winners losers
PATRICK EMMANUEL, SR. One of the namesakes of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon recently passed at the age of 104. During World War II, Emmanuel served with the 30th Tank Destroyer Battalion and fought at the Battle of the Bugle, earning the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. When he returned to Pensacola, he concentrated his legal practice in real estate, corporate, banking, healthcare law, construction law, wills and estates and business litigation. Emmanuel served as Florida Bar President from 1985-1986. He was president of The Florida Bar Foundation from 1971-1973. In 1987, he was awarded The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award. In 2001, The Florida Bar Foundation awarded Emmanuel its Medal of Honor. He retired in May 2024 at the age of 94.
CATALYST HEALTHCARE REAL ESTATE
Florida Trend has named the full-service healthcare real estate development and investment firm one of Florida's "Best Companies To Work For" for the third consecutive time. The annual list ranks 100 companies in small, medium and large employer categories. To participate, companies or government entities were required to have at least 15 workers in Florida and to be in operation for at least one year. Companies that chose to participate underwent an evaluation of their workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The process also included a survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking.
ADAM PUTNAM
The former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is slated to become chairman of the Board of Directors of Alico, Inc., a major Florida citrus grower. Putnam is expected to become chairman in February when current Chairman George Brokaw completes his term. The Fort Myers-based Alico has extensive citrus and real-estate holdings. Putnam served two terms as agriculture commissioner before losing a 2018 bid for governor. He has served as chief executive officer of Ducks Unlimited since 2019. Before becoming agriculture commissioner, Putnam, a Republican from Polk County, served in Congress and the Florida House.
DOZIER SCHOOL
The legacy of the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys popped up last week when Loran Cole, an inmate of the now-shuttered Marianna facility, asked a judge to vacate his death sentence, arguing the state is "complicit in the horrific and tragic" abuse at the reform school that "contributed to his life choices." Cole is scheduled to be executed Aug. 29 at the Florida State Prison. The Dozier School was closed in 2011 after 111 years of operation. Researchers have found remains of dozens of students buried at the site, and other former students have never been located. Troy Rafferty and the Levin Papantonio law firm lobbied the Florida Legislature to pass a compensation bill for Dozier survivors this past session. Florida's Death Row has five other former Dozier inmates, ages 49 to 67, sentenced to death.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY
An Okaloosa County judge dismissed the county's lawsuit against Gannett, owner of the Pensacola News Journal, former county employee Jonathan Owens and Alex Arduini, after finding Escambia County "failed to prove that its claims were with merit and not primarily because a party has exercised its right to free speech in connection with a public issue." Under Florida's Anti-SLAPP law, Gannett, Owens and Arduini can collect court costs and attorney fees. After the big deal the newspaper made about the county paying $49,132 to defend Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender in a lawsuit filed by Bruce Childers, how much will the nation's largest newspaper chain ask the county to pay?
DELTA AIR LINES
The air carrier says July's global IT outage cost the company $550 million. Delta has complained about CrowdStrike, whose software update brought a "Blue Screen of Death" to millions of Windows computers. CrowdStrike claimed it offered assistance within hours of the incident and has threatened legal action. Delta says 60% of its mission-critical applications and backup systems used Windows and CrowdStrike. The airline canceled nearly 7,000 flights after the July 19 system failures.
Photo Courtesy of Florida Digital Service
Patrick Emmanuel, Sr. / Photo Courtesy of Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
A DIRECT STAKE
Donald Trump's running mate, Sen. JD Vance, drew criticism earlier this month for comments during a 2021 interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
"We're effectively run in this country via the Democrats, via our corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made," Vance said.
He called out Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for being people without children. Vance said, "How does it make any sense that we've turned our country over to people who don't really have a direct stake in it?"
Recently, Vance pushed back against the criticism. He told the media in Philadelphia, "What I said is very simple. I think American families are good, and government policy should be more pro-family. Now, if the media wants to get offended about a sarcastic remark I made before I even ran for the United States Senate, then the media is entitled to get offended."
His team has told reporters the remark was taken out of context and referred to America's leadership class, not adults in general who don't have children. However, Harris and Buttigieg, who are leaders, have children. Harris is a stepmom, and Buttigieg and his husband were in the process of adopting when Vance made his remark. However, they didn't meet his definition of parents.
The notion adults who conceive a child via sexual intercourse are the only individuals who have a direct stake in our nation's future is ludicrous. In Vance's world, adoption, In vitro fertilization, surrogate births and stepchildren don't qualify you for his exclusive club. Having a child doesn't make someone more qualified to run this country or give them a more significant stake in its future.
The Sackler family owns Purdue Pharma and made billions selling OxyContin, the prescription painkiller that sparked the opioid crisis, kills more than 100 people daily and has spawned millions of addicts. In 2007, Purdue Pharma pled guilty to misleading regulators, doctors and patients about
OxyContin's addictiveness. Nearly every state has filed lawsuits against the company.
The Sacklers and the fathers and mothers that led Purdue Pharma were driven by greed. The only future they cared about was their own. The same can be said for the families that ran Big Tobacco and the other mega-corporations who have settled billion-dollar lawsuits over the years because of the harm their products have caused.
Decisions about children and family are intensely personal. Telling women they are only vital if they have kids sounds too much like an episode of "The Handmaid's Tale." The politicians who demand more women have more kids, regardless of whether they want them or can have or afford them, are just as likely to be on the wrong side of history as those who want to ban books.
Meanwhile, Republicans try to position their party as the "pro-family" party. However, their actions don't match their spin. On Aug. 1, Republican senators blocked a bipartisan bill from the House that would have expanded eligibility for the child credit. In June, they stopped legislation that would have made it a right nationwide for women to access in vitro fertilization.
