Inweekly Oct. 8 2020 Issue

Independent News | October 8, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 41

FREE â–¶

winners & losers

outtakes

4

5

news 6

Don't go denying people.

cover story

buzz 8

13

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

calendar 16

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.

not your average* injury lawyer. board certified civil trial attorney *Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy.

Statistical information current as of April 2020.

zarzaurlaw.com 22

•

(855)hirejoe

•

pensacola, fl inweekly.net

October 8, 2020

3

winners & losers

Courtesy of Togetherall

winners

TOGETHERALL The University of West

Florida recently announced that it would provide its students free access to Togetherall, a 24/7 online peer-to-peer mental health community. Togetherall is moderated by registered practitioners who keep members safe and facilitate the process of students helping students in an online environment. Users of the Togetherall platform are transferred to ProtoCall if urgent risk is identified. UWF prioritizes the need to provide students with additional remote-based mental health support while they navigate student life during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Within the Togetherall platform, users are anonymous to each other and can share and seek support.

To access the service, students can go to the mobile-responsive togetherall.com and register with their UWF student email address.

Pensacola’s Premier Community

8800 Pine Forest Road (844) 379-0289 www.avalonliving.net 44

NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Pensacola's largest private-sector employer recently announced a $100,000 donation to support United Way of West Florida's Hurricane Sally Relief Fund. Donations made to the fund will be used to provide assistance to those impacted by the storm, particularly those community members who do not have insurance or who are underinsured. Laura Gilliam, president and CEO of United Way of West Florida, said, "Navy Federal Credit Union has stepped up during these extraordinarily challenging times to provide critical support to a community that is reeling from Hurricane Sally. Their donation of $100,000 to the Hurricane Sally Relief Fund will help our community get back on its feet."

PENSACOLA BLUE WAHOOS Minor League Baseball announced at its Innovator Summit that the Pensacola Blue Wahoos had been selected as the Golden Bobblehead Award winner for both the "Best Non-Gameday Event" and "Best Overall Promotion" of 2020 for their innovative first-of-its-kind ballpark Airbnb. Given annually by Minor League Baseball for the most creative and successful promotions held by teams each year, the Golden Bobbleheads are considered the Minor Leagues' most prestigious awards. The Blue Wahoos listed their full stadium on Airbnb in May, the first time a sports stadium has ever been offered on the vacation rental app. Within 48 hours, two full months of stays had sold out. To date, guests have traveled to Pensacola from 16 states across America to stay in the Airbnb.

Greg Abbott / gov.texas.gov

losers

GREG ABBOTT On Thursday, Oct. 1, the Texas governor issued a proclamation directing counties to designate only one location for ballot drop-offs. The move limits options for Texas voters who want to handdeliver their completed absentee ballots for the November election, particularly in the larger counties with significant numbers of Democrat and independent voters that had set up multiple drop-off locations to increase voter participation. Harris County, the state's most populous county that covers an area larger than the state of Rhode Island, had a dozen drop-off locations. The ballot drop-off locations are staffed, and voters must present an approved form of identification to deliver their ballots. People cannot turn in ballots for other voters.

RAPID TESTING Inweekly published its Ballsy Plan that called for rapid testing for COVID-19 on July 16. County Administrator Janice Gilley presented her plan for rapid testing as part of the CARES Act budget on Aug. 6. The Escambia Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 20 approved the allocation for rapid testing. The following week, Chandra Smiley of Community Health Northwest Florida told the board she had executed a contract with Abbott for the rapid tests and would deploy them by "middle of September." Then Hurricane Sally hit. The rapid test finally began to be offered on Monday, Oct. 5—two months after Gilley presented her plan in a public meeting—but only to those showing COVID-19 symptoms. Nothing happens quickly in Escambia County government. You can ask families and small business owners who are still wanting for assistance checks.

SUNSHINE MEETINGS If you tuned into the Escambia County Commission meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, and expected to hear an update on the CARES Act spending, you were disappointed. The item was on the published agenda but discussed only at the agenda review in the morning. County Administrator Janice Gilley had posted no background material on the agenda item to the county's website.

Citizens watched the Thursday night meeting for two hours only to learn the administrator wasn't going to give an update. The county commission has approved a $27.8 million CARES Act budget without public input. W. D. Childers would be so proud. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

LESSON LEARNED At the press conference on Friday, Oct. 3, the media asked Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley what she would correct for future disasters.

"What I would say is this—Mother Nature is something that you really shouldn't play with," she said. "And so I think that we will continue to make sure that whenever we make these announcements in the future that we are just as forceful as we were last time, but, perhaps, maybe we'll make them more forceful."

Gilley continued, "We'll say maybe instead of every 30 minutes, we say every 15 minutes—we need you to evacuate, we need you to evacuate, we need you to evacuate."

Either Gilley is trying to rewrite history or merely using hyperbole. The county didn't tell the residents that they needed to evacuate every 30 minutes.

At best, it was every six to eight hours as Hurricane Sally approached our area.

The county sent out its first official Hurricane Sally update at 3:35 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14. The release specifically stated that no evacuations were ordered for Escambia County residents—"no matter the location."

Then, about 90 minutes later, the county sent another release and posted on Facebook that voluntary hurricane evacuation had been issued for Escambia County evacuation zone A—Perdido Key, Innerarity Point, Pensacola Beach and other low-lying areas. The Pensacola Bay Center would open at 8 p.m. as a hurricane risk shelter.

"Please take this notice seriously," stated the announcement. "The storm could potentially shift more to the east."

At 9 p.m., the county posted on its Facebook, "Due to #HurricaneSally, ECAT will not run service Tuesday, Sept. 15. UWF Trolley service will be suspended Tuesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 16."

No other mention was made of voluntary evacuation on Facebook or myescambia.com until the second Hurricane Sally update at 11:55 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. By

then, the Pensacola Bay, Theo Baars and Lillian Highway bridges had been closed.

The update announced the area was under a Hurricane Watch, and Gov. DeSantis had issued Executive Order 20-224 declaring a state of emergency in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The county held its first Hurricane Sally press conference at 3 p.m. The voluntary evacuation was mentioned for only the third time in the past 24 hours. However, most of the bridges had been closed. Garcon Point Bridge would be shut down before 6 p.m., which is also when Escambia County Emergency Operation Center was finally activated at a Level 1 for Hurricane Sally.

In a presser the week after the hurricane had made landfall, Commissioner Robert Bender talked about the evacuation order. When I pointed out that it was only voluntary, he told me that the sheriff's office wouldn't have enforced a mandatory evacuation order. My rebuttal was the word "mandatory" is what gets the attention of the locals. No one expects law enforcement to arrest people who ignore an evacuation order.

The truth is, Escambia County didn't tell people to evacuate every 30 minutes, but it should have. In the past, evacuations were done in stages to make sure residents had safe passage to higher ground. With Hurricane Sally, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key residents had less than 20 hours to evacuate before bridges were closed due to high winds.

If they had only seen the first hurricane update, they wouldn't have found out about the voluntary evacuation until nearly noon on Tuesday, Sept. 15, long after the bridges had been closed.

Did Gilley and her team learn a lesson? Maybe. With Tropical Storm Delta approaching as we hit our print deadline, Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore said in a press release, "We're treating this storm as if it's going to be making landfall here."

We'll see how the county reacts and communicates this time. {in} rick@inweekly.net

The truth is, Escambia County didn't tell people to evacuate every 30 minutes, but it should have.

October 8, 2020

Practicing Since 1974 INJURED? (ALL TYPES OF ACCIDENTS)

ARRESTED? (ALL FEDERAL & STATE COURTS)

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES (HEALTH-CARE FRAUD • DRUG OFFENSES & D.U.I.s)

FREE CONSULTATION ON INJURY / DEATH CASES & CRIMINAL CASES NO RECOVERY - NO FEE / COST ON PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH CASES

24 HOUR SERVICE

433-9922

304 E. GOVERNMENT STREET

724 STANLEY AVE. Rare find! Located near the shores of Bayou Texar in East Pensacola Heights.

Main house has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Attached cottage has 1 bedroom with full bath and full kitchen. Built on an 80'x100' lot.

MLS #: 564254 List Price: $365,000 Call or text Cheryl Young at 850-712-4742 to see today!

SEVILLE SQUARE REALTY, LLC Cheryl Young Licensed Real Estate Broker

308 E. Government St. • Pensacola, Florida 32502

(850) 712-4742

www.sevillesquare.net • cheryl@sevillesquare.net

Licensed in Florida & Alabama 5

CARES IN THE DARK

By Rick Outzen In June, Escambia County received $14,321,324 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act from the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Gov. Ron DeSantis last month announced an additional allocation of about $11 million of its total potential reimbursement amount of $57.3 million.

