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UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA Gov.
Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis awarded $895,905 to the university to support innovative cancer research. The award was part of $20 million awarded to researchers around the state as part of the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund. UWF will use its portion of the funds to improve access to breast cancer screenings in rural areas in Northwest Florida and the Big Bend area. Health and wellness community workshops will be offered in rural communities of the Florida Panhandle. Community-based breast cancer screenings will be made available through mobile mammogram vans.
NICOLE BUCCHINO GRINNAN The Northwest Florida Maritime Landscape Alliance for Preservation named the UWF Archaeology Institute assistant director its inaugural and 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to Maritime Landscape Preservation Award. The award honored Grinnan's exceptional leadership and dedication to the "People of the Apalachicola" project.
NEX AVIATION PLAZA For the fourth time in seven years, NAS Pensacola's Navy Exchange's (NEX) Aviation Plaza was awarded the 2023 Bingham Award for excellence in customer service, operations and management. Established in 1979, the Bingham Award is the highest accolade a Navy Exchange can receive and reflects a commitment to excellence and dedication to serving military members and their families. The award evaluates NEX facilities' ability to excel in all aspects of their mission, from operational efficiency to customer satisfaction and impactful community engagement.
PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY Its Board of Directors dropped all claims made in January 2023 against six former employees— Jessica Gehres, Raina Townson, Jessica Fischer, Melissa Garrett and Alysia Martinez, who also dropped their lawsuits. The legal battle over the much-beloved nonprofit finally closed when attorneys for both sides filed notices of voluntary dismissal. Now, let's find good homes for some dogs and cats.
DONALD TRUMP The former president lost last week's televised debate. No amount of gaslighting and conspiracies can disprove that statement. Trump took the bait every time Vice President Kamala Harris poked him, and he rambled down rabbit trails that reminded viewers of his weirder moments during his campaign rallies. We agree the former president had plenty of opportunities to challenge the vice president on her policies, but he talked about immigrants eating pets instead. Still, Trump's performance wasn't as bad as President Biden's in June. It's sad the Republican candidate took his toys and went home instead of challenging Harris on the debate stage again.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
While our school board wants to depose a child about books it removed from Escambia County public schools, authors of the children's book "And Tango Makes Three" reached a settlement with the Nassau County School District that will lead to 36 books returning to school libraries in that district. In a similar lawsuit in Escambia County, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor issued an order earlier this month saying mediation was unnecessary after the two sides filed a joint document saying the "distance between the parties' acceptable resolutions of this case renders mediation futile."
JOSEPH LADAPO Florida's Surgeon General continues discouraging Floridians from using the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Citing the "high rate of global immunity and currently available data," Ladapo recommended improving "habits and overall health to help manage and reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, risk factors for serious illness from COVID-19." The Florida Department of Health email concerning the Surgeon General's warning included a link to an article on John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's website about the updated COVID vaccine for this fall and winter. Its subtitle is "The updated COVID-19 vaccine provides safe, effective protection against current variants for everyone six months and older."
Donald Trump / Photo by lev radin / shutterstock.com
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
MEET YOUR COUNTY MAYOR
Since the last attempt to consolidate city and county government failed to launch over a decade ago, we have heard repeated cries for a county mayor to run Escambia County.
The individual would be like Pensacola's strong mayor, elected by all the voters and responsible for the county's daily operations. The arguments made for handing all the power to one person are the same used to support Pensacola's strong mayor. The county mayor would be accountable to the voters. The individual would develop a platform, run on that platform and be judged on the results every four years. The county mayor would control a $748.6 million budget and give Escambia County "leadership and vision.
What isn't said is creating an all-powerful elected official gives the rich and powerful more control and cuts out the voters from having a seat at the table when big decisions are made. The Board of County Commissioners would become as impotent as the Pensacola City Council.
The wants of wealthy campaign contributors would supplant the needs of residents. A roundabout would have been built on Pensacola Beach, and a sprawling residential community permitted on Outlying Landing Field 8 in Beulah. Summer youth employment and community centers might not have been established in underserved neighborhoods.
Pensacola has elected three strong mayors with mixed results. With each election, there is a race to see who gets the mayor's ear. Those favored receive favors in many instances. A county mayor would be no different.
What prompted me to write this column is Escambia County currently has one elected official attempting to run county government. County Clerk Pam Childers is using her role as county comptroller to dictate what happens, regardless of what the Board of County Commissioners approve in a public meeting.
The county commissioners wanted to repair the Escambia County Jail, the construction of which former County Administrator Janice Gilley botched. The county approved hiring an expert to assess the construction defects, but the work was delayed because Childers refused to pay the invoice for weeks. We almost had
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to cancel Foo Foo Fest because of the county clerk's feud with Tourist Development County chair David Bear (read "The Buzz" 9/19/24). And these are just tiny samples of how the clerk has attempted to paralyze county operations.
Childers pressured State Attorney Ginger Madden to convene grand juries against two commissioners, Jeff Bergosh and Lumon May. Each grand jury found no evidence of a crime by them.
We now know because of the multiple corrections that she made on her invoice to Commissioner May for yard debris cleanup that the "anonymous complaint" she received was based on fraudulent work orders submitted to damage May's re-election chances. The clerk got played because Road Department employees knew of her contempt for the county's lone Black elected official. They were sure she would run with the complaint without calling May or county staff for clarification, and, like Donald Trump in this debate with Kamala Harris, Childers took the bait.
The Pensacola News Journal has praised Childers for winning the 401a lawsuit concerning the commissioners' pensions. The daily newspaper blasted the commissioners for hiring an expensive attorney, who defeated Bruce Childers' attempt to force his way on the primary ballot. However, the PNJ reporters never asked Pam Childers how much she paid her outside attorneys in the 401a lawsuit. I did.
The clerk paid Ed Fleming and Matt Dannheisser over $438,000 and recovered only $197,157 from the three commissioners. The legal bills were so high because she refused to join the commissioners in seeking an Attorney General opinion. Instead, Childers dragged out the lawsuit with numerous motions so the judge would rule closer to the 2024 primary.
Now, Childers is out to remake the Board of County Commissioners. She campaigned door-to-door for Steve Stroberger, who defeated incumbent Jeff Bergosh in the GOP primary. She helped Stroberger by feeding the PNJ with news tips that made it into the daily newspaper, including an article on the day of the vote that covered Childers' refusal to pay Bergosh's legal fees.
We have enough evidence that giving too much power to one individual is bad government. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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THE CRA VS. CHILDREN'S TRUST CONUNDRUM
By Tom St. Myer
Escambia County Public Schools performed admirably during the 2023-24 school year based on the Florida Department of Education accountability reports. However, after decades of ranking in the bottom half of the state, the public still understandably voices concerns about education as a new battle has been waged over how to help the county's children best.
The Escambia Children's Trust has lobbied to keep the portion of its annual revenue that should have been given to the Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) in the City of Pensacola and Escambia County, according to Florida law. The Trust argued that it should keep the funds, but neither local government had an appetite to do so without some restrictions.
The Escambia County Commission and Mayor D.C. Reeves have taken different approaches in dealing with the CRA dollars.
THE CITY'S APPROACH
"I can't go to a town hall. I can't go to a State of the City address without being asked about what we're doing in education," Reeves said.