Only two Republicans voted for the Right to IVF Act, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Murkowski has two sons, and Collins is married but has no children.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a father, refused to spend $12 million on administrative costs to receive $250 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Grocery Benefit for Kids program, known as Sun Bucks. Escambia County had 29,760 children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches during the 2023-24 school year. We lost out on receiving $3.57 million to help feed them this summer.
$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger
American families are more than a man, a woman and a litter of children they birthed. Parents in politics or holding public offices don't necessarily make better decisions than adults without kids. Supporting and accepting all Americans is the best government policy.
We all have a direct stake in this nation's future. {in} rick@inweekly.net
By Tom St. Myer
RECRUITING, RETAINING UWF STUDENTS
Saunders said. "It's a team effort and one that is paying off. From the day they arrive, students are getting the tools they need to progress smartly to graduation. We keep their eyes on the prize."
STUDENT SUPPORT
The team includes data analysts who utilize the Predictive Analytics and Modeling Lab. The lab transforms data into actionable insights, including demographics, course performance and advising notes.
"One of the things they've built is an at-risk model," said Jaromy Kuhl, the provost. "We use it to determine where students might need support. When they come to us, we know how to target student support resources."
Exceptional student support is a UWF hallmark. The university sets the tone at the beginning of the academic year with Argo Arrival events, including a family welcome, new student convocation, free food and games, an outdoor movie and a party at Pensacola Beach.
ment include academic advising for first-year students. Each of the four colleges and the School of Education employ academic advisors to pick up where first-year advisors left off as UWF advises students throughout their academic journey.
"Students have a lot of needs. They need good advising," Saunders said. "They don't need to be lingering around college for six or seven years. They need to be moving on and getting into the next stage of their lives."
PLAN FOR SUCCESS
Success in recruiting, retaining and ultimately graduating students starts with the strategic enrollment plan. The current version began taking shape in 2022 and launched the following year. The university relied on eight working groups that covered topics including first-time in college, transfer, international and graduate recruitments. The groups remain active in refining the plan.
Available housing on campus is an issue. Each year, the seven residence halls fill up fast, and the waiting list is long. UWF reached its max capacity of nearly 1,560 in April, with 400-plus students turned away. The university is in the early stages of identifying financing for a new 250-bed residence hall.
"Right now, housing is full, and we're in the process of doing our market study for a new residence hall and probably will need to," Saunders said. "We're moving as fast as we can because living on campus does make a difference. It does, especially in those first couple of years, they just do better."
Another concern for UWF is hiring enough faculty to maintain a relatively low student-toteacher ratio. Traditionally, class sizes at UWF range from 20 to 25 students. That ratio allows students to interact one-on-one with their professors.
A sea of blue and green clad students will arrive on the University of West Florida campus this week. For the fourth consecutive year, the university will welcome a record number.
Last year, UWF topped 14,000 students for the first time in its 58-year history. The enrollment numbers for this fall semester will be finalized in a few weeks, and UWF President Martha D. Saunders said a possibility exists the university will top 15,000 students.
UWF is bucking the nationwide trend. Since 2011, college enrollment has decreased by about 1.5% each year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
So why is UWF the exception?
Saunders said the university thrives by constantly refining its strategic enrollment plan, diving deep into student data and providing robust student engagement and support. Excelling in those three areas positions UWF to recruit and retain students at record rates.
The Florida Board of Governors measures second-year retention rate with a GPA above 2.0, and UWF checked in at 86.8%, the highest academic progress rate in university history.
"UWF has been intentional about student retention, and we are seeing impressive results,"
Efforts to connect with students extend beyond Argo Arrival events and last throughout the academic year. The Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs offers programs and services that include social involvement experiences, student support services, academic and learning resources and high-impact learning opportunities.
The division especially prioritizes the health and well-being of students, offering resources, programs and services that focus on strengthening the eight dimensions of well-being. The eight dimensions include emotional, physical, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, social and spiritual.
"We have been making a lot of investments in what we call a culture of care for our students," said Dr. Greg Tomso, vice president of academic engagement and student affairs.
"When we say that, we mean understanding their needs and that their needs are met. … "In the 21st century, education can't be students show up on campus, tough it out on their own, and if they get a degree, great for them. They have to feel they have a sense of belonging, and we have a culture on campus that supports students in feeling they are part of our community."
Student support services offered by his depart-
"It helped propel us to be successful. It's not a plan that's been drafted and put on a shelf," said Ethan Henley, director of undergraduate admission.
A record number of applications led UWF to close its freshman admissions window in June, a month earlier than in 2023 and two months earlier than in previous years, according to Henley. The transfer admissions window closed about six weeks earlier than usual.
The university offers more than 110 undergraduate and graduate programs, and a selling point to prospective students is that if you graduate, you will find a job. Nearly 80% of UWF students who earn bachelor's degrees find jobs or pursue graduate degrees within one year of graduation. UWF ranks second among the 12 state universities in that distinction.
Another feather in its cap is that its graduates rank third-best among state universities in median wage. UWF graduates earned a median wage of $53,000 in 2021-22, the last year tabulated by the Florida Board of Governors. The impact is certainly felt in Northwest Florida. UWF generates local incomes and wages of about $1.2 billion annually.
CHALLENGES SURFACE
Take all of that into account, and UWF is an easy sell to prospective students. An influx of students presents its share of challenges, though.
Saunders said UWF has already added about 50 new faculty members, and if you check its job opportunities webpage, there is no shortage of teaching positions listed. Saunders said the university is hiring quality faculty as fast as possible to keep the student-to-teacher ratio low.