The agenda for the Escambia County Commission's regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 1, listed a "Recommendation Concerning the Escambia CARES Act Plan and Implementation" from County Administrator Janice Gilley. Citizens who tuned into the meeting online and wanted to hear the administrator's recommendations were disappointed.

After waiting over two hours for the item to be discussed, Commission Chairman Steven Barry announced the item had been covered in the morning's agenda review and would be skipped over.

The lack of transparency has been par for the course for the CARES Act. The county commission has had recommendations for the program from Gilley on its agenda for six regular meetings from Aug. 2 through Oct. 2. No background material for the six agenda items has been uploaded to the county's online. Often, the commissioners discuss the material given to them in the public meetings without displaying it on the screen to help the public follow the discussion. Inweekly has been forced to make public record requests to find out what the board has approved.

66

The result is the commissioners have given the administrator $28.7 million to spend with no input or review from the public. The lack of information has led to problems as the county has implemented its various CARES assistance programs.

HOUSING

At agenda review last week, the commissioners tried to determine why the CARES housing assistance checks hadn't been sent out. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation had given the county $813, 451 to help renters and homeowners impacted by the pandemic. The maximum assistance was $3,000 per household. The application process was shut down after four days because of the significant number of submittals.

Commissioner Robert Bender argued that had the county hired Integrity Group to handle the applications, they would have turned the applications around in 48 hours.

Commissioner Lumon May disagreed.

"Integrity could not have put anybody on the ground, "said May. "They could have taken another million dollars that we can give direct assistance to the people … It's a case management problem."

Escambia County Neighborhood Enterprise Manager Meredith Reeves told the board that she had 18 full-time and parttime people reviewing the applications.

The commissioners told her to hire more people if needed to get out the housing, family and small business assistance grants.

"The biggest delay, honestly, has been

the hurricane, because we were out of the office for a week staffing EOC," she said.

"And now, of course, we're getting calls related to people needing repairs. So we could probably use at least two or three (more) people."

Chairman Barry said, "Let's get them here today, or tomorrow, or whatever. And the board is going to support that."

Reeves said her team had completed the review of 300 housing files, about 24%.

She said, "Unfortunately, the majority of those have not been eligible in some shape, form or fashion."

The most common reason for being ineligible was not demonstrating a COVID impact.

"The money is specific, that you have to demonstrate that you've had some sort of impact due to COVID," said Reeves. "And I think people did not read the instructions.

People are desperate right now for rent and utilities. And so they're just submitting stuff that we have to review. We have to have proof because that's what our monitors are going to look at."

"The reason I was frustrated with this program—because Florida Housing Finance turned this over to Meredith to run, and because if it was simple to run, they would have operated it," said Commissioner May. "This next batch (family and individual assistance) is a lot less stringent than the first, in that we are able to get out the money."

FAMILY/INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

The family and individual assistance program received applications from Friday, Sept. 25, through Tuesday, Sept. 29. The grants are $2,000 per household.

Clara Long, the Neighborhood & Human Services Director, told the board that the county had received 9,331 applications—8,871 online and 463 paper applications. No reviews had been completed as of the Oct. 2 agenda review.

Barry asked Long, "What do we need to do to help you get this money out?"

"The applicants that I have, and the employees that I have, we can take care of what we have for the individual assistance," she replied. "I have about 15 people on my team."

"In what kind of timeline, do you think?"

Barry asked.

Long said, "At least it's going to take us about two, two and a half weeks to get everything processed and to get that approved number for you guys."

When pressed further by the chairman, Long admitted that about 10 of her team were working with Reeves on the housing applications. She said, "Those same people are going to help me once we can get a lot of her applications reviewed and try to get it processed this week."

Barry didn't want those denied housing

assistance to be left out. He got Reeves to agree to communicate with those found to be ineligible—"Look, we'll transpose your application to the individual assistance if you'll submit a 2019 tax return."

Commissioner Bender expressed concerned about having enough CARES funds for the applicants.

"We've authorized $9.5 million, but if all of these are approved, that's $18 million or more," he said. "How are you going to triage this? I mean, is it going to be first-come, firstserve? Are we going to assess and decide the eligible ones for a different disbursement?"

Commissioner Barry said, "It's typically first-come, first-served and then come tell the board she needs more money and then have the board make a decision about whether we want to put in more money."

May added, "Don't go denying people."

"Yes, absolutely," agreed Bender.

Long replied, "We're not."

"You deal with the people, and then you come back and say, 'We've spent all the money,'" said May. "There's $50 million dollars. I mean, I'm not going to support you denying citizens."

"There's $50 million dollars. I mean, I'm not going to support you denying citizens." Lumon May Another wrinkle popped up during the discussion—maybe as many as half of the applicants could be ineligible.

"There was a total of 13,639 that registered online," said Long. "However, of those, only 8,871 submitted for completion."

Pushing for clarity, Barry said, "So they submitted four documents, whatever those documents may actually be, but they submitted four.

Long said, "Yes, sir."

"And so, it's reasonable to assume, Clara, if they submitted all those documents, that you're going to have a positive rate of probably much more than 50%," said May. Long said, "Yes, sir."

On Friday, Oct. 2, Escambia County began accepting CARES Business Emergency Financial Assistance Grants applications through Tuesday, Oct. 6. The commission allocated $7.5 million of the CARES Act funding to provide grants of $7,500 for businesses with zero to 25 employees and $15,000 for companies that have 26-50 employees. The Assistance Grants will be dispersed on a first-qualified, first-served basis until funding has been exhausted.

The Board of County Commissioners will hold a Committee of the Whole at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8. Maybe we will get more information on the CARES assistance grants. Maybe. {in} inweekly.net

Survived and thrived? Be recognized today!

NOVEMBER

18 + 19

STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE

Awards

2020

Brought to you by

Application deadline Oct. 16 | EntreConPensacola.com EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award is open to all businesses that have started within the last two years and has either found a niche area to focus on, brought a fantastic new product to market, or has overcome the odds to achieve success.

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR A family-owned business that now includes, or has included, more than one generation, and whose policies and business practices have had a positive impact on the community.

MICRO-BUSINESS OF THE YEAR With fewer than 10 employees, micro businesses are vitally important contributors to the economy. Micro-business of the year has become distinguished by recognizing a business marked by its ability to flourish regardless of size and possesses a flair for spotting opportunities in its chosen niche market.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR The entrepreneur of the year has excelled and shown distinction and success in his or her enterprise thanks to creative problem-solving and business flair.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Given to a business with fewer than 50 employees that has shown resilience and fortitude in overcoming obstacles and difficulties to ensure a secure and growing success.

MEDIUM/LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award will be given to a business with 50 or more employees that has shown resilience and fortitude in overcoming obstacles and difficulties to ensure a secure and growing success.

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR Businesses can reap rewards by offering employees outstanding training programs, progression monitoring and continuous career prospects. Employers recognized in this award category inspire and motivate their staff by enabling career expansion, operating equal opportunity strategies and understanding the importance of a worklife balance.

NON-PROFIT OF THE YEAR Pensacola has many outstanding nonprofits, and this award will be given to the one that has shown their dedication to improving the quality of life in our community.

INCLUSIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award celebrates the outstanding achievements of an organization that has developed practices and policies that foster diversity and inclusion. They are able to show that their methods have led to proven results in attracting employees from diverse & underrepresented backgrounds.

MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award recognizes a minority-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement in the community.

FEMALE-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award recognizes a women-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement in the community.

VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award recognizes a veteran-owned small business that has attained outstanding business achievement in the community.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Starting a new venture under the age of 30 is a significant achievement. This award recognizes a small business owner who has successfully launched and grown their business before their 30th birthday.

SMART BUSINESS OF THE YEAR This award recognizes a business that has used advanced or cutting-edge technology to advance their business or make a difference in their industry in response to challenges due to COVID-19.

COMMUNITY RESILIENCY AWARDS We are all seeking vibrancy, and none of us need to go it alone. Benchmarking what other communities are doing and harvesting best practices helps us learn from each other. We want to hear your ideas, bright spots and success stories!