Tired of responding, "That's not our job," Reeves sees an opportunity for a collaboration among the City, Escambia County School District and Escambia Children's Trust to invest resources in Title I schools. His plan includes the City letting
the Trust keep $1.8 million owed in CRA dollars and about $500,000 annually, but only if the funds are spent as established in a yet-to-bedrafted Memorandum of Understanding.
"There's a better partnership here for us to say, 'Here are these dollars,' and that we go to the Trust and the school district and say, 'This is exactly, surgically, what we want done with these millions of dollars to help educational outcomes within your schools,'" Reeves said. "We just got to work out the details of what those dollars will be and what they'll go to."
The mayor cited devoting resources to Holm Elementary, Global Learning Academy, O.J. Semmes Elementary and Workman Middle. Reeves has met with each of the principals of the Title I schools, which have a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.
Educators at the Title I schools told Reeves absenteeism is their primary concern. The mayor would like to minimize that issue.
"When you talk to the teachers and the principals, they say, 'We don't need more notepads. We don't need more pencils. We need the kids to show up at school,'" he said. "And so, what can we do? What can we incentivize? How can we create positive outcomes within our city limits? So, that is what I'm looking into."
The Trust identified two Title I schools, Global Learning Academy and O.J. Semmes, for its Healthy Schools Escambia Initiative, which aims to "enhance the health and well-being of students across Escambia County by creating environments that support healthy lifestyles and educational success." The contract will be awarded next month.
The Healthy Schools initiative is based on the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model, a CDC framework established to address school health in 2014. The model includes 10 components ranging from physical activity to family engagement and shares some common characteristics with the Children's Home Society's Community Partnership School program used at three Escambia County schools.
Trust Executive Director Lindsey Cannon shared that the Fort Bend Independent School District, outside of Houston, Texas, has adopted
the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community model. However, few school districts have taken the holistic approach the Trust is attempting. Still, board members are optimistic about Healthy Schools Escambia.
"We're looking to add two schools each year for the next couple years for six to emulate what we've done at Pine Forest (High School), Bellview Middle and C.A. Weis (Elementary)," said Keith Leonard, school superintendent and a Trust board member. "Having those wraparound services benefits those schools, neighborhoods and communities."
Those three Community Partnership schools earned C grades for the 2023-24 school year. Two candidates for the Healthy Schools program, Global Learning Academy and O.J. Semmes, also earned C's this past school year after earning D's and F's in previous school years.
"What we're hoping to be able to do is continue providing support academically that will allow those school sites that have jogged back and forth above and below the line, between a C and a D and sometimes an F, to push basic fundamentals of academics so they can stay above the line," Leonard said. "That takes a lot of people pushing in the same direction."
Cannon said some services at the three Community Partnership Schools mirror each other, but others are tailored specifically for those communities. She envisions the same approach for the Healthy Schools Escambia program.
"We want kids to thrive, so whatever that looks like in our community, we have to focus on," Cannon said. "Sometimes that doesn't always come in a model that's been done before. We have to take a framework and support our families.
THE COUNTY'S APPROACH
The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a motion earlier this month for the Trust to refund over $1.1 million in tax increment revenues intended for the county's CRA fund that accrued over the past three years. Trust must annually pay into the CRA about $450,000, the amount Cannon estimates it would cost to fund a Healthy School.
"That limits us as to how much is to be continued because we're going to have some discussions
about it," said Cannon, whose organization collects about $10 million annually in property taxes per a referendum passed by the voters in 2020.
The commissioners approved the CRA motion after a long discussion about public safety.
Commissioner Lumon May justified investing in public safety by saying children are being traumatized by violence in their neighborhoods. May cited multiple incidents, including the drive-by shooting that killed two men in their early 20s and injured five others outside of Wedgewood Community Center.
"The vast amount of young African American males who are being shot every single day, and I get it, it may not directly affect your guys' constituencies as it does mine, but I can tell you it has a direct impact on tourism. It directly impacts development," said May, the commission's representative on the Trust board.
He continued, "It's not concentrated into one geographical area. I promise you if they're getting killed in one part of Mayfair, they're going to get killed in another part of Mayfair, and if they're getting killed on West Jackson, they're going to get killed on Gulf Beach Highway."
The commissioners backed up their commitment to public safety by allocating $400,000 from the Montclair CRA to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office to purchase cameras. Sheriff Chip Simmons advocated for the investment.
"Why don't we put more cameras in these areas where we have these shots-fired situations?" Simmons said. "And one thing that broke my heart was on the camera that we could see children right across the street from the school running from the area where shots had been fired. And if cameras don't save and protect children in this scenario, I'm not sure what else would."
Simmons said Escambia has fewer cameras than other counties in the state. He is working closely with May to address that shortage.
"It should be no secret that I believe that the cameras in the public areas are the way to go," he said.
Time will tell which approach will have the most significant impact and whether Healthy Schools Escambia is as successful as the Community Partnership Schools. {in}
PENSACOLA CONNECTION The New York Times has established a bureau in Ho Chi Minh City. Damien Cave will lead it.
In August 2009, Cave—based in Miami at the time—visited Pensacola to do a story for the Times on the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings on the eve of the grand jury report. He focused on my reporting and how it drew praise and criticism (New York Times, "Blogger Stirs a City by Suggesting That a Florida Couple's Murder Was a Contract Killing," 8/16/09).
Cave met with Sheriff David Morgan, PNJ publisher Kevin Doyle, Pensacola Chamber board chair Mort O'Sullivan, attorney Robert Beasley and my newspaper staff, who teased him about wearing sandals. Cave explained the footwear was a statement. He had covered the war in the Middle East and got tired of sand in his boots.
In its article announcing the Vietnam bureau, the Times wrote, "Damien is just the correspondent to build on that tradition in new ways. In his 20 years at The Times, he's embraced more than a few firsts, from early examples of live coverage in Metro to multimedia packages in Baghdad, and visual-first stories and thoughtful first-person essays written from wherever he happened to be, including Cuba and Australia."
Cave had served as a digital deputy on the National desk before opening a new bureau in 2017 in Sydney, where he led a multidisciplinary team that accelerated subscriber growth while contributing exceptional journalism from all over the region."
The New York Times's return to Vietnam signifies Asia's rise as an important economic and political power center. It's also a testament to the newspaper's commitment to expanding global coverage and bolstering independent journalism worldwide.
On LinkedIn, Cave posted, "New job, broader role, new location—time for another adventure with The New York Times. After more than seven years in Australia, I'll be opening a new bureau in Vietnam, our first since 1975, digging into a range of stories and roaming widely."
FOO FOO JEOPARDIZED On "Real News with Rick Outzen" last week, Tourist Development Council chair David Bear shared County Clerk Pam Childers had delayed funding the grants approved by the Foo Foo Festival Committee in May.
He said, "We can't let the Clerk of the Court destroy it because of some grudge that she has against me or the TDC and ACE (Arts, Culture & Entertainment)."
Bear co-founded the November festival to support and celebrate Pensacola's unique arts and culture. Childers had no issues writing the checks from 2013 to 2023.
"Foo Fest is celebrating its 11th year of success in diversifying our tourism base in tourists, cultural tourists who spend a lot of money and stay a long time when they come to visit this community for, as everybody knows, some of the well-established events that have been going
on, like the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival and the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show, and lots of new events," Bear said.