"It's a good problem to have, but at the end of the day, quality matters," Saunders said. "Our students are taught by ranked faculty. Our graduate students are taught by ranked faculty and professional faculty. … We're always out there trying to find the right fit, someone that meets the needs of our students. We have to pay a lot of attention to our faculty as well and provide them with the techniques that they need to do well in the classroom. It's constant. We never slow down, but it's kind of fun."
Kuhl first arrived at UWF in 2005 and remembers a university with about half the number of students and few on-campus activities. He said the growth in the nearly 20 years since has been nothing short of remarkable.
"It's no longer a quote, unquote dead campus where most of the students are commuters," Kuhl said. "We have lots of students on campus now, lots of activity on campus. It just makes for a more vibrant place to learn. With our incoming (firsttime college student) class, the GPAs and test scores are all up. We're getting good students here at the university. It makes for a good place to learn and educate people." {in}
Photo Courtesy of UWF
CASINO BUZZ Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics reported last week the Poarch Band of Creek Indians have formally asked Governor Ron DeSantis' office for a Gaming Compact and have begun discussions to that end, said a source involved with the negotiations.
In 2021, Gov. DeSantis signed a Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which gave the tribe exclusive rights to specific gaming activities in Florida. The Seminole Tribe owns six casinos in Florida, including the Hard Rock hotels and casinos in Hollywood and Tampa. It shares a percentage of the revenue with the state. The agreement ends July 31, 2051.
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians runs the Wind Creek casinos in Alabama and owns OWA in Baldwin County, Ala. Last year, its affiliate PCI Gaming Authority paid $96 million for Miami's Magic City Casino.
Schorsch predicted should the state enter into a Gaming Compact with the Poarch Band, its footprint could substantially expand in the Sunshine State.
He may be right. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians already own the Pensacola Greyhound Track in southwest Escambia County. They have the funds to expand into the Florida Panhandle.
NOT A HUMAN SHIELD
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves called out private parking lot owners and operators during his weekly press conference Aug. 6, asserting some are using confusion to make money by misleading drivers. He accused them of using "predatory practices" by creating confusion over who owns the lot and making money on the parking and any fines while letting the blame fall on the mayor and city.
The mayor reviewed the rules under the new Florida law, Statute 715.075, which went into effect July 1. He said, "This ultimately puts some muchneeded additional requirements and accountability as it pertains to allowing parking on private lots."
The new requirements include:
1) The owner or operator of the private parking lot must place signage clearly visible to the people entering that lot that says a governmental entity does not operate this property.
2) It should list the rates for the parking charges for violating the rules of the property.
3) The owner/operator should provide a working phone number and an email address to receive questions and complaints.
4) They should provide notice of a 15-minute grace period for camera-operated private lots when the driver pulls into a lot, as long as the driver doesn't take a parking space.
5) The signage should also have clear rules about their appeal process.
The mayor added the signage may be regulated by the city or county in which the property is located.
"An invoice for the parking charges issued must include the following statement in uppercase: 'THIS INVOICE IS PRIVATELY ISSUED, IS NOT ISSUED BY A GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY, AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES,'" Mayor Reeves said. "If you are given an invoice for parking charges, that's why you hear the word 'invoice' not 'ticket' because there is no legal ability for a private law owner to give any kind of ticket that the city could give. It must include a method to dispute and appeal the invoice."
Any appeals must go to the owner/operator first, Reeves said. If drivers want to appeal, they have 10 days after receiving that judgment and can appeal to a neutral third-party adjudicator.
He said his staff is reviewing how to codify the new law and "explore every option we have to hold private lot owners accountable to following these rules." The mayor added that no private parking lots comply with the rules.
"I'm so thankful that the state legislature has taken on this business model that is completely formulated around using the mayor and the city as a human shield," Mayor Reeves said.
He pointed out that one operator confuses drivers by using a company named "Municipal Parking" to collect its parking invoices.
"This business model thrives and generates revenue by creating confusion and making it seem as if this is coming from the city," Reeves said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't call the ticket 'municipal parking.' That is completely an attempt to scare someone into paying a ticket at which they'd have no legal obligation to do so."
"As you guys can imagine, we're already inheriting our own parking changes and dealing with the changes in that and the anxiety that causes," he said. "In our survey many months ago, we asked 5,000 people who use parking downtown, 'Does the city control the blue lots or the red lots?' Thirty-one percent of people who use our parking think that we control the red lots, and that's exactly part and parcel of what this business model is tempting to do."
Mayor Reeves continued, "Creating the confusion and leaving the problem and the obligation to the mayor or the city—as to any predatory practices—is not fair to the city. It's not fair to the resident, and frankly, what it leaves us with is when a visitor comes here and parks in our town and gets a ticket in the mail, and they don't delineate between whether the mayor gave it out or whether a private law gave it out, what they said is, 'I had a bad time in Pensacola, I got a ticket.'"
HARD ROCK MOMENT The day before the Pensacola City Council approved a ground lease for Inspired Communities of Florida to build a hotel and apartments at the Community Maritime Park, Hard Rock International announced development plans for REVERB by Hard Rock® Pensacola to break ground in 2026 and open in 2029 as part of the Inspired project.
REVERB by Hard Rock® is a hotel brand designed to be a "cultural hub for connection, creation and inspiration among music fans, locals and travelers alike," according to its website, reverb.hardrock.com. The Pensacola hotel marks the company's sixth REVERB property joining the portfolio. Atlanta and Hamburg, Germany, have hotels open, and Kalamazoo, Mich., Tampa and Scottsdale, Ariz., are under development.
"Hard Rock is thrilled to keep growing our REVERB hotel portfolio with what will be the second planned property in Florida, this time in the heart of Pensacola Bay," said Todd Hricko, senior vice president and head of Global Hotel Business Development at Hard Rock International. "We have full confidence in our partner, The Dawson Company, to deliver a best-in-class hotel based on their four decades of proven experience executing complex and catalytic projects throughout the eastern United States and their extensive knowledge of the Pensacola market."