THE JOHN MYSLAK AWARD FOR SERVANT LEADERSHIP Please nominate the person you think most personifies a leader who enriches the lives of others, builds better organizations, and ultimately helps create a more just and caring world. This is what our friend and colleague John Myslak meant to us.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT

ENTRECONPENSACOLA .COM

Contact Rachael Gillette at rgillette@studeri.org or 850.748.5656 October 8, 2020

7

the MRIC. This process reduces the number of people standing in lines to mitigate against COVID.

Photo by Christopher E Zimmer / Shutterstock.com

FEMA FINALLY DELIVERS On Friday, Oct. 2, Escambia County received a FEMA Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for those who have been impacted

by Hurricane Sally. The declaration came 12 days after neighboring Alabama counties were given their declaration and allowed to apply for federal funds.

With the announcement, families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were given access to FEMA programs, including housing assistance, crisis counseling, disaster unemployment assistance, Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance, disaster legal services and case management. In their first week under the programs, Alabama residents received approval for more than $11 million from FEMA. If you have a homeowner's insurance policy, file your insurance claim immediately—before applying for federal assistance. The faster you file, the faster your recovery can begin. You can register for FEMA disaster assistance online by visiting disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800621-3362. Persons who are deaf, hard-ofhearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Multi-lingual operators are available. Lines are open daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

You will need to have the following readily available: •A current phone number where you can be contacted; •Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying; •Your Social Security number, if available; •A general list of damages and losses; and •If insured, the insurance policy number or the agent and company name.

•If you cannot return to your home, or you are unable to live in your home, visit disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY) to determine what federal, state, local or voluntary agency assistance may be available to you.

Disaster assistance may provide temporary help and a place to stay while you 88

build your own recovery plan. Although the federal government cannot make you whole, it may help your recovery move forward by providing grants for basic repairs to make your home safe, accessible and secure. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, those without insurance, or those who may be underinsured, may still receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and that do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

If referred, applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via the SBA's secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov or by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-ofhearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

FEMA CENTERS FEMA has set up Mobile

Registration Intake Centers (MRICs) to assist with registration and answer questions about disaster-assistance programs. They are open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Center locations: ESCAMBIA COUNTY •Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy •Brownsville Community Center, 3200 W. DeSoto St. •Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Rd. SANTA ROSA COUNTY •Pensacola State College, South Santa Rosa Center, 4075 Gulf Breeze Pkwy The centers operate under COVID-19 protocols to ensure visitors and FEMA personnel are safe. Distancing and face coverings are required. Individuals who come to the centers check in at a registration table, give their name and phone number, and then wait in their cars until they receive a text message to come to the FEMA staff at

WHY THE DELAY Inweekly heard from two independent sources that when FEMA inspectors traveled with Escambia and Santa Rosa staff to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Sally that the FEMA reps bullied the locals to downgrade the damage seen.

Homes without rooms, exposed water lines and other damages were repeatedly reported as only being minor.

This explains why residents were begged to send in photos and narratives.

The information was needed to counter the FEMA's low-ball assessments that have muddied the waters for our Individual Assistance declaration.

The newspaper was told that FEMA is "tapped out" because of COVID-19 and other disasters this year. The agency sent very few representatives and blamed COVID for the lack of boots on the ground in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The FEMA inspectors that showed up weren't keen on the counties receiving assistance dollars for families.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management worked with officials in both counties to help get the relief. When the Individual Assistance was approved, Congressman Matt Gaetz took to Twitter, "While the Pensacola Fake News Journal was stirring up resentment and falsity, I was working with Gov. DeSantis and President Trump to secure Individual Assistance for every coastal county in my district."

RAPID TESTING On Monday, Oct. 5,

Community Health Northwest Florida and Ascension Sacred Heart began to offer rapid COVID-19 testing to Escambia County residents—more than a month after the Escambia County Commission approved using CARES Act funds for the testing.

The Abbott test is a molecular nasal swab that detects COVID-19 in 15 minutes or less. Initially, rapid COVID-19 testing will be available by appointment only to Escambia County residents who are experiencing active COVID-19 symptoms.

All patients are required to be prescreened by calling the Ascension Sacred Heart COVID-19 Call Center at 746-2684.

Rapid COVID-19 testing is open to Escambia County residents who meet the prescreening criteria, both adults and children three months of age and older. Call Center personnel will schedule appointments at the most convenient testing site for the patient.

Testing is provided at no cost to patients.

RENTERS BEWARE Pointing to a move by the federal government to halt evictions,

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday let expire an executive order aimed at limiting evictions and foreclosures. DeSantis on Aug. 31 approved a one-month extension of an order to prevent foreclosures and evictions involving residents "adversely" affected by COVID-19. That order made clear foreclosures and evictions could move forward in circumstances unrelated to the pandemic, such as for non-payment of rent.

But on Sept. 4, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order to halt evictions through the end of the year "to prevent the further spread of COVID-19." Under the order, renters only have to sign a document provided by the CDC and give it to their landlords.

In a memo, DeSantis said he was allowing his executive order to expire to avoid confusion.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently enacted a nationwide residential evictions order that provides federal eviction relief to persons who submit a valid declaration to their landlord regarding their inability to pay rent," the DeSantis memo said. "Executive Order 20-211 pertaining to the state's mortgage foreclosure and eviction relief was permitted to expire to avoid any confusion over whether the CDC's evictions order should apply in a particular circumstance."

The CDC moratorium has been challenged in court by the New Civil Liberties Alliance and the National Apartment Association, which believe the CDC doesn't have the authority to issue it because it preempts state laws designed to protect landlords from delinquent tenants.

Housing advocates had urged DeSantis to extend the state's moratorium in case the CDC order is not upheld.

In Escambia County, the county commission approved a CARES Act housing assistance program to help residents with past due rent and mortgage payments in early September. Unfortunately, applicants were still waiting for their checks on Oct. 1 due to case management needed to verify submissions.

SEPTEMBER COVID STATS For the month of September, Escambia County conducted 26,098 COVID-19 tests of Florida residents, of which 1024 came back positive, giving the county a positivity rate of 3.9% for the month. The tests were down 4,863 from August and were the fewest since June. The positivity rate dropped 6.7 points since August—the monthly rate since March. Escambia County had 49 deaths, 73 hospitalizations and 77 nursing home cases in September, each the lowest since June.

OLF8 MASTER PLAN Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 13, the planning firm DPZ will lead a series of online community meetings to gather input and ideas on the future develinweekly.net

opment of OLF-8, a 500-acre site that was once was a landing field and located in the Beulah area.

"For the next 10 days, we will be asking the citizens to share their feedback, suggestions, and ideas with us as we refine those scenarios," Marina Khoury, partner with DPZ, said. "This allows the community to see their input and feedback implemented and incorporated into the plan, almost in real-time."

For those who would like to participate, there will be 10 different events that you will be able to check into virtually. Five will be small group meetings where topics such as transportation and infrastructure, marketability and jobs, and community needs will be addressed.

Three larger evening presentations will update the community on the data and analysis gathered during the project, share initial, intermediate and final design scenarios, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option. Each of these evening presentations will build on the previous presentations, showing the progress and input collected from the public during the process.

In addition, walkability expert Jeff Speck will present two special seminars on the broader concepts of walkability and master planning. Information about all of these sessions, and ways to participate, can be found at myolf8.com. Citizens wishing to participate who do not have internet access should contact OLF-8 Project Manager Terri Berry at 595-3421. Accommodations will be made.

STORM DRAIN MURAL PROJECT The Downtown Improvement Board and Dixon School of Arts & Sciences partnered on the Pensacola Storm Drain Mural Project, which was inspired by similar projects in other cities. Dixon scholars created colorful, small-scale outdoor murals on seven storm drains located in Jefferson Alley.

"Our Dixon scholars are 'artivists'—they

not only express themselves creatively but also feel it's important to bring awareness to environmental issues that we face today," said Lisa Puzon, Dixon art director. Dixon School of Arts & Sciences aims to provide creative experiences for its scholars.

The Downtown Improvement Board regarded the project as the opportunity to draw attention to the importance of protecting local waterways and the environment in a creative way.

Walker Wilson, DIB executive director, said, "Our hope is that this project will inspire other neighborhoods and districts to launch similar projects in partnership with schools and organizations."

UWF & PEACE CORPS The University

of West Florida and Peace Corps have announced a new partnership centered on an undergraduate certificate program called Peace Corps Prep. Scheduled to launch in January 2021, the Peace Corps Prep program will combine targeted coursework with hands-on experience, building the competencies needed for students to be strong Peace Corps volunteers or other intercultural fieldworkers. UWF is one of seven new university partnerships.