However, many of the Foo Foo grant recipients were having cash flow issues as they prepared for the 2024 Foo Foo Fest, which starts Oct. 31. The festival receives funds from the tourist development tax, which the TDC and Board of County Commissioners allocated through an appropriation agreement.
"So far, the committee has made the commitments through the grant application and granting process with contracts with each one of those grant recipients," Bear said. "They've got an advertising agency doing the creative and placement of the advertising, and they can't get the money from the county to pay those bills, to get the grant recipients the funds they need to secure their programs."
He continued, "And many of them are starting to get worried that they may not get it in time to secure what they committed and may have to cancel their performances, their programs. And so, it's a real challenge that's going on right now."
Bear has discussed the issue with the county's budget director, Stephan Hall. "They are trying to get us the funds. They're working with the clerk's office, but there seems to just be a roadblock."
The TDC chair believed Childers was punishing Foo Foo and local cultural organizations because of her animosity for him.
"Several years ago, she tried to get the TDC chairman and the vice chairman to sign a sworn affidavit attached to visit Pensacola's appropriation agreement saying that the TDC has reviewed all expenditures of tourist development tax and that they're all authorized under the statute," Bear said.
He refused because Florida law does not mandate the TDC chair and vice chair sign sworn affidavits of a third party's appropriation agreement. The clerk is paid an administrative fee to review those expenditures and, under another separate statute, ensure none of those were unauthorized.
The TDC became concerned about some of the expenditures authorized by Childers and asked for an audit. Bear said, "She refused to do it herself and said that the county already audits the tourist development tax when they do the full audit of the county."
They asked the Florida Legislature, which instructed the Florida Auditor General to do the audit. The audit found several unauthorized expenditures.
"(Former county administrator) Janice Gilly had started using tourist development tax to sort of move it from the general revenue budget to the TDT. It was the marine resources. And they were buying trucks and ATVs that the Attorney General of Florida had already said were not authorized expenditures for monitoring turtle nests and other activities like that," Bear said.
He continued, "Ever since then, there has been nothing but pushback, obviously against the county in every single way, by holding back payments until they can make sure that every 'i'
is dotted and 't' is crossed, which is the obligation of the government to do. But it's just like triplecheck, quadruple-check."
Bear said Childers had demanded an Attorney General opinion on whether a county can have multiple destination marketing organizations. "She says it doesn't exist, even though it does. Bay County has one in Panama City and another in Panama City Beach."
After the radio interview was posted on ricksblog.biz, the clerk's office notified the county that a check was being cut for Foo Foo Fest.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Bear texted, "ACE got their money today and put it in the bank. Now they can pay the grant recipients some money to confirm their programs."
HELPING 32561 & 32563 Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD), a women's philanthropic group, announces the opening of its grant season. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30. The organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary and has awarded more than $542,000 to initiatives in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities since its inception.
Founded by a group of community-minded Gulf Breeze women in 2014, the organization serves as a funding tool for nonprofit organizations and individuals trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities.
"It is a homegrown thing, just local women that said if we pool our resources, we can do great things to help our community," explained co-founder Leslie Perrino.
"It is a homegrown thing, just local women that said if we pool our resources, we can do great things to help our community." Leslie Perrino
Prospective grant applicants must have a project or initiative that serves the communities in the 32561 and 32563 zip code areas. Organizations and groups without tax-exempt status will be considered.
Grant amounts range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 in the following categories: 1) Art, Recreation and Sports; 2) Education; 3) Hardship Support Services; 4) Public Safety; and 5) Environment. The grant application and guidelines are available at gulfbreezewilldo.org. Grant awards will be announced in November.
Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues of $250 a person, with all dues distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding. To join, visit gulfbreezewilldo.org.
"Our goal this year is to fund $50,000 in grants and to do that, we need 200 members, and we're at 144 right now," Perrino said. "We've got a little bit more time for a few more people to join to help us reach our goal. We would love to see that happen."
Ladies of the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities are invited to attend the final membership drives of the year 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at The Pointe at Tiger Point Golf Club, 1255 Country Club Road, Gulf Breeze. Everyone who brings a guest will be entered to win door prizes. A ticket will be issued for each guest, so bring friends to increase your chances of winning.
JOB TRAINING
Thanks to the opening of Project SEARCH on the Santa Rosa Medical Center campus, young adults with disabilities now have access to a new job training site. The program is a collaboration between Santa Rosa Medical Center, Santa Rosa County District Schools, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Global Connections to Employment (GCE).
"We actually have had Project SEARCH sites in this community for a couple of decades now, but being able to expand and reach out beyond Escambia County is very exciting," said Allison Hill, the LifeView Group CEO. "It's a national model whereby we provide young adults with disabilities, who have not yet graduated from high school, the opportunity to do year-long job training on-site with the opportunity to learn job skills and hopefully lead to employment for them once they graduate from high school."
This Project SEARCH site will host five talented interns from Santa Rosa County District Schools. This unique program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment, helping them develop valuable skills that will prepare them for future employment.
Project SEARCH is a national program helping young adults with disabilities transition to employment over a school year. As one of the nation's largest employers of people with disabilities, GCE has replicated Project SEARCH sites at four other locations across Northwest Florida.
Each Project SEARCH site has a certified instructor and employment transition specialist on-site to work with interns and business leaders, providing individualized instruction, support and accommodations. Project SEARCH interns gain increased independence and confidence, as well as competitive and marketable job skills.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony is 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Santa Rosa Medical Center, 6002 Berryhill Road, Milton. The speakers will be CEO of Santa Rosa Medical Center Justin Serrano, Superintendent for Santa Rosa County District Schools Dr. Karen Barber and CEO of GCE's parent company, LifeView Group, Allison Hill.
SAMPLE BALLOTS ONLINE
As Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender and his staff prepare for the 2024 General Election, voters can now access their sample ballots online at escambiavotes.gov/sample-ballots.
Voters who have not requested to receive a vote-by-mail ballot will also receive a sample
ballot in the mail. The sample ballot mailer should be in mailboxes starting Oct. 14, a week before the start of early voting Oct. 21.
There's still time to request a vote-by-mail ballot. Voters can do so by visiting escambiavotes. gov/vote-by-mail or calling (850) 595-3900.
Military and overseas vote-by-mail ballots will be mailed no later than Friday, Sept. 20. The seven-day statutory window to mail domestic vote-by-mail ballots begins Sept. 26. The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot is Thursday, Oct. 24.
You can also track your vote-by-mail ballot by signing up for notifications at escambiavotes. gov/track-my-ballot. You can see when your ballot was received and accepted for tabulation.
The last day to register to vote for the Nov. 5 election is Monday, Oct. 7. If you have a Florida Driver's License or Florida Identification Card, you can register or update your registration at escambiavotes.gov/register-to-vote. The web page provides information on where to find a physical application and how to complete it online.
BRUCE BEACH PHASE 2 The City of Pensacola invites the public to the official grand opening of Bruce Beach to celebrate the completion of the Bruce Beach Revitalization Project and the
urday, Oct. 12 at Bruce Beach, 601 W. Main St., weather permitting.
Parking is included in Phase 2 of the project. However, the city will provide an additional parking area in the empty lot across Main Street until 11:30 a.m.