REVERB by Hard Rock® Pensacola will feature more than 125 hotel technology-enhanced rooms, a full-service restaurant, a rooftop bar, a lobby bar and lounge, a quick-service restaurant and a fitness center. The property will host a podcast recording studio for local talent and creators and a conference meeting space.
The hotel project is expected to create an economic boost to the area and generate 500-plus construction and 75-plus permanent hospitality employment opportunities with competitive pay. The design team includes Gensler, the world's largest preeminent architectural design firm, and Kravitz Design, the global conceptual design firm helmed by music and style icon Lenny Kravitz.
"With its roots in music, entertainment and philanthropy, Hard Rock is a wonderful partner for The Dawson Company to continue extending our real estate footprint," said Tamara Bowens, the president and chief operating officer for The Dawson Co. "We are truly excited to bring the REVERB by Hard Rock to the City of Pensacola, and we look forward to also working closely with Gensler, Kravitz Design and Thornton Tomasetti to develop what's to become an incredible mainstay in Pensacola."
MASTER PLAN STANDS Escambia
County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh affirmed his commitment to the OLF-8 master plan after protestors appeared at the Board of County Commissioners meeting Aug. 1.
"I'm not going to vote for anything that violates the master plan," he said. "The master plan was the agreement between the county and those residents, and I'm going to honor it."
Several Beulah residents protested a proposed distribution center for OLF-8. They carried signs stating, "No Warehouse on OLF-8."
"They are concerned about their way of life, and they perceive some of the information that's come out as not complete and as a threat to their lifestyle," Bergosh said. "It's an unfortunate circumstance because we are under a nondisclosure agreement, but this is really a dynamic company that's coming in. We've got two more companies behind them. I wish I could talk more about it, but I hear them (Beulah residents); I'm listening to them."
The OLF-8 master plan allows for mixed-use with residential, retail and community amenities along Nine Mile Road and commercial and light manufacturing near Frank Reeder Road.
"What we will have are good jobs-generating companies," Bergosh said. "We're going to have some thoughtful residential development. We're going to have a town center and green space."
PERDIDO BEACH ISSUE
The condo associations for La Riva III, Portico, Mirabella, Ocean Breeze, the Palms of Perdido, and Windemere have filed a lawsuit to determine whether Escambia County has an easement for the public to use 75 feet of the beach behind their condominiums.
In April 2023, Escambia County was negotiating with Perdido Key condo associations along the Gulf of Mexico for a 20-foot easement for lifeguard stands. Resident Mike McCormack said that he had seen a survey that listed a 75-foot easement (Inweekly, "Perdido: Private or Public?" 4/20/23).
County Property Attorney Steve West confirmed the language in an email to the commissioners. He wrote, "Attached is the first of several emails transmitting the original 1957 deeds to the
Seminole Hard Rock, Hollywood, FL / Photo by YES Market Media / shutterstock.com
properties along the Gulf of Mexico in Gulf Beach Subdivision. The deeds are in order (Lots 1 through 64), and each has the same language that the southerly 75 feet are subject to a perpetual easement for beach and public use generally."
Commissioner Jeff Bergosh used his discretionary funds to purchase the lifeguard stands at Access Points 2 and 3.
Robert Powell of the Moorhead Law Group represents the condo associations. He doesn't see the issue as a sensationalized battle between condo owners and the county.
"At its core, it is essentially a real property dispute that really boils down to some pretty esoteric and boring real estate law," he told Inweekly. "And I understand it's an emotionally charged issue, but at the end of the day, what this is about, is this easement valid or not? We're seeking a determination of that."
Powell questions the manner of the easement's creation, and if it was validly created, is the easement still enforceable? He gave a thumbnail sketch of the litigation.
"We don't believe it was validly created; that's our first position," the attorney said. "Even if it was, it's not enforceable. As we sit here today, Florida law favors the marketability of title to real property, and the Marketable Record Title Act provides a vehicle to extinguish somewhat ancient claims like this 1957 easement that's been asserted by the county."
Powell expects the case to take years to decide. "This is a case that will ultimately be decided by an appellate court, whether that's the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee or the Florida Supreme Court. Given the importance of the issue, I believe that's where it will ultimately be determined."
JOB CREATION PLAN
At his press conference, Mayor D.C. Reeves also discussed his recent phone call with ST Engineering.
"There have been reports filed on the overall hiring, but they have not been pertained to a specific hangar," Reeves said. "I've asked for a strategic plan for growing the workforce also by Sept. 1. That is something that has been asked for in previous years. I'm not sure if it's been provided, so we're asking for that now."
He said ST Engineering leadership will come to Pensacola during the first week of September and "walk through that strategic plan of how we're going to build this workforce here and what that investment is."
The mayor added, "Then my goal would be to turn soon after that and go to FloridaWest, CareerSource EscaRosa, PSC (Pensacola State College) and UWF (University of West Florida) and have a conversation about making sure that we're all on the same page with clarity about how we maximize this economic development investment that our taxpayers would pay."
He later said the Escambia County School District will also be invited to the meeting. "I believe the school district is one very pertinent party at the table, and what I hope is that we've got clarity on all sides."
The mayor's goal is to have a clear picture of ST Engineering's future staffing needs and how our community partners develop a plan to meet those needs.
"OK, ST Engineering, you're going to create this amount of jobs. What I don't want ST to say is that the community has not stepped up in a clear way to provide those opportunities in any way," Mayor Reeves said. "But then it works the other side, too. We're going to go step up and do that, so now you (ST Engineering) are accountable for doing what you say you're going to do. Right now, it's just too ambiguous."