Peace Corps Prep is a certificate program that teaches students sector-specific skills, foreign language proficiency, intercultural competence and leadership. While having a Peace Corps Prep certificate does not guarantee acceptance into the Peace Corps, enrolling in the program will help students be more competitive.

"Students today are passionate about service and leaving their mark on the world," Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen said.

"Through the Peace Corps Prep program at the University of West Florida, students can develop skills specifically targeted to Peace Corps service and careers in the international development and service communities."

Peace Corps Prep will be structured as an interdisciplinary certificate program

housed in the Office of International Affairs. Students will learn about leadership, intercultural competence, foreign language and a professional sector of their choice such as education, health or the environment. These skills give them a competitive edge when applying for Peace Corps service and can be built upon and marketed throughout their careers.

There are more than 140 Peace Corps Prep partner institutions across the country. Established in 2007, the program aims to meet the demand for Peace Corps volunteers with broad and relevant areas of expertise and to support schools' efforts to provide substantive, globally focused experiences for their students.

"Peace Corps Prep is a wonderful opportunity for all undergraduate students to develop competencies that will fortify their aspirations to serve abroad," said La'Teashia Sykes, Peace Corps director of University Programs. "A special thanks to all of our partnering institutions for cultivating students' interest in Peace Corps service."

For more information about the Peace Corps Prep program at the University of West Florida, visit uwf.edu/peacecorps.

FLU SHOTS FOR VETS The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System's (GCVHCS) Joint Ambulatory Care Center (JACC), located at 790 Veterans Way, is hosting a free ongoing Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic for veterans every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Drive-Thru Flu Vaccine Clinic is designed to minimize physical contact throughout the influenza immunization process. Veterans will be able to show their Veterans Health Identification Card to Mobile CBOC medical professionals, fill out the appropriate paperwork and receive the proper vaccination.

In the case of inclement weather, Veterans may park and come into the building to receive the flu shot in the Release of

Information waiting area. Pneumonia vaccinations will also available.

"These drive-thru clinics can help us continue protecting the Veterans we serve," said Vernon Stewart, GCVHCS Chief of Community and Public Affairs. "By minimizing the time these veterans are in contact with other individuals at the facility, the chances of airborne disease transmission is lessened, and this convenient and safe method of getting veterans this necessary vaccination will alleviate waiting times veterans could experience at in-person clinics."

Research shows that influenza vaccinations have historically prevented individuals from getting sick with the flu and can reduce the risk of hospitalization. Additionally, individuals with health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are strongly encouraged to get a vaccination.

The Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System has planned Drive-Through Flu Clinics at each of its facilities. Veterans are asked to bring their Veterans Health Identification Card and wear a short-sleeve shirt to receive their flu shot.

ADA WEB Broaden your perspective and learn how to embrace the culture of universal digital access without fear. Join Florida SBDC online Thursday, Oct. 15, from 9-10 a.m. to learn how digital accessibility affects websites, digital documents, social media, kiosks and more.

They will address communication transparency, best practices, remediation options, conformance vs. compliance, reasonable accommodation, community building, mitigating risk, procurement processes and future proofing. This session will provide time for discussion during and after the presentation. A link for joining this no-cost webinar will be sent to those who register 24 hours before it begins. Register for this online event at sbdc.uwf.edu under "Training & Events." Presented by Jay Massey, CMO, Hixardt Technologies, Inc. {in}

Have You Lost More than 10% in the Stock Market?

YOU MAY HAVE CONCENTRATION IN

ENERGY

TRANSPORTATION

FINANCE

HOSPITALITY

850.435.7000 | LEVINLAW.COM | PENSACOLA, FL

PETER J. MOUGEY | Recovered $250 Million on Behalf of over 3,000 Investors | Call Us For A Free Consultation

October 8, 2020

9

RISTORANTE .. ITALIANO

PRIME RIB TUESDAYS Slow-roasted 16oz. cut

SUPER TUSCAN TUESDAYS

of boneless prime rib

Dine in or take out any

of beef with baked

pizza and a bottle of

potato and seasonal

Super Tuscan red

vegetables for $19.95.

wine for $25.

Every Tuesday beginning

Every Tuesday

at 5:00 p.m.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL

850-469-9898 400 South Palafox St.

JACKSONSRESTAU RANT.COM

beginning at 5 p.m.

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL

850-542-8398

101 East lntendencia

St.

ANGE LE NASPE NSACO LA.COM

This face was once masked by pain.

Now, it’s a face that sees the light.

We are a non-profit, faith-centered ministry offering food, addiction recovery services, housing, spiritual guidance and more to Escambia County’s most vulnerable and under-resourced residents.

850.912.8383 • BrightBridgeMinistries.org

010 1

inweekly.net

CANDIDATE INTROS We're less than a month away from Election Day. Mail-in ballots are coming in, and early voting starts in just over a week. As the presidential and federal legislative races barrel toward the polls, it's time to consider the candidates closest to home.

This week, we have Part 2 of our Candidate Intros, focusing on local races. We've covered the basics—professional and political experience—plus where you can find more information on each candidate, if a website was available at time of publishing.

The Escambia County Supervisor of Elections has a database available on escambiavotes.gov/candidate-list, where you can find financial statements and candidates can include a written statement. Where it's listed "statement available," you can click on their name to read their statement.

We doubly encourage you to reach out to these candidates if you're left with questions on the details of their experience or platform. If the candidate is an incumbent, check out the municipal website for the office they serve to see results from their service so far.

As a note, we've not included any races that were decided during primaries or where the candidate is running unopposed.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT AND COMPTROLLER

PAMELA LYNN CHILDERS Political party: Republican Professional experience: Certified Public Accountant Political tenure: Clerk and Comptroller for Escambia County, 7 years Statement available: Yes CHASE ANDERSON "ANDY" ROMAGNANO Political party: Write-In Professional experience: Business administration Political tenure: None Statement available: Yes

TAX COLLECTOR

SHERIFF

DAVID ALEXANDER III Political party: Democrat Professional experience: Law enforcement Political tenure: City of Pensacola, Chief of Police, 2 years Statement available: No Platform information: davidalexanderforsheriff.com CHIP SIMMONS Political party: Republican Professional experience: Law enforcement Political tenure: City of Pensacola, Chief of Police, 5 years Statement available: Yes Platform information: chipsimmonsforsheriff.com

COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 3

JASON LAIRD Political party: Write-in Professional experience: Not available Political tenure: None LUMON MAY Political party: Democrat Professional experience: Residential construction Political tenure: Escambia County Commissioner, District 1, 8 years Platform information: lumonmay.com

COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 5

STEVEN BARRY Political party: Republican Professional experience: Certified Financial Planner Political tenure: Escambia County Commission, District 5, 8 years

SCHOOL BOARD, DISTRICT 5 BILL SLAYTON Professional experience: Educator Political tenure: Escambia County School Board, 12 years

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

SCOTT LUNSFORD Political party: Republican Professional experience: Public service Political tenure: Escambia County Tax Collector, 3 years Statement available: Yes Platform information: votescottlunsford.com

EMERALD COAST UTILITIES AUTHORITY, DISTRICT 3

WENDY RICH Political party: No party affiliation Professional experience: Business management Political tenure: None Statement available: No Platform information: electwendyrich.com

JOHN R. JOHNSON Political party: No party affiliated Professional experience: Gardener/landscaper Political tenure: None

October 8, 2020

CALVIN AVANT Political party: No party affiliation Professional experience: Human relations Political tenure: None Platform information: voteavant.today

PUESCHEL SCHNEIER Political party: Republican

PART 2: LOCAL RACES

Professional experience: Realtor Political tenure: None Platform information: pueschelforecua.com LARRY WILLIAMS Political party: Democrat Professional experience: Navy veteran Political tenure: None Platform information: facebook.com/electlarrywilliams

CITY OF PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 1

JENNIFER BRAHIER Professional experience: Professor Political tenure: None Statement available: Yes Platform information: brahiercares.com P.C. WU Professional experience: Professor Political tenure: City of Pensacola City Council, 16 years Statement available: Yes Platform information: pcwu.org/home

CITY OF PENSACOLA CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 5 TONI "TENIADE" BROUGHTON Professional experience: Historical researcher Political tenure: None Statement available: Yes Platform information: teniade.com

RON HELMS Professional experience: Navy veteran, minister Political tenure: None Statement available: Yes Platform information: helmsforpensacola.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ESCAMBIA COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS: escambiavotes.gov/ candidate-list *Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused.