The Bruce Beach Revitalization Project is part of the Pensacola Waterfront Framework Plan, supporting the city's goal of creating a more connected public waterfront. All residents, stakeholders and community members are invited to celebrate the grand opening of this historical site and transformational project.
With the completion of the Bruce Beach Revitalization Project, Pensacola residents and visitors can experience a recreational and educational destination that connects to the city's waterfront while honoring the site's history.
The project was designed by the planning and engineering firm HDR, with a consistency review from SCAPE and input from the public. The City of Pensacola awarded a contract to Biggs Construction Inc. for the construction of the Bruce Beach Revitalization Project beginning in 2022.
TAKE STOCK Take Stock in Children of Escambia County recently welcomed 40 new scholars
are now 166 students in grades 7-12 in Escambia County's program. Students will receive a college scholarship upon high school graduation if they maintain good grades, attendance and citizenship. The students must also remain crime- and drug-free and meet weekly with a volunteer community mentor.
"It's an exciting time for us to see 40 new students who now can say, 'I'm going to college,' and it really is a difference maker in their lives."
Sally Lee
"It's an exciting time for us to see 40 new students who now can say, 'I'm going to college,' and it really is a difference maker in their lives," said Sally Lee, Escambia County Public Schools student services and mentor coordinator.
Take Stock in Children is a statewide nonprofit operating locally under the Escambia County Public Schools Foundation. Take Stock provides "scholarships, mentors and hope" to deserving young people selected at the end of their sixth- or seventh-grade year through a need-based application process.
"Our local statistics mirror those of the state, and that's that 97% of our students graduate from high school. Something like 90% start college, and of the ones who start college, 67% get a degree," Lee said.
What makes the program so successful are the college success coach and mentors. Lee said, "We have a college success coach, and her whole job is to go from school to school in the county, checking on our students. She checks their grades, attendance and makes sure everything's going all right. And then every student has a volunteer mentor. And that is just a huge part of our program."
She added, "We actually have had many students who have gone through the program say that having that special mentor was really an amazing part of their life. Many of them stay in touch even after graduation. "
Scholarship donations from local foundations, organizations, businesses and individuals are matched dollar-for-dollar when scholarships are purchased from Florida Prepaid College Foundation each year and are held until students graduate from high school.
For more information about the Take Stock in Children program in Escambia County, contact Sally Lee at (850) 341-6607 or slee@ ecsdfl.us. {in}
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ON THE BALLOT
BY TOM ST. MYER
This fall, abortion rights in the state of Florida will be in the hands of voters. A simple check of "Yes" or "No" for Amendment 4 will determine if abortion rights truly exist in the state.
Currently, the right to abortion is essentially nil for people under the laws that went into effect May 1. In 2022, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature modified its abortion ban, reducing it from fetal viability (24 weeks) to 15 weeks. The following year, legislators implemented a more stringent six-week restriction with the passage of the Heartbeat Protection Act.
"The limit is beyond when they realize they're pregnant," said Natasha Sutherland, the communications director of Floridians Protecting Freedom. "Those who do figure it out in the requisite time only have a day or two to make this decision. People are having to make a really difficult decision with almost no time to think about it."
Amendment 4 seeks to reinstate 24 weeks, thereby restoring the rights curtailed over the past three years. A vote in favor of the amendment would add the following clause to the Florida Constitution's Declaration of Rights: "… no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."
To pass Amendment 4 requires the support of at least 60% of voters. Advocates for reproductive rights are mobilizing efforts to educate voters on the implications of the current law and the importance of restoring the 24-week timeframe. The pro-amendment campaigns emphasize that access to safe and legal abortions constitutes a fundamental healthcare right, asserting that restrictions on this access disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Pensacola Abortion Rights Taskforce (PART) co-founder Robin Blyn described the six-week ban policy as "terrible" and "devastating."
"It's one of the most strict bans in the country," she said.
Floridians Protecting Freedom sponsored the Amendment 4 initiative and sank about $10 million into a TV spot that appears in 11 media markets. Sutherland said, "We're doing anything
and everything we can, like a candidate running for governor in Florida."
Organizations that support the amendment include the Florida Democratic Party, ACLU of Florida, Faith in Public Life Action, Floridians Protecting Freedom, Florida Rising, Florida Voters Against Extremism, Florida Women's Freedom Coalition, League of Women Voters of Florida, Pensacola Abortion Rights Taskforce, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, Think Big America and the Women's Voices of Southwest Florida.
OPPOSITION TO AMENDMENT 4
Pro-life supporters are campaigning just as aggressively in opposition—spending millions of dollars on TV ads and other marketing material denouncing Amendment 4. They also have the help of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who signed the Heartbeat Protection Act behind closed doors in April 2023.
A two-minute ad by Vote No on 4 Florida refers to the amendment as "extreme" and questions why there are no definitions for terms such as "viability," "patient's health" and "healthcare provider." The ad further states the amendment would make abortion the only procedure a minor could undergo without a parent's consent. The ad concludes with Amendment 4 is "way too extreme and not what it seems."
Gov. DeSantis vehemently opposes the amendment. Last month, he visited a Tampa high school and said, "If you care about building a culture of life in this state or this country, [Amendment 4] winning in Florida, I think, really represents the end of the pro-life movement."
The governor ramped up his attacks on the amendment this month. At a stop in Broward County, DeSantis called on fellow elected Republicans to denounce the amendment and to use some of their campaign money to help fund the effort to defeat it in November.
"Every one of our elected representatives needs to say where they stand on this. And, obviously, it would be a 'no.' All these people that have run [for office] have all run saying they're pro-life, right?" DeSantis said. "So now you have an
amendment that is the most extreme in the other direction you can go, and some are not saying anything or not offering to help us to defeat this."
Two agencies under the governor's control are trying to tip the scales against the amendment. The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) launched a website that states, "Current Florida law protects women, Amendment 4 threatens women's safety." DeSantis has defended the website.
"It's being used by the AHCA agency to basically provide people with accurate information," he said. "I think that that's something that's really important, because, quite frankly, a lot of people don't usually get that in the normal (information) bloodstream. So, everything that's put out is factual. It's not electioneering."
The Florida Democratic Party disagrees. They responded that the website violates Florida law that prohibits any official government agency from participating in campaign activity.
"Ron and his buddies know they're losing, and they're willing to do anything—including breaking the law—to rig the results in their favor," stated Nikki Fried, Democratic Party Chair, in the press release. "This website is just the latest attempt by Florida Republicans to keep voters from having their say on Amendment 4 at the ballot box."
On Sept. 12, the ACLU of Florida and Southern Legal Counsel filed a joint lawsuit against AHCA to halt its campaign against Amendment 4. The complaint alleges that the AHCA website and its television and radio advertisements contain "inflammatory, false and misleading statements" that misrepresent the amendment, and that its campaign "violates the Florida Constitution and unlawfully interferes with the right of Floridians to propose amendments through the ballot initiative process."
The website launch came on the heels of the Florida Department of State questioning whether 36,000 signatures collected to place Amendment 4 on the ballot were fraudulent. Brad McVay, deputy secretary of state for legal affairs and elections integrity, requested that election supervisors in Hillsborough, Orange, Osceola and Palm Beach counties gather the signatures for the state to review.