INCREDIBLE RESPONSE The Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035 visioning survey closed July 31. The survey received 1,316 responses, with significant representation from our key demographic groups thanks to the city's outreach initiatives.
Regarding race and ethnicity, 72% of respondents were white (compared to 66% of the Pensacola population), and 27% were people of color (compared to 34% of the Pensacola population). Among this, the city heard from 173 African American respondents, a significant size.
Regarding income, the city collected surveys from 273 respondents with an income is less than the citywide median of $68,000, another significant size. Through its pop-up engagement throughout the summer and additional focus groups, the city heard from 97 youth, meeting its target for that age group.
TRUSTWORTHY APPLICATIONS The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking applications from county residents to be nominated for gubernatorial appointment to Escambia Children's Trust. To be considered, applicants must submit the completed Escambia Children's Trust application and questionnaire for gubernatorial appointments with an optional resume by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20. The links can be found on myescambia.com.
Resumes and both applications should be submitted via email to boardapply@myescambia.com.
The Board of County Commissioners will nominate three applicants per vacancy to be submitted to the governor for review and potential appointment. Following the Board's selection, the county administrator will notify the governor's appointments office of the selected applicants and additional steps from the nominees may be required.
To be considered for the Escambia Children's Trust, Florida Statute criteria include the requirement that nominees have been residents of Escambia County for the previous 24 months and are willing to submit an annual Statement of Financial Interests Form. Florida Statutes also require that gubernatorial appointments represent the demographic diversity of the County's population.
Per Section 125.901, Florida Statutes, the Escambia Children's Trust shall comprise 10 members. Gov. DeSantis appoints five members from candidates nominated by the Board of County Commissioners to serve a four-year term.
Visit escambiachildrenstrust.org for more information. {in}
Love it or hate it, summer is almost over.
To help you survive the homestretch, we've put together this handy to-do list with some can't-miss local events and our current pop culture obsessions. From themed dance parties to new coffee spots, we tried to include something for just about everybody. So read up and get ready to make the most of what's left of the season. {in}
Shop, sip and support a good cause at the Mystic Rodeo fundraiser event Sunday, Aug. 18 @mysticrodeo
Cool off with a cold brew at Good Day, Darling @goodday.darling
Get your crime-comedy-Selena Gomez-fix when "Only Murders in the Building" returns Tuesday, Aug. 27 to Hulu @onlymurdershulu
Plan a lunch date at O.G. Lola's at the Pensacola Liberation Center @o.g.lolas
Have an 'Angsty August' with A24's Teenage Dream Series at AMC Theaters Wednesday, Aug. 21 or Aug. 28 amctheatres.com/events/a24-presents-a-teenage-dream-series
Visit The Florida Room @thefloridaroom.at.alga
Take in a Wahoos game before the season wraps up bluewahoos.com
Pre-order a copy of "Intermezzo" (if you haven't already) bookshop.org
And if you need something to read while you wait try "Evenings and Weekends" by Oisín McKenna bookshop.org
Show off our 'Pink Pony Pride' at Chappell Roan Night Friday, Aug. 30 vinylmusichall.com
And go ahead and save the date for Charli XCX Night while you're at it Saturday, Sept. 28 vinylmusichall.com
Have a great dinner for a great price during Great Southern Restaurants Summer Restaurant Week happening now through Sunday, Aug. 18 greatsouthernrestaurants.com
Stream for the queens when "RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars" debuts Friday, Aug. 16 on Paramount+ paramountplus.com
Try your luck at Music Bingo every Tuesday at Odd Colony Brewing Co. oddcolony.com
Order the Pickle De Gallo Burger from the MI SU Street Food summer menu before it's too late misustreetfood.com
Buy some art and support Palestine at the same time at the People's Art Market fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 24 @psl_cgc
Get your tickets for Night Moves Fest nightmovesfest.com
Add at least one track from "This Is How Tomorrow Moves" to your summer '24 playlist beabadoobee.com
and "Short n' Sweet" too when it drops Friday, Aug. 23 sabrinacarpenter.com
Vote! in the Primary Election Tuesday, Aug. 20 escambiavotes.com
And if you still need to do a little research check out our Primary Guide inweekly.net/2024-primary-guide
a&e happenings
NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS
PUPS OF PENSACOLA CALENDAR
CONTEST
WolfGang Pensacola, LLC, in partnership with Hoff House Pet Photography, returns with the 2025 Pups of Pensacola Calendar Contest. Proceeds, after costs and fees, from the photo contest and calendar sales will assist with continuing their efforts to provide resources for area animals in need. Submit your favorite photo of your pets and ask your family and friends to vote for them (and you can vote for your cutie, too). Each entry is a $15 fee, and each vote is $1 with proceeds, after costs and fees, going to the fourth annual Pawdi-gras benefactor, the Escambia County Department of Animals Welfare. Details are available at gogophotocontest.com/wolfgangpensacola.
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.
CALL TO ARTISTS
2024 POP SHOW & EXHIBIT The Wide Angle Photo Club has opened registration for the 2024 Power of Photography show in November. All amateur and professional photographers are welcome to participate and compete for cash prizes and sponsor merchandise. Photographers may enter unlimited photos online. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 18. The late entry is through Aug. 18 with a fee of $15. For details, visit wideanglephotoclub.org/contest.
ARTS & CULTURE
GALLERY NIGHT: CAR SHOW The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 in downtown Pensacola on South Palafox Street. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for details.
MEWVIE NIGHT AT COASTAL CAT CAFÉ
Snuggle with adoptable cats while watching "Ella Enchanted" at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16. Tickets are $32 and includes complimentary popcorn,
hot chocolate or hot tea. More information at coastalcatpcola.com.