Got questions? Send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram, @pensacolavotes.

GENERAL ELECTION DATES TO REMEMBER OCT. 24 Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline OCT. 24-31 Early Voting NOV. 3 Election Day

For Your Specialty

Eye Care Needs!

• Color and Bifocal Contact Lenses • True Tear Dry Eye Treatments & Lipiflow Dry Eye Treatments • Eyelash Lengthening • Luxury & Exclusive Eyeglasses & Sunglasses

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

Pensacola

(850) 434-2060 11

Fall into Great Flavors at

Cooler weather brings out the spice of life.

FALL SPICE LATTÉ With a blend of fall spices, white mocha and espresso, our Fall Spice Latte is simply everything you love about Autumn. Try it hot, iced or frozen, available at all Bodacious locations!

Learn to make these fabulous Fall dishes at one of our upcoming cooking classes.

OCT 14 Harry Potter Inspired Cooking Class OCT 19 Cast Iron Filet & Shrimp OCT 21 Ladies Night Charcuterie Oct 24 Victorian Vampire Wine Dinner Oct 26 Cast Iron Ribeye & Crab Cake

LEEK FUSED OLIVE OIL

Our new Leek-fused olive oil is the perfect finishing touch to your favorite Fall dishes. This all-natural extra virgin olive oil is produced by crushing olives and leeks together in the same press with no added essences. Fresh and vibrant, this olive oil tastes great!

Oct 28 Brulé & Flambé Oct 30 LUNCH & LEARN Lobster Risotto & Seasonal Veggies Visit BodaciousShops.com to learn more and register.

GIFT BASKETS Holiday planning is at full swing at Bodacious!

We’ve put together fun and thoughtful baskets to take the guesswork out of this year’s gift-giving.

~ THE BODACIOUS ~

~ CLASSIC VINAIGRETTE SET ~

~ POPCORN LOVERS ~

S H O P I N - S T O R E O R O N L I N E | 4 0 7 S O U T H PA L A F OX S T R E E T | B O D A C I O U S S H O P S . C O M

212 1

inweekly.net

What's happening virtually and not happening (yet) with some signature local events

By Savannah Evanoff

Glass pumpkin by Strong Street Studio / Courtesy Photo

Cancel culture took on a new meaning this year with the coronavirus outbreak.

What started with a canceled spring break turned into canceled spring weddings, sports seasons, summer vacations and now fall festivals and events.

It's hard to imagine fall in Pensacola without staple events like the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival or the Greek Festival.

But we are grateful to organizers for prioritizing public safety and are confident that missing a year will only make the baklava taste better in 2021.

Rather than abandon Inweekly's annual Fall Festival Issue, we decided to still recognize the same gatherings we look forward to every year—but in a new way.

We asked the organizers of some of our favorite festivals and events about not only October 8, 2020

what they will miss most this year but also what they are still looking forward to for their organizations and how people can still get involved.

SAFETY FIRST

Easily one of the most missed—and biggest—area fall events is the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival. The decision to cancel this years' event was not made lightly—it involved two board meetings' worth of discussion, said festival president Eileen Perrigo.

Since the festival was established in 1973, it has only been canceled once—in 2004 when Hurricane Ivan devastated the Pensacola area.

"We were concerned about the health and safety of arts patrons, artists, volunteers, sponsors, vendors and festival

participants," Perrigo said. "We also considered the extra work required for the festival, and we did not have available volunteers and committee members who felt comfortable working the event this year. Also, it would be difficult to limit the number of people attending, enforce wearing masks and social distancing or taking temperatures of festival patrons."

For these reasons, they canceled the threeday free outdoor event organized by volunteers.

The festival also gives back to the community, awarding $500 scholarships to 12 arts students at Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida, as well as monetary grants to local nonprofits and cash awards for artists in the juried Fine Arts Show.

The event also incorporates a Children's Art Festival, a Student Art Show for public

school children and a Very Special Arts Day reserved for special needs children.

"GGAF is a total community-involved event, which includes volunteers from the Navy base to the local sponsors and food vendors to local musicians, dancers, artists and students who participate," Perrigo said.

GGAF arts patrons contributed an estimated $15,295,529 to the Northwest Florida economy in 2019, according to the Majority Opinion Research survey.

"Canceling the festival is a great loss to the entire community," Perrigo said.

But it's about so much more than money—it's about joy.

"The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival brings a lot of smiles and happiness to all who attend," Perrigo said. "People plan vacations and get-togethers around the festival. At13

tendees have access to artists, musicians and performers all in one place in beautiful outdoor parks in downtown Pensacola."

The community can still support past artists, though. Interested patrons can go to ggaf.org and click on the 2019 Artists Directory to see all of the artists who participated in the 2019 fine arts show. Potential sponsors and volunteers for next year can also find information on the site.

The 49th annual Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is planned to return on its normal weekend next year—Nov. 5, 6 and 7, 2021.

RESILIENCE

Foo Foo Festival is a 12-day celebration featuring many events united under one name.

Maria Goldberg, the festival chair, and Nicole Stacey, the festival curator, explained how the ACE board (which governs the festival) had to decide whether to cross out such a big chunk of Pensacola's November cultural calendar.

"We were all of the opinion we wanted to put things on hold," Goldberg said. "It's a really hard thing to do because Foo Foo has gained so much momentum. It's really turned into a signature event for our community. People look forward to it every year. It also gives a chance for our arts and culture organizations to shine—they love that. Not only do they shine; they shine for locals and for visitors."

"It was a very hard decision, but it was one we all still feel good about," added Stacey. "We would never want to put anyone in jeopardy."

All of the participants were on the same page about canceling, Goldberg said.

and attending their virtual events. Stacey recommends checking Visit Pensacola's calendar of events for updates.

A VIRTUAL PATCH

A smaller, but equally beloved, fall event isn't actually canceled—it evolved.

The Strong Street Studio Pumpkin Party—an event centered around handcrafted glass pumpkins—is happening entirely virtually this year. On Oct. 17 and 31 and Nov. 14, new pumpkin inventory will be available for purchase online at strongstreetstudioglass.com.

Scott Novota, the owner, said that for years, people have asked them to ship and do something online. "We've just always had the in-person party at the shop," Novota said. "It's gotten bigger every year, and we enjoy it quite a bit. This year, with COVID and everything, it didn't make sense to have that many people congregating in one spot. The online thing seemed like the perfect solution."

But Novota knows people will miss the social interaction because he will too.

That's the hardest part about doing the sale online.

"We see a lot of the same people year after year, and we really enjoy interacting with them and hearing their stories and them hearing ours," Novota said. "If we didn't enjoy doing it, we wouldn't do it."

The whole thing started with a foundation of fun, Novota said.

"My whole family's involved," Novota said. "Basically, all my friends are involved—friends I've made through the Pumpkin Party. It started off as coming to get pumpkins and turned into lifelong friends that still come by to this day, drop by to hang out. In this weird way, it's become an extended family."

"We've gone through hurricanes, oil spills and now a pandemic.

There's not a playbook for it."

STAYING ENGAGED Gallery Night Pensacola made the diffiMaria Goldberg "Pensacola, our community, is resilient," Goldberg said. "We've gone through hurricanes, oil spills and now a pandemic. There's not a playbook for it. But we're resilient and we're a tight-knit community, and we all work together for the greater good."

The festival is not a festival without the arts organizations, Goldberg said. There are a handful of ways to support them, she said, citing First City Art Center's annual pumpkin patch happening Oct. 12 at Community Maritime Park, Pensacola Opera's Sundays on the Mezzanine and Pensacola Little Theatre's upcoming performances.

"All of them are doing stuff because that's what they do," Goldberg said. "Like all of us, the arts organizations aren't saying, 'This is going to get us down.' They're saying, 'We're going to be strong, readjust and continue to do programming.'"

"While they might look different, (events) are starting to come back," Stacey said.

While canceling the festival is disappointing, Goldberg sees it as an opportunity to directly support the arts organizations by donating, following their social media 414 1

cult decision to cancel its March event only one week prior to the event, said Michael Conrad, the secretary. The organization reacted quickly, organizing a virtual event on its original dates, featuring dance performances, artists, vendors and more.

It continues to have an online presence on its site and social media.

"I think most Gallery Night attendees miss the sense of community that they feel when they walk through our beautiful city on one of the top 10 streets in the country," Conrad said. "Friends meet friends and see long-lost relationships and catch up. New people to the city enjoy an event that immediately allows them to be connected."