In Florida, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8% of the votes cast in the preceding presidential election. The requirement for the 2024 ballot was 891,523 valid signatures. Over 900,000 signatures were collected to put the amendment on the ballot.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) referred to the searches as a "witch hunt" and "political theater" by DeSantis.
Dr. William Lile, an obstetrician and gynecologist with Ascension Sacred Heart, applauds DeSantis for ensuring the "government defends the defenseless."
In 1999, Lile took over a practice that he said was the largest provider of abortion services in Pensacola. On his first day, he stopped all abortion services. Since then, Lile said he has performed successful blood transfusions for babies delivered as early as 18 weeks and open-heart surgery on a baby delivered at 27 weeks. He said abortion is never the right choice whether that be at six weeks, 24 weeks or anywhere in between.
"If it does come close to 60% of the people, it would be people who don't understand the true ramifications of what the law would be," Lile said.
Organizations against the amendment include the Florida Republican Party, Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, Florida Family Action, Inc., Florida Preborn Rescue, National Center for Life and Liberty, Priests for Life and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
"We want to protect all life from the point of natural conception to death," said Scott Mahurin, president of Florida Preborn Rescue. "Never would I choose six weeks over the point of natural conception, but the counter to that is, do you want this amendment to pass and there be almost no laws? The floodgates would open."
SOUTHEAST LOCKDOWN
This division between the two parties reflects broader national conversations about abortion rights, with Florida being a focal point due to its demographic diversity and political significance. The outcome of Amendment 4 will impact the lives of not only Floridians but also serve as a barometer for the national sentiment regarding
reproductive rights. As voters prepare to make their voices heard, the stakes are high, and the implications of their decision will resonate far beyond the state borders.
In 2023, over 7,000 people traveled out of state to have an abortion performed in Florida, according to data from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Those 7,000 people traveled to Florida from other states that restrict abortion after conception in the Southeast, such as Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. The recent restrictions of Florida and Georgia to just six weeks essentially eliminate abortion in the entire Southeast region.
Sometimes a key swing state in presidential elections, Florida has weighed heavily on the Republican side the past two elections with Donald Trump securing the electoral college votes. His victories fall in line with the Republican Party firmly controlling the governorship and state legislature.
Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris sees perhaps an opening with Amendment 4 to take back Florida. The Harris campaign launched a "Reproductive Rights for All" bus tour earlier this month in the state. Trump said he disagrees with banning abortion at just six weeks, but the Florida resident promised his constituents he would vote no on Amendment 4.
Female Democrat candidates are falling in line with Harris. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is challenging incumbent Rick Scott for his U.S. Senate seat. Mucarsel-Powell participated in the first stop of the bus tour and said, "In November, we must choose a future where women's rights are respected and reproductive freedom is guaranteed. That is why in the state of Florida, we are going to show the rest of the country who we are here, we will pass Amendment 4 and make sure to enshrine reproductive freedom into our rights."
Democrat Haley "Hale" Morrisette is challenging Republican incumbent Alex Andrade for his District-2 House seat. Morrisette supports Amendment 4 and questions why anyone, regardless of political party, would want the government to have so much say in health care.
"Most women don't realize they're pregnant when they're five or six weeks pregnant," she said. "Women should be able to choose what they want to do with their bodies. It's an overreach when the government steps in. What else are they going to tell us we have to do with health care?"
Morrisette described the six-week ban as a law that "no one supports." However, some polls indicate reasons for optimism for both prochoice and pro-life supporters. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill statewide poll released earlier this month shows that 54.6% of those surveyed would vote in favor of the amendment. That percentage falls short of the required 60% threshold, but only 25.8% said they would vote against the amendment and 19.6% of those surveyed said they were unsure.
"The whole night is going to be a nail-biter," said Blyn, whose local grassroots organization PART is working to sway voters to vote yes for the amendment.
Sutherland voiced frustration that Florida set the threshold at 60%. She noted other states that voted on abortion rights only required a majority to pass their measures. Last November, Ohio passed a constitutional amendment titled, "The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety" with 56.8% of the vote carrying the measure to victory. Referred to as Issue 1, the Ohio amendment specifically declared an
individual's right to "make and carry out one's own reproductive decisions" including birth control, fertility treatments, miscarriage and abortion.
WHAT IF?
A question looms in Florida if Amendment 4 passes. Is the state properly equipped with enough abortion clinics? Florida is down to about 40 clinics, and virtually every one of them is in a metropolitan city. How would the 40 clinics possibly serve Floridians and thousands of people from other Southeastern states who would travel here for procedures?
There is not a single abortion clinic in Northwest Florida. The two closest clinics are in Tallahassee—Northwest Florida Women's Services and Planned Parenthood.
"Should this amendment pass in November, that's going to be a concern," Sutherland said. "Clinics were facing closure before. Even if you see a passage of the amendment, by January, they may or may not be around. Ultimately, the people in charge who have implemented this ban at some level, the work has already been done on their behalf." {in}
OTHER STATES VOTING ON ABORTION BALLOT MEASURES IN 2024
Source: Ballotpedia
ARIZONA: Establishes the fundamental right to abortion that the state of Arizona may not interfere with before the point of fetal viability.
COLORADO: Provide a constitutional right to abortion in the state constitution and allow the use of public funds for abortion.
MARYLAND: Amend the Maryland Constitution to establish a right to reproductive freedom.
MISSOURI: Amend the Missouri Constitution to provide the right for reproductive freedom, and provide that the state legislature may enact laws that regulate abortion after fetal viability.
MONTANA: Amend the Montana Constitution to provide a state constitutional "right to make and carry out decisions about one's own pregnancy, including the right to abortion."
NEBRASKA: 1. Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "unborn children shall be protected from abortion in the second and third trimesters." 2. Amend the Nebraska Constitution to provide that "all persons shall have a fundamental right to abortion until fetal viability."
NEVADA: Establish the constitutional right to an abortion, providing for the state to regulate abortion after fetal viability, except where medically indicated to protect the life, physical health or mental health of the pregnant patient.
NEW YORK: Add language to the New York Bill of Rights to provide that people cannot be denied rights based on their "ethnicity, national origin, age, and disability" or "sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy."
SOUTH DAKOTA: Provide a trimester framework for regulating abortion in the South Dakota Constitution.
Arts & Entertainment
Getting Personal with palmmeadow
He wants people to experience their indierock dreamcore sound like a place or a feeling rather than a project or tangible piece of art. Music has always been his escape—a way to express the inexpressible.
"I hope it can be a place for others, too, where they can escape from the everyday lifestyle of stress from work, financial struggles, emotional struggles, mental struggles," West said. "Every song we've written has always been something personal to me or personal conversations I've had with others that I felt are really important and people need to hear or can relate to. Because I think we can all hear some music we really, really relate to, and then we have it on repeat, we have a good cry in the car or in the shower."
By Savannah Evanoff
borderline diary entries to West. As a self-proclaimed introvert and all-around anxious person, he has conversations with people through music, he said.
He recalls once crying a little at the end of recording their single "Trees."
"I used to live in this house, and there was this old, rusty shed in the backyard … I remember just seeing the paint peel off of the shed and just thinking about the layers, and the layers of us as humans," West said. "When it peels off, like when my truest form shows, is it going to live up to my expectations and others' expectations? … There's just a lot of times where I think I put too much pressure on myself to live up to what I think others' expectations are."
He suspects you can relate. The lyrics mention being rooted in something West doesn't like, referring to negativity.