DUNK TANK COMEDY Comedians try to make you laugh or get thrown in the dunk tank. Event is 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at Laguna's, 460 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Must be 18 or over. Tickets available at pimg.fyi/dunk-tank-comedy-tickets-vp
INCORRUPTIBLE Watch this Studio 400 Production at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 16 and 23, Saturdays, Aug. 17 and 24, 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 18 and 25. A Thursday performance is 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Tickets are $20-$30 at pensacolalittletheatre.com.
CINEMAS IN THE SAND: 'THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS' The next Cinemas in the Sand is Friday, Aug. 16 with a showing of the animated feature "The Secret Life of Pets." Movie starts at sunset from the Gulfside Pavilion stage on Casino Beach. Visit facebook.com/visitpensacolabeach for details.
BOOKSTORE ROMANCE DAT AT BODACIOUS Visit Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St., for a day filled with romance books, pop-ups with Golden Gypsy and Peyton's Petals, and activities such as making your own romance trope button station. All day at Bodacious Bookstore Saturday, Aug. 17 starting at 10 a.m. Visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
JOE HOBBS GLASS SECOND SALE Joe
Hobbs Glass will host the ninth annual Second Sale 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at the 1060 Gallery located at the First City Arts Center. Shop a wide variety of beautiful glass pieces, from one-off prototypes to discontinued series and perfectly imperfect pieces.
HOT WAX VINYL FAIR Fair is noon Sunday, Aug. 18 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St., with records, live DJs and beer releases. Details are at facebook.com/oddcolony.
BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE ROMANCE
BOOK CLUB The next book club is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20 with the discussion of "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto. The Romance Book Club meets every third Tuesday at Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
OPERA UNIVERSITY Join Pensacola Opera and learn the history of the opera chorus, as well as the important role they have played in operas throughout all style periods. Event is 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Pensacola Opera Center, 75 Tarragona St. Admission is free but RSVP is required. Sign up by registering for a ticket though the link at facebook.com/ pensacolaopera.
BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE FANTASY
BOOK CLUB The next Fantasy Book Club meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Bodacious Bookstore, 110 E. Intendencia St. The group will discuss "Guards! Guards!" by Terry Pratchett. Details at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.
PENSACOLA OPERA CHORUS AUDI -
TIONS Audition for the 42nd season opera chorus 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the Opera Center, 75 Tarragona St. Register through the link at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.
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. An opening reception is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 in TAG. Following the open studio hours and reception, visitors can view completed works during the exhibition dates Aug. 22- 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.
a&e happenings
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
HAWAIIAN STREET FOOD CLASS Class is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 with Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $60 a student. Tickets are available at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
COASTAL CALIFORNIA WINE DINNER
EXPERIENCE WITH CHEF CHRIS VOORHEES Dinner is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 at Bodacious, 407 S. Palafox St. Ste. C. Cost is $90 and tickets are available through the link at facebook. com/bodaciousshops.
ALGA BEER COMPANY THREE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY Stop by Alga Beer 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18 at 2435 N. 12th Ave. with beer releases, live music, new merch and more. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco.
LNO: SUMMER VIBES Ladies Night Out cooking class is 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Tickets are available through the link at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: FLAVORS OF FLORIDA Classes are 5 and
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Jackson's, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (850)686-3149 or emailing jessica@goodgrits.com
MINDFUL EATING: BREAKFAST
ESSENTIALS Cooking class is 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Tickets available through the link at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
FAMILY CLASS: CHARCUTERIE LUNCH
BOX Build a charcuterie lunch at this class 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Ste. C. Tickets available through the link at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.
CORN DOGS AND CORN LOGS Choose from three corn lagers paired with corn dogs at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Event is 12-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. Details at facebook.com/oddcolony.
O'RILEY'S IRISH PUB BARTENDER CHAMPIONSHIP 12 bartenders will compete making unique cocktails at this championship taking place 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25 at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. A portion of proceeds raised will benefit the Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program. Tickets are $26 and includes samples of cocktails. Tickets can be purchased at orileyspub.com.
GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join Green Thumb Wines for a wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. Cost
is $15, which can be applied to a bottle purchase of your choice. For more information and tickets, visit greenthumbwines.com/collections/events.
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.
a&e happenings
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 on the third Friday of the month. Enjoy a $5 martini or house wine. Seatings are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Reservations are accepted but not necessary. Details are available at districtsteaks.com.
DOLLAR NIGHT Enjoy Dollar Night 8 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays, at Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
SECOND TUESDAY THEMED TRIVIA Visit
Perfect Plain Brewing Co. for themed trivia nights 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at 50 E. Garden St. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night is 8 p.m. to midnight Wednesdays at O'Riley's
Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.
TRIVIA AT O'RILEY'S Test your trivia knowledge 8-10 p.m. Wednesdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
SIN NIGHT AND KARAOKE Karaoke is 9 p.m.-1 a.m. and SIN specials are 11 p.m.-3 a.m. at Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. Visit mugsjugsbar.com for details.
TRIVIA AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS
Take part in trivia nights 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.
SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT
FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.
PITCHERS AND TAVERN TRIVIA Get deals on pitchers 8 p.m. to midnight at O'Riley's Tavern. Trivia is 9 -11 p.m. Thursdays at 3728 Creighton Road. Visit orileystavern.com for details.
DOLLAR NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Dollar Night with a DJ starts 8 p.m. Thursdays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.
TRIVIA UNDER THE TREES Trivia is 6 p.m. Thursdays at Wisteria Tavern, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.
THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT
Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back by popular demand 7-9 p.m. Thursdays at 208 Newman Ave. Test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.
