before

you're cursed forever in the latest themed escape room from Escape on Palafox, located at 28 S. Palafox. Book your room at escapeonpalafox.com.

CREEPY HOLLOW WOODS Creepy Hollow Woods is back. No hands-on contact.

The woods open at 6 p.m., and the haunt will begin at dark between 7 and 7:30 p.m.

Dates are Oct. 30-31. Tickets are $15. To purchase, visit facebook.com/creepyhollowwoodsfl.

for more listings visit inweekly.net 21

free will astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 29 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Reed Galen is an American political consultant who has worked long and hard for conservative causes. But in next week's election, he opposes conservative Donald Trump, whom he regards as an authoritarian tyrant. He writes, "Democracy is on the ballot. It's a binary choice between good/bad, honorable/dishonorable, healthy/sick, forward/ backward. There has been nothing like this in our lifetimes." If you've read my words for a while, you know I'm a connoisseur of ambiguity and uncertainty. I try to see all sides of every story. But now I'm departing from my tradition—I agree with Reed Galen's assessment. The American electorate really does face a binary choice between good and bad. I also suspect, Aries, that you may be dealing with a binary choice in your personal life. Don't underestimate how important it is that you side with the forces of good.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus politician Dan Coats has belonged to the conservative Republican Party all his adult life. He served in the US Congress for 24 years, and later as President Donald Trump's Director of National Intelligence. Since leaving that office, Coats has criticized his ex-boss. He has said, "Trump doesn’t know the difference between the truth and a lie." In accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to be fiercely non-Trump-like in the coming weeks. It's crucial to the welfare of you and yours that you tell the whole truth.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Many stories that were popular long ago are still studied today. One example is the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, originally told during the first century BC. Another is Homer's epic tale the Odyssey, which harkens back to the sixth century BC. I have no problem with learning from old tales like these. It's important to know how people of previous eras experienced life. But for you in the coming months, I think it will be crucial to find and tell new stories—tales that illuminate the unique circumstances that you are living through right now.

By Rob Brezsny

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): I'm surprised when I hear that fans of Donald Trump enjoy my horoscopes. My political views, which are deeply aligned with my spiritual philosophy, have always been very progressive. And I've never hidden that fact. How can someone who appreciates my ideas also like Trump, a vile bully who has unleashed enormous cruelty and chaos? If you yourself are a Trump fan, I understand that after reading the preceding words, you may never read my words again. But I need to follow my own astrological advice for us Cancerians, which is—Be bold and clear in expressing your devotion to the ideals you hold precious.

For me, that means supporting Joe Biden, an imperfect candidate who will nevertheless be a far more compassionate and intelligent and fair-minded leader than Trump.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Dionysus was the ancient Greek god of drunkenness and ecstasy and madness. His followers were inclined to immerse themselves in those states. Yet as historian Robert Parker points out, Dionysus himself "was seldom drunk, seldom mad."

His relationship with his consort Ariadne was "dignified and restrained," and "smiling tranquility" was his common mood. I recommend that in the coming weeks you act more like Dionysus than his followers—no matter how unruly the world around you may become.

The rest of us need you to be a bastion of calmness and strength.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo

military expert Jim Mattis enlisted in the US Marine Corps when he was 19 years old.

Forty-three years later, having been a Marine all his adult life and a general for six years, he retired. Later, he served under President Donald Trump as the US Secretary of Defense. After leaving that position, Mattis testified that Trump was "dangerous" and "unfit," adding that Trump "has no moral compass."

Be inspired by Mattis, Virgo. Do your part to resist the harmful and unethical actions of powerful people who affect you. Be extra strong and clear in standing up for integrity.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): "Feeling too much is a hell of a lot better than feeling nothing," declares Libran author Nora

Roberts. I trust you will see the wisdom of that perspective in the coming weeks. On the downside, there might be some prickly, disorienting feelings arriving along with the rich flood of splendor. But I'm convinced that most of the surge will be interesting, invigorating and restorative—although it may take a while for the full effects to ripen. And even the prickly, disorienting stuff may ultimately turn out to be unexpectedly nurturing for your soul.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio

politician Joe Biden wasn't my first choice for President of the United States. During the selection process, I championed his opponents Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

But now I support Biden wholeheartedly. He has several policies I don't agree with, but on the other hand, I know it's critical that we Americans ensure he replaces the appalling, corrupt, incompetent Trump. In the coming days, I advise you Scorpios to also consider the value of wise and pragmatic compromise in your own sphere. Don't allow a longing for impossible perfection to derail your commitment to doing what's right.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The United States has suffered terribly from COVID-19. Of all the world's countries, it has had more cases and more deaths. Why? One major reason is President Donald Trump. He has consistently downplayed the seriousness of the disease, has advocated many unscientific cures, and has been lax and erratic in supporting the therapeutic measures that virtually all epidemiological experts have recommended. It's no exaggeration to assert that Americans will reduce their coronavirus misery by electing Joe Biden as president. In this spirit, and in accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to meditate on how you could reduce any and all of your own personal suffering.

The time is right. Be ingenious! Be proactive!

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "By my love and hope I beseech you," pleaded philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. "Do not cast away the hero in your soul! Hold holy your highest hope!" That's always good advice, but it's extra crucial for you now. You

will generate good fortune for yourself by being in close connection with the part of you that is bravest and wisest. The people whose lives you touch will have a special need for you to express the vitalizing power of intelligent hopefulness. More than maybe ever before, you will be inspired to cultivate your heroic qualities.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): I've

been writing my horoscope column for a long time, and it has evolved dramatically.