The themes of canceled nights are a glimpse of what fun people missed out on—Dancin' in the Streets, Gallery Night 5k, Throwback to the '80s and Halloween Carnival. Conrad hopes to offer even better themes in 2021.

"More than what our event brings in a normal month, I think it's important to think symbolically what the return of an event as large and fun as ours would mean—a return to a sense of normalcy,"

Conrad said. "When it's safe enough to have Gallery Night, participants will feel that it is safe enough for our city to get back to doing what it does best—being the most unique city in all of Florida."

Despite Gallery Night being put on pause, the board of directors continues to meet with an optimistic eye on the future, Conrad said. Because the organization is not operating its events, it has virtually no expenses, he added.

"We have enough money reserved in the bank to spring into action as soon as we are given the green light," Conrad said. "We are using our off time to think of new themed nights and ways to include a wide spectrum of people in our community. Our goal has always been to expand the event by providing a diverse, artistic experience that is free to the public for the benefit of all downtown."

"We are using our off time to think of new themed nights and ways to include a wide spectrum of people in our community."

Michael Conrad Gallery Night is vital to the well-being and soul of the city, Conrad said. It is proud to welcome 10,000 participants monthly and partner with organizations such as First City Art Center and Visit Pensacola.

"The event provides a platform for the arts to be displayed in all of their forms, including visual art, performing art and musical performances," Conrad said. "In February, we featured more than 50 local artists displaying their unique creations on the streets, providing them a way to support themselves as artists. Most importantly, Gallery Night elevates the feeling of Pensacola embracing the arts, which in turn helps to retain young people in our city, recruit new people to the area and generate a 'cool vibe' for Pensacola."

Gallery Night remains active on social media, coordinating virtual artist talks in which artists will discuss the artistic process, give tours of their at-home studios and share what it means to be an artist in Northwest Florida.

"Our first of such artist talks will be with local artist Dylan Nadsady, but we are also discussing intertwining these artists talks with local muralists and those who helped paint the Black Lives Matter mural on A Street," Conrad said.

The organization also invites people to volunteer for future events and share theme ideas for future events that have cultural and educational benefits via gallerynightpensacola.org or its social media pages.

THE FUTURE

Another monthly event that's been on pause since the spring is Bike Pensacola's popular Slow Rides. Executive Director Christian Wagley said the group has had to cancel its signature community bike ride for the past seven months. He doesn't expect to host it again until 2021.

The organization misses its friends and supporters, Wagley said, and the ride itself.

"The Slow Ride is the one chance each month for locals to ride together safely in a group, through neighborhoods that are safe and pleasant for cycling," Wagley said.

"It's the fellowship that really makes the rides great, getting to know fellow riders and experiencing neighborhoods where people often come out to wave to us and welcome us."

For Bike Pensacola, the Slow Rides are also a chance to educate riders about the infrastructure changes needed to make the community safer and more pleasant for walking and cycling.

"I think that people miss the chance to be able to ride safely in a group," Wagley said.

"Unfortunately, many people live in suburban neighborhoods built around cars, and these places are not pleasant for bicycling."

The organization, though, doesn't want people to quit their passion for cycling altogether.

Maps of former Slow Ride routes are posted to its Facebook page, encouraging people to get out and ride them on their own and with friends. They also hope to offer small group rides with physical distancing in the months ahead to ease back into full Slow Rides when the time is right, Wagley said.

"With the cooler fall and winter weather coming, we hope that riders will get back out there on their own and ride," Wagley said. "We will be offering some virtual educational sessions on how to rig a bicycle for commuting, complete streets and other topics of interest to cyclists."

For extra passionate cyclists, Bike Pensacola needs advocates. They are searching for volunteers to attend public meetings and help push for safer and better streets.

Those interested should watch its Facebook page for upcoming opportunities.

"The bicycle is the most efficient form of transportation the world has ever known, and we need to build the future of our community around less driving and more walking and cycling," Wagley said.

"Our greatest hope is that more people will be able to start replacing car trips with bike trips, truly opening up to better health for people and the planet." {in}

STAY UP TO DATE with these featured events: Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival ggaf.org Foo Foo Festival foofoofest.com Strong Street Studio strongstreetstudioglass.com Gallery Night gallerynightpensacola.org Bike Pensacola bikepensacola.org inweekly.net

THANK YOU INWEEKLY FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS

WWW.PENSACOLAOPERA.COM October 8, 2020

15

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.

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS DOGGY BATHE-IN AT PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY The next bath-in

is Saturday, Oct. 17. from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Pensacola Humane Society, located at 5 N. Q St. Get a low-cost bath, flea dip and nail trim for your pooch. Monies raised from the Oct. 17 bathe-in will help purchase large dog crates and cat carriers for animals going into foster care. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

PENSACON PARTNERS WITH WEEKEND BACKPACK FOOD PROGRAM

Pensacon is partnering with Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church to help feed children in need who attend O.J. Semmes Elementary School in the new school year.

Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8, Pensacon will be giving away passes to its 2021 event, scheduled for Feb. 26-28, to donors to Saint Christopher's Weekend Backpack Food program. The convention will award a pair of VIP Experience passes to one donor in September and a pair of weekend passes to one donor per month starting in October and running through February.

A donation of just $135 can fill a backpack for one child for nine months, which covers the entire school year. All those who donate any amount of food or money each month will be entered into the monthly drawings. A collection table will be set up at the church, 3200 N. 12th Ave, on the Memorial Garden patio (in the front on the right) during regular business hours, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Additionally, a donation box is set up behind the church seven days a week.

For more information on St. Christopher's Episcopal Church and the Weekend Backpack Food program, visit scpen.org.

For more information on Pensacon, visit pensacon.com.

PENSACOLA OSTEOPATHS HOSTS IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRY Pensacola

Osteopaths' in-clinic food pantry is open and available any time that the clinic is

open, which is typically Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., for both patients and members of the community who are concerned about hunger and income during the COVID-19 crisis.

Anyone is welcome for as long as there is food available—no questions asked.

"As a doctor, I cannot ensure good health outcomes when my patients are hungry or when they're worried about their kids going hungry," said Dr. Alexys Hillman.

"I've never been the type to stand by, see a situation and not take action. If there's something I can do to help, I'm going to do it, and in this case, an in-clinic food pantry helps a lot of people."

Pensacola Osteopaths is located 14 W. Jordan St., Ste. C. Donations to the food pantry are accepted. For more information, call 368-7528.

ARTS + CULTURE

HISTORIC PENSACOLA REOPENS AFTER HURRICANE SALLY Historic

Pensacola Village's Museum of Industry, Julee Cottage, Barrios Cottage and Old Christ Church are now open. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Timed tickets are available at historicpensacola.org.

PMA NEW EXHIBIT Pensacola Museum

of Art's latest exhibit is "Bring Me the Head of Osceola // There is More to Remember" from AnArchivist Sean Linezo. The exhibit interrogates the historical narratives of Osceola's death and explores representations of the famous Seminole leader in visual and popular culture. The exhibition is part of a larger initiative by the artist to make space for the representation of Native Americans in Florida history. The exhibition will be on view in the PMA Stairwell Gallery until Dec. 6. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

PLT PRESENTS: STEEL MAGNOLIAS

The Pensacola Little Theatre presents "Steel Magnolias" Oct. 9-25.

Live performance dates and streaming options will be available. Watch website for details at pensacolalittletheatre.com. There will be limiting seating in the theatre, and masks will be required at live performances.

Tickets are available online and by calling the Box Office at 432-2042.

DEBATE PARTY AT DOLCE AND GELATO Commiserate, celebrate or drown it

all out with a beer as you watch the second presidential debate at Dolce and Gelato, 2050 N. 12th Ave., 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Dress as your favorite (or least favorite) politician.

Prizes for best outfit. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola.

GALLERY NIGHT PENSACOLA PRESENTS: ARTIST TALKS Join Gallery Night

Director Sydney Robinson as she interviews Pensacola area artists about their creative process. The Artist Talks series is a biweekly virtual event available on Facebook Live. Join in by visiting facebook.com/ gallerynightpensacola.

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. 17 and 31 and Nov. 14. For more information, visit strongstreetstudioglass.com.

HOCUS POCUS AT THE REX THEATRE

Pensacola Cinema Art and Generation Church will present "Hocus Pocus" Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at The Rex Theatre, 18 N. Palafox. Admission is $5 (cash-only suggested donation). All tickets will be sold at the door.