If palmmeadow's music is their home, it's no surprise their band feels like family. This fall alone, they're slated to link for Halloween, Friendsgiving, a Fairy Fest Dance Party and some Palafox nights between them.
"We care for each other, lift each other up, speak goodness over each other," West said. "On the weekends, we're hanging out … we're always doing stuff together. We can always have hard conversations, hold each other accountable, because we see the best in each other, and we love each other. So it's definitely like a tight-knit family vibe with us."
And, no, their name is "not like the bug"— aka the large palmetto bugs that skulk the South. West, a serial procrastinator, actually copped the spelling from an Atlanta exit sign after their unnamed band had already released several songs.
pandemic shutdown. The band is composed of people West has met by way of music, including himself (lead vocals), Starlin Browning (bass), Jake Reosti (keys) and Noah Townsend (drums).
They've released four singles and have another five recorded: they're live releasing the song "5" on Friday, Sept. 27 at The Handlebar. The song even has its own signature cookie concocted by Itsa Cookie.
"It's called the 'Smile More' cookie based off one of the lyrics in the song," West said. "The lyric goes, 'Maybe this week you'll convince me to smile more with my teeth.' That's just a personal struggle of mine. My biggest insecurity is my teeth, so that's how that lyric came to be."
The good majority of the band's lyrics are
"I think a lot of times it's easy to ground yourself in all these negative thoughts and just stay there—when it's really just not good for you," West said. "Get up and move. Get some sunshine. Get some vitamin D. Go outside. Appreciate nature. Let nature appreciate you. Do some self-care, do some self-love. I know that's something that I'm still working on myself."
West's own self-care consists of reading, walking outdoors, painting, puzzles, video games and hanging out with his tabby cat Faye—who he found on a farm in Mississippi. Music, too, of course, is his therapy. Palmmeadow's soothing sound originates in West's love of lo-fi.
"Lo-fi is so embedded in this idea of nostalgia, because it just tickles a part of your brain that feels familiar, feels comfortable," West said. "I always want to hit on that whenever we're writing a song, just a melody that feels really good, feels like home."
"It's fun to laugh at," West said. "And maybe in projects for advertising or promos, we might add a little bug or something in there, but probably not." {in}
PALMMEADOW AT THE HANDLEBAR
WHAT: palmmeadow live with The Nova, Tuffalo and the Treewalkers; followed by a dance party hosted by DJ Hale
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27
WHERE: The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragonna St.
COST: $10
DETAILS: @thepalmmeadow, thehandlebar850.com
palmmeadow / Courtesy Photo
Enjoy a special evening of live music from The Dave Trimm Group 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at Goat Lips Chew & Brewhouse, 2811 Copter Road. All funds raised will support Santa Rosa Kid's House.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal
Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN
ADOPTION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.
CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD
DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.
ARTS & CULTURE
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS Enjoy a Pensacola Little Theatre production that takes place during the reign of King Henry VIII. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, Saturday, Sept. 21, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday Sept. 22. A Thursday performance is 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19. Tickets are $15-$45. Thursday performances are half off. Pensacola Little Theatre is located at 400 S. Jefferson St. Details are at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
PENSACOLA CINEMA ART: FALL SCREEN SERIES PCA presents screenings throughout September. "The Cowboy and the Queen" is 1
and held at 220 W. Garden St. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for details.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND: 'INSIDE OUT' The next Cinemas in the Sand is Friday, Sept. 20 with a screening of "Inside Out." Admission is free. Movies start at sunset at the Gulfside Pavilion stage, weather permitting. For updates, visit facebook. com/visitpensacolabeach.
GALLERY NIGHT: VIVA PENSACOLA The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. The theme is "Viva Pensacola." For details, visit gallerynightpensacola.org.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND: 'INSIDE OUT'
Enjoy a movie night on the Gulfside Pavilion stage at Casino Beach. Movie starts at sunset Friday, Sept. 20. Visit facebook.com/visitpensacolabeach for details and updates.
10TH ANNUAL FALL FLING ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Peruse holiday vendors
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at First Church of the Nazarene, 3475 Pine Forest Road. For details, visit facebook.com/handsandfeetofchristminstryevents
BLOW YOUR OWN PUMPKIN Muffinjaw Designs will be at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 for its annual Blow Your Own Pumpkin event. Register at muffinjawdesign.square.site.
BROWN BAG OPERA The next Brown Bag Opera is noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at The Opera Center, 75 S. Tarragona St. Event is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaopera.
FLORAL CLASS AT OYSTER BAY HOTEL
Create your own fall floral arrangement 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Oyster Bay Hotel, 400 Bayfront Parkway. Tickets are $75 a person and can be purchased at stayoysterbay.com/events.
DEPARTURE: THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER Pensacola Little Theatre fundraiser benefitting Pensacola Little Theatre is 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at the theater, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details are at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
SPOOKY SEASON OPENER DANCE
PARTY Head to The Handlebar Friday, Sept. 27, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. for karaoke, drag and a dance party DJ'd by DJ Hale. Karaoke starts at 11 p.m., drag show at midnight and DJ Hale's set at 1 a.m. Visit facebook.com/djhale850 for details.
THE ART GALLERY AT UWF PRESENTS TAG ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2024 'TESTBED' "TESTBED" 2024 Faculty Artist in Residence and Exhibition features UWF Department of Art and Design faculty members Marzia Ransom, Jason Pinckard and John Dougherty. Artwork will be displayed at TAG, in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway, Building 82, on the Pensacola campus. Following the open studio hours and reception, visitors can view completed works during the exhibition dates through Sept. 26. A closing reception is 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 in TAG. TAG is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and observes all UWF closures and holidays. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit uwf.edu/tag.
CELEBRATING 70: A HISTORY OF COLLECTING A new Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit runs through Sept. 29 featuring highlights of PMA's permanent collection at 407 S. Jefferson St. Details are available at pensacolamuseum.org.
KINGS AND QUEENS OPEN MIC COMEDY
Try your hand at stand-up comedy or watch others perform 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 Cervantes St. Details are at sirrichardslounge.com.
SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS
Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. Sundays. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.
BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE
BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.
CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret
Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.
SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.
AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.
BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
TAYLOR SWIFT TRIVIA Test your Swiftie knowledge 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. St. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.
THE GULF COAST FOOD TRUCK WAR Enjoy good food, live music and more by watching food trucks compete for bragging rights. Event starts noon Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3532 N. W St. For more information, call (850) 966-1917. Admission is $5.
ODDTOBER FEST The 2024 Oddtoberfest is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Entry is free. The event will feature a can and draught release, stein hoisting competition, authentic German food and pretzels and more. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.
BIERGARTEN LUAU Event is 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 with tropical brews, hula dancers, Hawaiian food plates and more at Gary's Brew, 208 Newman Ave. Details are at facebook.com/garysbrew.
WISTOBER FEST Wisteria will celebrate Oktoberfest with its party called WIStoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3808 N. 12th Ave. Event includes German music, food, lots of good German beer and games like pretzel eating, stein chug and stein hoist contest. If you dress up, your first German beer is free. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
a&e happenings
OKTOBERFEST AT EMERALD
REPUBLIC
BREWERY Enjoy six new beers, specialty German-style glass mugs, pretzel competition and live music 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at Emerald Republic Brewing, 1414 W. Government St.