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 RICHARDS'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 Sunday brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 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. Aug. 20 is Yard Lights and Aug. 27 is Cristi Dee's Bad Juju. For details, visit visitpensacolabeach.com/whats-happeningbands-on-beach.
ERIC JOHANSON, JOHN HART PROJECT Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Tickets are $15-$20 and available at handlebar850.com.
CANDLELIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO TAYLOR SWIFT Enjoy the music of Taylor Swift as you've never heard before. 9-10:15 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 at First United Methodist Church, 6 E. Wright St. Tickets are $32 and available at feverup.com.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
free will astrology
WEEK OF AUGUST 15
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Years ago, when I worked as a postal delivery person in Santa Cruz, Calif., I mastered my route quickly. The time allotted to complete it was six hours, but I could easily finish in four. Soon I began to goof off two hours a day, six days a week. Many great works of literature and music entertained me during that time. I joined a softball team and was able to play an entire game each Saturday while officially on the job. Was what I did unethical? I don't think so, because I always did my work thoroughly and precisely. Is there any comparable possibility in your life, Aries? An ethical loophole? A workaround that has full integrity? An escape clause that causes no harm?
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): From an astronomer's perspective, Uranus is huge. Sixtythree Earths could fit inside of it. It's also weirdly unique because it rotates sideways compared to the other planets. From an astrologer's point of view, Uranus symbolizes the talents and gifts we possess that can be beneficial to others. If we fully develop these potentials, they will express our unique genius and be useful to our fellow humans. It so happens that Uranus has been cruising through Taurus since 2018 and will mostly continue there until 2026. I regard these years as your best chance in this lifetime to fulfill the opportunities I described. The coming weeks will be especially pregnant with possibilities.
By Rob Brezsny
ulate that if there's a situation in your life that resembles Norgay's, you will get remediation in the coming months. You will receive more of the credit you deserve. You will garner the acknowledgment and recognition that had previously been unavailable. And it all starts soon.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): As an American, I'm embarrassed by the fact that my fellow citizens and I comprise just 4% of the world's population but generate 20% of its garbage. How is that possible? In any case, I vow that during the next five weeks, I will decrease the volume of trash I produce and increase the amount of dross I recycle. I encourage you, my fellow Cancerians, to make a similar promise. In ways that may not be immediately imaginable, attending to these matters will improve your mental health and maybe even inspire you to generate an array of fresh insights about how to live your life with flair and joy.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): The coming weeks will be a wonderful time to waste time on the internet. If you are properly aligned with cosmic rhythms, you will spend long hours watching silly videos, interacting with friends and strangers on social media, and shopping for products you don't really need. Just kidding! Everything I just said was a dirty lie. It was designed to test your power to resist distracting influences and mediocre advice. Here's my authentic counsel, Leo. The coming weeks will be a fantastic phase to waste as little time as possible as you intensify your focus on the few things that matter to you most.
"oblate spheroid." It's rounded but not perfectly round. It looks like a partially squashed sphere. An Iraqi man named Ibrahim Sadeq decided to try the difficult task of arranging as many M&M's as possible in a vertical stack. He is now the world's record holder in that art, with seven M&M's. I am imagining that sometime soon, Libra, you could achieve a comparable feat in your own domain. What's challenging but not impossible?
I hope you will also seek the best and purest of everything.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): I've heard many people brag about their hangovers. The stories they tell are often entertaining and humorous. One of my best laughs emerged in response to two friends describing the time they jumped on the roof of a parked Mercedes-Benz at 3 a.m. and sang songs from Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Falstaff" until the cops came and threw them in a jail cell with nothing to eat or drink for 10 hours. In accordance with astrological omens, Scorpio, I ask you to not get a hangover in the coming weeks, even an amusing one. Instead, I encourage you to studiously pursue extreme amounts of pleasurable experiences with only good side effects.
SAGITTARIUS
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Mountaineer Edmund Hillary is renowned as the first person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. It happened in 1953. Less famous was his companion in the ascent, Gemini mountaineer Tenzing Norgay. Why did Hillary get more acclaim than Norgay, even though they were equal partners in the monumental accomplishment? Was it because one was a white New Zealander and the other a brown Nepalese? In any case, I'm happy to spec-
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Scientific research suggests brushing and flossing your teeth not only boosts the health of your gums, but also protects your heart's health. Other studies show if you maintain robust microbiota in your gut, you're more likely to avoid anxiety and depression as you nurture your mental health. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to focus on big-picture thoughts like these, Virgo. You will be wise to meditate on how each part of your life affects every other part. You will generate good fortune as you become more vividly aware and appreciative of the intimate interconnectedness that underlies all you do.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The official term for the shape of a single piece of M&M candy is
(NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Most famous musicians demand their dressing rooms be furnished with specific amenities. Beyoncé needs rose-scented candles. Rihanna expects her preparatory sanctuary to have dark blue or black drapes topped with icy blue chiffon. Eminem insists on a set of 25-pound dumbbells, and the hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd wants Super Soaker water guns. Because the coming weeks may be as close to a rock star phase of your cycle as you've ever had, I recommend you create a list of your required luxuries. This imaginative exercise will hopefully get you in the mood to ask for exactly what you need everywhere you go.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Sleep deprivation is widespread. I see it as a pandemic. According to some studies, over half the people in the world suffer from insomnia, don't get
enough sleep or have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Most research on this subject doesn't mention an equally important problem: Many people aren't dreaming enough. And the fact is that dreaming is key to our psychological well-being. I bring this to your attention, Capricorn, because the coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your relationship with sleep and dreams. I encourage you to learn all you can and do all you can to make your time in bed deeply rejuvenating.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Only 47 people live on the volcanic Pitcairn Islands, which are located in the middle of nowhere in the South Pacific Ocean. Pollution is virtually nonexistent, which is why the honey made by local bees is the purest on the planet. In accordance with astrological omens, I'd love for you to get honey like that in the coming weeks. I hope you will also seek the best and purest of everything. More than ever, you need to associate with influences that are potent, clear, genuine, raw, vibrant, natural and full-strength.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Many Indigenous people in North America picked and ate wild cranberries. But farm-grown cranberries available for commercial use didn't appear until 1816. Here's how it happened. In Cape Cod, Mass., a farmer discovered a secret about the wild cranberry bog on his land. Whenever big storms dumped sand on the bog, the fruit grew with more lush vigor. He tinkered with this revelation from nature and figured out how to cultivate cranberries. I recommend this as a teaching story, Pisces. Your assignment is to harness the power and wisdom provided by a metaphorical storm or disturbance. Use it to generate a practical innovation in your life.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What do you want but think you're not supposed to want?{in}
freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com © 2024 Rob Brezsny
news of the weird
BUT WHY? Lalita Kayi, 50, was discovered on July 27 in a forest about 280 miles from Mumbai, India, the BBC reported, chained to a tree. Kayi initially told her rescuers that her husband had shackled her to the tree and "left her in the forest to die without food or water." But police and her doctor say the American woman tied herself to the tree. After treatment in a psychiatric hospital, Kayi admitted that she is not married and was distressed because her visa and money were running out. Her doctor, Sanghamitra Phule, said Kayi's condition is improving and she has been in touch with her family in the U.S.