(Doors open at 6 p.m.) Masks are required; social distancing will be in place with 50% maximum seating capacity. For more information, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

ALYSSA'S ANTIQUE'S PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST Alyssa's An-

tiques Inaugural Pumpkin Decorating contest is now open to anyone. Your $10 registration fee goes to a good cause, with 100% of profits benefiting your selected charities and winners picking their choice of nonprofit organizations. Voting will be $1 for each ballot.

The pumpkins cannot be carved. The decorations will need to be all done on the exterior of the pumpkin. Any theme is open.

However, any pumpkin deemed inappropriate will not be accepted. The deadline for dropping off completed pumpkins at Alyssa's is Friday, Oct. 9. Public voting both online and in store will be Oct.10-26. The winner will be announced on Oct. 27. For more information, visit shopalyssas.com.

BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND NEW SEASON Ballet

Pensacola's 2020-2021 season kicks off in October with the virtual performance of "Unhinge the Wind" premiering Oct. 9. The performance will be live streamed online Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18. For more information, and to see the entire season lineup, visit balletpensacola.org.

FIRST CITY ART CENTER'S 14TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH AT WAHOOS STADIUM For the first year ever, First City

Art Center is hosting their largest annual fundraising event at a new location—the Blue Wahoos Stadium, 351 W. Cedar St. The change in venue allows for more outdoor space, more social-distancing capabilities and more available parking.

First City Art Center's Pumpkin Patch is 2-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The event supports FCAC as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit center for the arts, offering affordable education and outreach programs. Pumpkin purchases also help to support over 40 local artists. The event features thousands of one-of-a kind handmade glass and ceramic pumpkins from over 40 individual local artists starting at $20.

For more information, visit firstcityart.org.

SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-

noon through August, enjoy a movie pick from the Choral Society of Pensacola. Information on each week's movie and where to find it online will be available on their Facebook page, facebook.com/choralsocietyofpensacola. Some can be viewed free; most are available for rent for under $5. Watch the movie over the weekend, and then join the Choral Society Monday evenings for a Zoom session to share your thoughts.

LIVE MUSIC

JAZZ JAM RETURNS Jazz Jam returns Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Stock Market Losses?

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

11 East Romana Street | Pensacola, Fl 32502

genemitchell.org

616 1

inweekly.net

a&e happenings at The 5 Barrel Brewery & Taproom, 121 S. Palafox. The cost is free to participating musicians, including high school and college students with ID and military in uniform, $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and guests and $12 for non-members. For more information, visit jazzpensacola.com.

plete the race. To register for the Onward and Upward Virtual Race, visit navalaviationfoundation.org/virtualrace, or contact the Museum Foundation for more information at namfoffice@navalaviationmuseum.org.

PENSACOLA OPERA AL FRESCO CONCERT SERIES Enjoy fresh air and

race. The race starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Maritime park. Then you will head through North Hill community just before you head over the Bayou Chico bridge, capturing marina views of both Bayou Chico and Pensacola Bay. The course will take you to Pensacola's downtown Historic District before returning you back to Maritime Park. To register, visit runsignup.com/race/ fl/pensacola/pensacolahalfmarathon5k.

free performances from Pensacola Opera artists every Saturday (weather permitting). All performances begin at 5:30 p.m. with the first one on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Seville Square. Visit pensacolaopera.com for more information.

Next dates are: •Oct.17 at Bryan Park •Oct. 24 at Magee Field

PENSACOLA HALF MARATHON AND 5K Start your Sunday with a real, in-person

OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

DARK MOON DREAMING MEDITATION & PRACTICE Enjoy a guided

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing

WISE WOMAN WELLNESS RETREAT

Gallery is open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays for open jam with Pensacola Folk Music Society. Feel free to visit and listen to music. Artel Gallery is located at 223 S. Palafox.

your heart out Sundays at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, or just enjoy drinks friends with $4 Smirnoff and $6.50 domestic pitcher drink deals from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/mugsjugs.

LIVE MUSIC AT HUB STACEY'S Sit back with good food and live music at Hub Stacey's, located at 312 E. Government St. For a full calendar of bands, check hubstaceys.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues

Hosted by Marni Alisha of Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, the Wise Woman Wellness Retreat is an all-inclusive camping experience with activities such as nia under the stars, yoga by the water, meditation and more. The retreat is Oct. 16-18 at Bear Lake Park. Cost is $333. For more information, visit asherandbee.com.

FITNESS + RECREATION

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-

October 8, 2020

10/9-25/2020 steel magnolias is producedby special arrangement with dramatist play service inc.

RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mondays,

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

Aviation Museum Foundation will host their first virtual race experience this fall. The Onward & Upward Virtual Race registration portal opens on Oct. 1. The virtual race will take place Oct. 1-31. The race is open to participants of all ages. Participants can register online for the 1 mile, 5K or 10K distance for a $35 registration fee. All participants will receive an iconic medal featuring an F-14 Tomcat launching from USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the aircraft.

Part of every registration supports the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. The foundation is encouraging participants nationwide to use #OnwardUpward and @navalaviationmuseum on social media to share photos, running courses and stories of participation as well as those being honored.

A virtual race allows participants to choose the distance, time and place to com-

directed By kathy Holsworth

meditation to bring in the New Moon of October at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, at Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House, 3014 N. Ninth Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/asherandbee.

Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online. Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave, Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.

NAVAL AVIATION MUSEUM FOUNDATION VIRTUAL RACE The Naval

By Robert Harling

days at 6 p.m., join Pensacola Runners Association for a 5K fun run. Enjoy a free beer after the run and complimentary games such as cornhole, ping pong and more. Gulf Coast Brewery is located at 500 E. Heinberg St. For more information, visit facebook.com/gulfcoastbrewery.

MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH

Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation. All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow. For more information, visit facebook.com/empathicpractice. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF OCTOBER 8 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "A per-

son’s best ally is someone who takes care of herself," says actress Susan Clark. I heartily agree. The people with whom you can cultivate the most resilient bonds and most interesting synergy are those who have a high degree of self-sufficiency—those who take rigorous responsibility for themselves and treat themselves with tender compassion. In the coming weeks, Aries, I think it's especially important for you to emphasize relationships with allies who fit that description. Bonus!

Their exemplary self-care will influence you to vigorously attend to your own self-care.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): According to my reading of the astrological potentials, the coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to take a “vacation in reverse.”

What's that? It's when you devote yourself to renewing and reinvigorating your relationship with the work you love. You intensify your excitement for the vocation or job or long-term quest that teaches you important life lessons. You apply yourself with sublime enthusiasm to honing the discipline you need to fulfill the assignments you came to earth to accomplish.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): "If you are

not having fun you are doing something wrong," said comedian Groucho Marx.

He was exaggerating so as to drive home his humorous point, but his idea contains some truth—and will be especially applicable to you in the immediate future.

According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you have a temporary exemption from feeling frantically dour and unpleasantly dutiful. As crazy as the world is right now, you have a cosmic mandate to enjoy more playtime and amusement than usual.

The rest of us are depending on you to provide us with doses of casual cheer.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "Leave the

door open for the unknown, the door into the dark," writes Cancerian author Rebecca Solnit, adding, "That’s where the most important things come from." I think this is good advice for you in the coming weeks. What exactly

By Rob Brezsny

does it mean? How and why should you do what she advises? My first suggestion is to reframe your conception of the unknown and the dark. Imagine them as the source of everything new; as the place from which the future comes; as the origin of creative changes. Then instruct your imagination to be adventurous as it explores brewing possibilities in the dark and the unknown.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): "If something

comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality," wrote author Norman Cousins. Whether or not you believe the "immortality" part of his formulation, I'm sure you understand how fabulous it is when you help activate beauty and vitality in someone. You may even feel that inspiring people to unleash their dormant potential is one of the most noble pleasures possible. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Leo, because I suspect that you now have exceptional power to perform services like these for your allies, friends, and loved ones. I dare you to make it one of your top priorities.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "The mes-

siah will come when we don't need him any more," said author Franz Kafka. In that spirit, and in alignment with current astrological omens, I will tell you that the precise help you wish you could attract into your life will show up as soon as you make initial efforts to provide that help to yourself. Here are some additional nuances—The gift or blessing you think you need most will be offered to you by fate once you begin giving that gift or blessing to yourself. A rescuer will arrive not too long after you take steps to rescue yourself.