O'RILEY'S OYSTER BASH Order raw or grilled oysters paired with featured drinks including the Honey Jalapeno Lemonade and a special beer flight. Event is noon Saturday, Sept. 21 at O'Riley's, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
OKTOBERFEST AT O'RILEY'S Each location in the O'Riley's Irish Pub Network will hold a stein holding event to celebrate Oktoberfest. Each location has a different date and time for the event. The competition at O'Riley's Irish Pub Downtown is 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. The competition at O'Riley's Uptown Tavern is Thursday. Sept. 26 at 9 p.m. The competition at Sir Richard's Public House is Friday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. The competition at Mugs & Jugs is Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 10 p.m. The top prize for each location will be a limited edition 2024 Oktoberfest stein. The event is open to people of 21 years of age and older. Visit orileyspub. com for details.
CRAFTS AND DRAFTS Classes are 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 26 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Both nights are mosaic crafts. Cost is $40-$65. Tickets and information are at facebook.com/garysbrew.
MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from. Wisteria is located at 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S SIN Night is 11 p.m. to close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND SIN Trivia is 9-10:30 p.m. Mondays, and SIN is 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of Bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m. to midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
75 CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House,
600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.
MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AND BINGO AT O'RILEY'S Visit O'Riley's Irish Pub for poker at 6:30 p.m. and bar bingo 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays at 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
LUNCH AT THE DISTRICT The District Steakhouse, 130 E. Government St., is open for special lunch seatings the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays, at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit
Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m. to midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9 -11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
a&e happenings
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
TRIVIA AT SIR RICHARD'S Flex your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Fridays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E. Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
POKER NIGHT AT SIR RICHARD'S Poker Night is 6 p.m. Saturdays at Sir Richard's Public House, 2719 E Cervantes St. Visit sirrichardslounge.com for details.
WEEKLY SATURDAY BRUNCH Brunch is 10
a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SHAMROCK SATURDAY Shamrock Saturday is 9 p.m. Saturdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
FREE POOL AND BAR BINGO AT O'RILEY'S TAVERN Enjoy free pool all day and play bar bingo 9-11 p.m. Sundays at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN
Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave.
Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AND KARAOKE O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St., hosts brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Karaoke begins at 8 p.m. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER
HOUSE Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.
LIVE MUSIC
BANDS ON THE BEACH Weekly concert series is 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Sept. 24 is Crosstown and Oct. 1 is Blind Mullets Band. For details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happening-bands-on-beach.
GRAVE CHORUS, TUFF TURF, DMPSY, BLSSR, USER ASSUMES RISK Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Cost is $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
SHENANDOAH Show is 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.
PARABELLUM/EXFORMATION, TREMORS, ROTTING WORLD Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $10 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
THE STEEL WOODS Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at vinylmusichall.com.
BLACK TUSK, HORSEBURNER, SOMNURI, SLUGGER Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
THE BUTTERTONES, SWMRS Show is 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
HIPPIE CULT DEATH WITH KADABRA Show is 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $12-$15 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
BALLYHOO! & MAD CADDIES Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at vinylmusichall.com.
WARREN HAYNES BAND: MILLION VOICES WHISPER TOUR Show is 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 24 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are at pensacolasaenger.com.
HOODS, SOUTHPAW, BLIND TIGER, SPIRAL Show is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at thehandlebar850.com.
HERAKLEION, HEMOLACRIA, HEMLOCK Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26 at The Handle -
bar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are available at thehandlebar850.com.
LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS Enjoy live music at Five Sisters, located at 421 W. Belmont St.
•Harrison Ave. 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20
•Charlie & the Hammerheads 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27
•Glen Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays
•Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY
Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE
QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
KARAOKE AT O'RILEY'S UPTOWN Sing your heart out 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays at O'Riley's Uptown, 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Few of the vegetables grown in the 21st century are in their original wild form. Many are the result of crossbreeding carried out by humans. The intention is to increase the nutritional value of the food, boost its yield, improve its resistance to insect predators and help it survive weather extremes. I invite you to apply the metaphor of crossbreeding to your life in the coming months. You will place yourself in maximum alignment with cosmic rhythms if you conjure up new blends. So be a mix master, Aries. Favor amalgamations and collaborations. Transform jumbles and hodgepodges into graceful composites. Make "alloy" and "hybrid" your words of power.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy," quipped Spike Milligan, a comedian. I propose we make that your running joke for the next eight months. If there was ever a time when you could get rich more quickly, it would be between now and mid-2025. And the chances of that happening may be enhanced considerably if you optimize your relationship with work. What can you do now to help ensure you will be working at a well-paying job you like for years to come?
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): The World Health Organization says 3.5 billion people in the world don't have access to safe toilets; 2.2 billion live without safe drinking water; 2 billion don't have facilities in their homes to wash their hands with soap and water. But it's almost certain that you don't suffer from these basic privations. Most likely, you get all the water you require to be secure and healthy. You have what you need to cook food and make drinks. You can take baths or showers whenever you want. You wash your clothes easily. Maybe you water a garden. I bring this to your attention because now is an excellent time to celebrate the water in your life. It's also a favorable time to be extra fluid and flowing and juicy. Here's a fun riddle for you: What could you do to make your inner life wetter and better lubricated?
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Cancerian rapper and actor Jaden Smith has won a few mid-level awards and has been nominated for a
By Rob Brezsny
Grammy. But I was surprised that he said, "I don't think I'm as revolutionary as Galileo, but I don't think I'm not as revolutionary as Galileo." If I'm interpreting his sly brag correctly, Smith is suggesting that maybe he is indeed pretty damn revolutionary. I'm thrilled he said it because I love to see you Cancerians overcome your natural inclination to be overly humble and self-effacing. It's OK with me if you sometimes push too far. In the coming weeks, I am giving you a license to wander into the frontiers of braggadocio.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Research by psychologists at Queen's University in Canada concluded the average human has about 6,200 thoughts every day. Other studies suggest 75% of our thoughts are negative, and 95% are repetitive. But here's the good news, Leo: My astrological analysis suggests the amount of your negative and repetitive thoughts could diminish in the coming weeks. You might even get those percentages down to 35% and 50%, respectively. Just imagine how refreshed you will feel. With all that rejuvenating energy coursing through your brain, you may generate positive, unique thoughts at an astounding rate. Take maximum advantage, please!
It's also a favorable time to be extra fluid and flowing and juicy.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): You have probably heard the platitude, "Be cautious about what you wish for. You might get it." The implied warning is if your big desires are fulfilled, your life may change in unpredictable ways that require major adjustments. That's useful advice. However, I have often found that the "major adjustments" necessary are often interesting and healing—strenuous, perhaps, but ultimately enlivening. In my vision of your future, Virgo, the consequences of your completed goal will fit that description. You will be mostly pleased with the adaptations you must undertake in response to your success.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The bird known as the gray-headed albatross makes long, continuous flights without touching down on
the ground. I propose we nominate this robust traveler to be one of your inspirational animals in the coming months. I suspect you, too, will be capable of prolonged, vigorous quests that unleash interesting changes in your life. I don't necessarily mean your quests will involve literal long-distance travel. They may, but they might also take the form of vast and deep explorations of your inner terrain. Or maybe you will engage in bold efforts to investigate mysteries that will dramatically open your mind and heart.