DO. NOT. INSULT. THE. CHEF. Georgetown County (South Carolina) Sheriff's officers were called to a home on July 28 on reports of an assault in progress, Fox59-TV reported. Deputies were told that the fight started while siblings Anthony Harper and Hope Harper were cooking chicken. Hope Harper allegedly asked her brother "why he didn't season the chicken ... so it could crust up," the report said. When Hope called Anthony a "dumb dog," he pushed her into a table and punched her. Someone else in the home fired a 9mm handgun into the ceiling, hoping to stop the brawl, but no—Hope retrieved a steak knife and started swinging it at her brother. Next, their grandmother swatted Hope with a broom until she backed off. But Anthony, his chef cred cruelly questioned, picked up a can of Raid bug spray and sprayed Hope on the neck and face until she grabbed the can and sprayed him back. Each of the siblings is pressing charges against the other; both were released on bond.
FEELING EEL About 150 people in and around Tokyo were stricken ill, and one person died, in late July after eating grilled eel sold at a department store, the Associated Press reported. The eel was prepared by a local restaurant chain and sold in the grocery area of the Keikyu department store, officials said. Roasted eel is considered a tonic against the summer's extreme heat; more than 1,700 servings of the dish were sold at the shop.
FINE POINTS OF THE LAW Evans Lee Jr. of Atlanta passed away on Oct. 26, 2022, the Atlanta Black Star reported. Because he left no will, Georgia law called for the nearest living relative to ask the probate court to make them an administrator, which is just what Randy Watson, 48, did. The problem: Watson was not related to Lee. Georgia's probate court does not require proof of being a rightful heir to an estate, so Watson became the executor, filling in false details on Lee's death certificate and listing Watson as the decedent's son. In response, Lee's nephew, Trahan Brown, was granted a courtordered paternity test that confirmed Watson was not related to the dead man. But before the court could reverse his executorship, Watson had cleared out most of Lee's belongings, sold his home, and collected his urn of ashes. "There was never an opportunity to go in the home, clean the home, none of that," said Brown's wife,
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
Renee. Authorities have opened an investigation into Watson and the funeral home.
BRIGHT IDEA On July 31, police responded to a fire in the early morning hours at a U-Haul business in Roseburg, Oregon, KEZI-TV reported. One van was fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to a second vehicle. Security footage from the area identified Jennifer Denise Holmes, 47, whose van with Nana's Sweet Treats on the side could be seen in the area. When officers spoke with Holmes, she admitted to siphoning gas from the U-Haul and then lighting a cigarette. She was charged on Aug. 3 with firstdegree criminal mischief and reckless burning.
HAUTE DOG CBS News reported on Aug. 7 that fashion house Dolce & Gabbana is going to the dogs. The designer has launched a perfume for dogs called Fefe in honor of Domenico Dolce's poodle. A 3.4-ounce bottle will set you back $108, and the company claims veterinarians approve of the alcohol-free scent. But apparently not ALL veterinarians. Federico Coccia, a vet in Rome, isn't a fan: "Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by smell. ... This world of smells should not be changed," he said. He also noted that some diseases are made apparent by their odors, and the perfume could mask those. Dog owner Francesca Castelli agrees: "It seems to be a very exaggerated process of humanization," she said.
FIELD REPORT Visitors to downtown Orlando, Florida, might be used to seeing pigeons on the rooftops—but not THESE pigeons. ClickOrlando reported on Aug. 6 that giant, brightly colored, inflatable pigeons are about to be installed on several of the city's rooftops. Creative City Projects, an arts group, is bringing the birds in to draw more visitors downtown. At 21 feet long and 16 feet high, the neon pigeons are expected to "foster a greater appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings in an urban environment," said Ashley Papagni, a city spokesperson.
IT'S A MYSTERY Officials in Sioux City, Iowa, are stumped by the appearance of several blue crabs around the city, Oddee reported on Aug. 5. The first incident happened at the Sioux City Public Library on July 30, when a crabby visitor was found in the computer lab (which is on the second floor). Circulation services manager Jenn Delperdang said the crab "must have been hungry for knowledge. We really have no idea the journey that this crab had to get to the library." The staff called Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center to retrieve "Chester," but he passed on two days later. Another crustacean pinched customers of a vending machine in a neighboring downtown building as they tried to retrieve their soda. {in}