You'll finally figure out how to make practical use of a key lesson as you're teaching that lesson to someone you care for.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Libran author Ursula K. Le Guin said that we don't just naturally know how to create our destinies. It takes research and hard work. "All of us have to learn how to invent our lives, make them up, imagine them," she wrote. "We need to be taught these skills; we need guides to show us how. If we don't, our lives get made up for us by other people." I bring this to your atten-

tion, Libra, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to upgrade and refine your mastery of these essential powers. What can you do to enhance your capacity to invent your life? Which teachers and information sources might be helpful?

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): In 1984, hip hop group Run-DMC was the first to achieve a gold record in their genre, meaning they sold more than 500,000 albums.

Their next album sold over a million. They were pioneers. In 1986, legendary producer Rick Rubin encouraged them to do a remake of "Walk This Way," a song by the hard rock band Aerosmith. The members of RunDMC didn't want to do it; they felt the tune was in a genre too unlike their own. But Rubin eventually convinced them, and the cross-pollination was phenomenally successful. The Run-DMC-meets-Aerosmith collaboration launched a new genre that sold very well. The song was later voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In this spirit, and in accordance with current cosmic rhythms, I urge you to try a bold hybrid or two yourself, Scorpio—blends of elements or influences that may seem a bit improbable. They could ultimately yield big dividends.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

You Sagittarians periodically go through phases when you specialize in stirring up fresh intuitions. I mean, you're always one of the zodiac's Intuition Champions, but during these special times, your flow becomes an overflow. You have a knack for seeking and finding visions of the interesting future; you get excited by possibilities that are on the frontiers of your confidence. From what I can tell, your life in recent weeks has been bringing you these delights—and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Take maximum advantage. Aggressively gather in the gifts being offered by your inner teacher.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

Calling on my expert knowledge of healing language and imaginative psychology, I have formulated a mantra for you to use in the next six weeks. I suggest you say it five times after you wake up, and again at mid-day, and

before dinner, and before sleep. It should help keep you intimately aligned with the dynamic groove that the cosmos will be conspiring to provide for you. For best results, picture yourself as glowing inside with the qualities named in the mantra. Here it is—“StrongBrightFree ClearBoldBrisk DeepNimbleKind AdroitSteadyWarm.”

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The

Grammy Museum in Los Angeles features displays that extol the musicians who've won Grammy Awards over the years. A few years ago, a distinctly unfamous musician named Paz Dylan made professional-looking fake posters touting his own magnificent accomplishments and managed to sneakily hang them on the museum walls.

They remained there for a month before anyone noticed. I'm going to encourage you to engage in similar gamesmanship in the coming weeks, Aquarius. It'll be a favorable time to use ingenuity and unconventional approaches to boost your confidence and enhance your reputation.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "Relationships never stop being a work in progress," writes author Nora Roberts. That's bad news and good news. It's bad news because even for the most loving bond, you must tirelessly persist in the challenging task of reinventing the ways the two of you fit together.

It's good news because few activities can make you more emotionally intelligent and soulfully wise than continually reinventing the ways the two of you fit together. I bring these thoughts to your attention because the coming weeks will be a fertile time for such daunting and rewarding work.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the most interesting and transformative action you could take right now?

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020

Rub elbows with those who take their leisure time seriously.

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 818 1

The ELBOW

ROOM

—Pub & Pizza—

celebrating 56 years of business!

Voted Best Bar–West Pensacola again!

Open Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-12am

—2213 W. Cervantes St. • 850-434-0300— inweekly.net

news of the weird LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Convicted drug smuggler Mike Gielen, 24, hired a helicopter at Deurne airport near Antwerp, Belgium, on Sept. 25, then hijacked the aircraft in mid-flight and forced the pilot to fly to Berkendaal women's prison south of Brussels to free his wife, Kristel Appelt, 27, who is being held there on suspicion of murdering an ex-boyfriend, The Guardian reported. As inmates cheered and waved below, the pilot circled the prison yard, trying unsuccessfully to land, while Gielen put his head out of the chopper to vomit five times, before giving up and flying off.

Authorities arrested Gielen and several accomplices within 24 hours when they discovered he had used his real name to hire the helicopter. "It seems the whole thing has been staged quite amateurishly," remarked Tom van Overbeke, Gielen's attorney.

WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff's deputies responding to reports of a domestic violence situation on Sept. 23 arrived at the apartment of Devon Garnett, 26, to find Garnett and two friends, fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning, watching Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals. Neighbors had become alarmed after hearing shouts of "Shoot! Shoot!" and "I dare you to shoot!" just before 8:30 that evening, reported the Associated Press. The deputies "thought there were guns in the house," said Garnett, who told them, "Nope, we're just screaming for Steven Stamkos."

RECURRING THEMES Voters in the village of Deveselu, Romania, reelected popular Mayor Ion Aliman to a third term in a landslide victory on Sept. 27 despite the fact that Aliman had died of COVID-19 10 days before the election. The Associated Press reported that word of the mayor's passing had spread fast among the village's 3,000 residents, but his name still appeared on the ballots, and many villagers used the vote as an opportunity to honor Aliman, who would have celebrated his 57th birthday on election day. After the results were revealed, many villagers went to his grave to pay respects and light candles, saying, "We will make you proud" and "This is your victory."

COMPELLING EXPLANATION After throwing a Bible that struck a Marion County (Florida) Sheriff 's deputy in the face, Robert Otis Hoskins, 39, of Summerfield, told officers that God had directed him to break into his neighbors' home and free their young daughter, according to authorities. WKMG-TV reports police were responding to reports of a burglary on Sept. 22 when they encountered Hoskins, who emerged from the house next door wearing nothing but briefs and yelling something like, "I condemn you!" before throwing the Bible. Officers tased him and took him into custody; Hoskins' wife told deputies he "does have a drug problem," according to the arrest report, and the alleged victim said about $50

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

AUTOSPORT PENSACOLA

worth of clothing had been stolen. Hoskins was booked on multiple charges.

#PensacolaStrong

LATEST HUMAN RIGHTS A High Court judge in Liverpool, England, has rejected Cheryl Pile's attempt to sue the Liverpool Police for violating her rights in April 2017 when four female officers changed her out of the clothes she had vomited on, reports the BBC. Calling the officers' actions "an act of decency," the judge noted that Pile, who later paid a fine for being drunk and disorderly, was "too insensible with drink to have much idea of either where she was or what she was doing there," and would otherwise have been left "to marinade overnight in her own bodily fluids."

BAD BEHAVIOR CNN reports a 32-yearold unnamed Irishman was charged with vandalism after being caught on Sept. 21 carving his first and last initials into a pillar on the first floor of the Colosseum in Rome.

The structure, which has stood for two millennia, is a World Heritage Site, and Italian law calls for a hefty fine or prison sentence for damaging a historical and artistic landmark. Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi, who is responsible for the Colosseum, suggested it would be better to "take a selfie" than to carve into the amphitheater's walls.

ANNULS OF TECHNOLOGY Taro Kono, Japan's new minister for administrative reform, is wasting no time in starting his crusade to cut down on bureaucratic red tape, reports The Japan Times, and among his first targets is the fax machine, which is still in use in more than 95% of businesses in Japan. "I don't think there are many administrative procedures that actually need printing out paper and faxing," Kono said on Sept. 25. A day after being appointed to his new job, Kono created a red-tape hotline on his website, inviting public input, that had to be shut down the next day after receiving more than 4,000 responses.

NEW 2020 KIA SORENTO ONLY

$

19,995

PLUS GET AN

ADDITIONAL $

1,000 OFF

ANY NEW KIA PURCHASED!

WITH FULL RETAIL PURCHASE. STOCK # LG627402. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, PLUS TAX, TAG, TITLE AND $499 DOC FEE. $1,000 DEALER DISCOUNT. OFFERS DON’T COMBINE. EXPIRES 11/4/20.

850.457.7772

6637 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505

KIAAUTOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM

•Keith Bebonis knows a secret about the Chicago Police Department, reported the Chicago Sun-Times on Sept. 25: They still use typewriters. Bebonis knows because he repairs them when the officers "abuse" them. "Police officers, in general, are very heavy typists," said Bebonis, 46, who carries on the business his dad started in the late 1960s, Bebon Office Machines and Supplies.

He contracts every year to repair 40 to 50 IBM Wheelwriters -- early word-processing machines that can store a few pages' worth of data. "I don't want it to seem like I'm saying they're taking their frustrations out on the typewriter," Bebonis said. "But they're just not very sensitive with these machines." {in}

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com October 8, 2020

19

Your Personal Injury Lawyers In Pensacola, Florida Since 1955 850-432-1111 | LevinLaw.com | Google Us

Independent News | October 8, 2020 | inweekly.net