Dare to shed mediocre pleasures so you can better pursue spectacular pleasures.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): You are in a good position and frame of mind to go hunting for a novel problem or two. I'm half-joking, but I'm also serious. I believe you are primed to track down interesting dilemmas that will bring out the best in you and attract the educational experiences you need. These provocative riddles will ensure boring old riddles and paltry hassles won't bother you. Bonus prediction: You're also likely to dream up an original new "sin" that will stir up lucky fun.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Your spinning and weaving abilities will be strong in the coming weeks. I predict your knack for creating sturdy, beautiful webs will catch the resources and influences you require. Like a spider, you must simply prepare the scenarios to attract what you need, then patiently relax while it all comes to you. Refining the metaphor further, I will tell you that you have symbolic resemblances to the spiders known as cross orbweavers. They produce seven different kinds of silk, each useful in its own way—and in a sense, so can you. Your versatility will help you succeed in interesting ways.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Capricorn basketball player JamesOn Curry had the briefest career of anyone who ever played in America's top professional league. Around his
birthday in 2010, while a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, he appeared on the court for 3.9 seconds—and never returned. Such a short-lived effort is unusual for the Capricorn tribe—and will not characterize your destiny in the coming months. I predict you will generate an intense outpouring of your sign's more typical expressions: durability, diligence, persistence, tenacity, resilience, determination, resolve and steadfastness. Ready to get underway in earnest?
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): It's a good time for you to embrace the serpent, metaphorically speaking. You may even enjoy riding and playing with and learning from the serpent. The coming weeks will also be a favorable phase for you to kiss the wind and consult with the ancestors and wrestle with the most fascinating questions you know. So get a wild look in your eyes, dear Aquarius. Dare to shed mediocre pleasures so you can better pursue spectacular pleasures. Experiment only with smart gambles and high-integrity temptations, and flee the other kinds. P.S. If you challenge the past to a duel (a prospect I approve of), be well-armed with the future.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Panda bears don't seem to enjoy having sex. The typical length of their mating encounters is from 30 seconds to two minutes. There was a dramatic exception to the rule in 2015, however. Lu Lu and Zhen Zhen, pandas living at the Sichuan Giant Panda Sancuaries in China, snuggled and embraced for 18 minutes. It was unprecedented. I encourage you, too, to break your previous records for tender cuddling and erotic play in the coming weeks. The longer and slower you go, the more likely it is you will generate spiritual epiphanies and awakenings.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What can you do to boost your ability to have fun? {in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
INEXPLICABLE When Las Vegas police responded to a call in the wee hours of Aug. 27 about someone lying face-down on the ground outside a funeral home, they might not have expected the most obvious explanation: They found a dead body amid the landscaping, with a casket nearby on a rolling cart. KTLA-TV reported that a door to the funeral home was open, and flower petals were scattered on the floor leading out of the door. Investigators learned that the body was that of a person who had been the subject of a viewing the previous day, and surveillance video showed a woman breaking in and moving the casket outside. Police arrested Patricia Sierra, 47, the next day and charged her with grand larceny, burglary and disturbing human remains; she couldn't explain her actions, she said, because she had consumed six beers and blacked out. Sierra remained in jail on $11,000 bond.
THE PASSING PARADE On Sept. 10, as Delta Flight 295 taxied toward takeoff at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport, the Airbus A350 headed for Tokyo clipped the tail off a smaller plane, the Associated Press reported. No one was injured on either aircraft, but passengers had to deplane and be rebooked on later flights. Jason Adams, who was aboard the regional jet headed to Louisiana, posted to X about the collision: "Well that was terrifying. ... Very jarring, metal scraping sounds then loud bangs. We're fine. No fire or smoke," he wrote.
EWWWWW! How else do you celebrate Labor Day in Michigan than participating in a ranch dressing chugging contest? Fox17-TV reported that Zach Orvis of Belding, Michigan, won the first-ever competition at The Harmful Roester restaurant by downing 24 ounces of the creamy delight in 10 seconds, beating 11 other contestants. "I've seen people pour about that much on their salads, so what's the difference?" Orvis said. "I don't feel sick at all." Orvis won a $100 gift card and a free order of all-you-can-eat wings every week until spring 2025.
•People in the Netherlands spend more than 900 million euros on drugs each year. How do we know this? KWR, the research institute for drinking water businesses, analyzed sewage samples. NL Times reported that the researchers looked for residue of cocaine, speed and ecstasy between 2015 and 2022 in Dutch sewage treatment plants. "We are assuming a fairly conservative estimate," KWR researcher Thomas ter Laak said. "This provides insight into the size and consumers of the Dutch illegal drug market."
NINE LIVES Nicci Knight of Newby, North Yorkshire, England, was enjoying a vacation in Turkey when her neighbors let her know they had found her cat, Ted, drowned in their pond. "I had to break the news to my husband and our four children, and we were all absolutely devastated," Knight said. The BBC reported on Sept. 6 that Knight arranged for her pet to be cremated and went on with the holiday. But four days later, her cat sitter, who had been looking after the family's other cat, called
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
her and said Ted had just walked through the cat flap on the door. Knight realized she had "paid 130 pounds to cremate someone else's cat." After returning home, she collected the cremains, which had been labeled "Not Dead Ted." The family has not been able to trace the owner of the drowned cat; they believe it was probably a stray.
OVERREACTION A man suffered two brain bleeds, multiple skull fractures and multiple facial bone fractures, Las Vegas police said, after a convenience store clerk beat him with a bat for taking too much nacho cheese sauce. On Sept. 3, KSNVTV reported, officers were called to the store where the man was lying on the ground and bleeding. The person who called 911 asked the clerk, Myron Bullie, to call for help, but he responded, "I'm not going to call 911. He better have learned a lesson." Bullie told police he had warned the victim about taking too much cheese, but the victim said he wasn't leaving without it. Bullie is being held on $10,000 bond at the Clark County Detention Center.
GREAT ART The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations in Marseilles, France, is offering special visiting hours to naturists—people who shun clothing—until Dec. 9, Canoe reported on Sept. 2. Nude patrons will be welcome one evening a month to see the exhibition "Naturist Paradises," which is described as a "journey of discovery of the very first naturist communities, first in Germany and Switzerland, then in France," according to the museum. Although nudity is welcome, the museum will require visitors to wear shoes "to avoid getting splinters," an official said.
WAIT, WHAT? Earlier this year, social media star and model Suellen Carey, who lives in the United Kingdom, shared her wedding with her many followers, the Daily Star reported on Sept. 12. The ceremony was unconventional, as Carey married ... herself. She called her lifestyle "sologamy"—or she did, until she recently divorced herself, even after several rounds of couples therapy. "It's crucial to know when to end a cycle," Carey posted. "Even commitment to oneself can have its challenges, such as dealing with the expectation of being perfect for yourself all the time." She said she felt lonely in her self-marriage and her own company was "exhausting." We can only imagine.
IRONY While Britain's Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson was addressing senior police officers on Sept. 10 about an "epidemic of antisocial behavior, theft and shoplifting," someone lifted her purse from the hotel where she was speaking, the BBC reported. A member of the Home Office staff also had belongings stolen. Warwickshire Police said they had arrested a 56-year-old man from Coventry in connection with the burglaries; he was released on bail. {in}