One aspect that hasn't changed is that every four years, I've endorsed a candidate for the president of my home country, the United States. Another unchanging aspect is that I regularly reveal my progressive views about political matters. Some people who have only recently discovered my writing express dismay about this. "I don't want politics with my horoscopes!" they complain. But the fact is, politics have permeated my horoscopes since the beginning. Now I urge you to do what I just did, Aquarius, but in your own sphere—If there are people who are not clear about who you really are, educate them.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "The

worse the state of the world grows, the more intensely I try for inner perfection and power," wrote Piscean author Anais Nin during World War II. "I fight for a small world of humanity and tenderness."

I encourage you to adopt that perspective for the rest of 2020. It's an excellent time to respond boldly to the outer chaos by building up your inner beauty. I also suggest this addition to Nin's formula—Call on your resourceful compassion to bolster the resilience of your closest allies.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: To read more of my views on the US election, go to bit.ly/ voteforlifeandlove.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020

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Hire a lawyer who is a former Merril Lynch stock broker.

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inweekly.net

news of the weird THE WEIRDO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY An unnamed 28-year-old man in search of a voluntary castration found himself drawn to a website offering such services, which led him to travel from Virginia to a cabin in the woods of Poteau, Oklahoma. There, on Oct. 12, Bob Lee Allen, 53, and Thomas Evans Gates, 42, allegedly relieved the victim of his testicles during a two-hour surgery, The Oklahoman reported. Allen told the victim that he has "a freezer of body parts" and that "he was going to consume the parts and laughed and said that he was a cannibal," an affidavit said. The day following the operation, Allen took the victim to the hospital because he was bleeding badly, but cautioned him to say "he done it to himself." The hospital contacted police, and investigators searched the property, finding suspected body parts in a deep freeze. Allen and Gates were charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors, including conspiracy to commit unlicensed surgery and failure to bury the body parts.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Tynette Housley, 73, of Black Forest, Colorado, was cited by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials after her "pet" deer attacked and gored a neighbor who was out walking her dog on Oct. 16. The buck, now sporting two-pronged antlers, was taken in by Housley when it was just a few days old and raised as a pet. The victim tried to run first to another neighbor's home, then to her own, but the buck repeatedly knocked her down and gored her. A CPW officer euthanized the deer and took it for testing for rabies and other diseases. "We can't say it enough: Wild animals are not pets," said Frank McGee, CPW's area wildlife manager.

Housley was charged with illegal possession and illegal feeding of wildlife.

MAN'S BEST FRIEND Veterinary researchers at the University of Helsinki have been testing whether dogs can sniff out COVID-19, and Anna Hielm-Bjorkman has the good news: They can. With almost 100% accuracy.

"A dog could easily save so, so, so many lives," she told DW. A pilot program at the Helsinki Airport is having travelers wipe their wrists or neck with a cloth, which the trained dogs then sniff. They can identify the virus up to five days before any symptoms appear.

People who test positive at the voluntary canine site are directed to the airport's medical unit for confirmation. Hielm-Bjorkman said travelers have been eager to participate, waiting up to an hour in line.

•On the Italian island of Sardinia, farmer Cristian Mallocci welcomed a litter of five dogs on Oct. 9, Fox News reported. Among them was a special pup -- one with green fur, which Mallocci immediately named Pistachio. The other four dogs had white fur, like their mom. Green puppies are rare,

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

but not unheard-of; scientists think it happens when the puppy makes contact with a green pigment in the womb. Pistachio's color has faded since his birth, but he'll keep his name, and Mallocci will keep him to help look after sheep on the farm.

FAMILY VALUES Twifi, a startup internet provider in Switzerland, posted a Facebook ad with a compelling offer to parents-to-be: Name your child Twifus (for a boy) or Twifia (for a girl) in exchange for 18 years of free internet service. And sure enough, KidSpot. com reported, one young couple bit, giving their daughter the rewarding middle name.

"The more I thought about it, the more unique the name became to me, and that's when the thing acquired its charm," the baby's dad, 35, said. Mom went even deeper: "For me, the name Twifia also stands for connection in this context. The more often we say 'Twifia,' the heartier the name sounds!"

WHAT'S IN A NAME? Lawrence Crook, 37, of Jersey City, New Jersey, managed to live up to his name not once, but twice in one day on Oct. 8. In the first incident, Crook was seen loading "several blue and white striped bags" into a black SUV, according to Oddee.com. Lt. Antonio Granata said the witness confronted Crook, after which he fled on foot. The SUV had been reported stolen, and police found Crook in possession of methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia. He was arrested and released on bond. But that was just the first part of his day. Later, a lieutenant with the Fairfield Fire Department saw Crook walking around in a fire station and rummaging through firefighters' property. He was arrested again and now has two bonds, each set at $25,000.

HALLOWEIRD As Halloween approaches, residents in and around Concord, Massachusetts, are being treated to a spooky sight: A headless horseman, er, bikeman, is riding around on a blacked-out bike, strumming his guitar and waving to motorists and passersby. The Boston Globe reported on Oct. 20 that the ghoul is really Matthew Dunkle, 38, who has been known as the "bike-riding guy" in the area since 2015, when he went through a divorce and lost a grandparent. "I needed something special in my life," Dunkle said. "I had a few smiles and people waved and people laughed and stuff. So that was kind of the beginning of it." He actually donned the headless horseman costume in April, as the pandemic got going. "It just feels like we are kind of in the dark right now," he said. "We are all just running around with our heads cut off." {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2020 Andrews McMeel

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