Inweekly Jan 7 2021 Issue

COVER TO COVER

Independent News | January 7, 2021 | Volume 22 | Number 1

Inweekly's 2020 Hits & Misses FREE â–¶

winners & losers

outtakes

4

buzz

5

6

The stars aligned.

cover story

news 8

a&e

10

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

contact us info@inweekly.net

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

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

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winners & losers

Alyssa Pascoe & Colin Waldie / Chain Reaction

winners ALYSSA PASCOE & COLIN WALDIE

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, these teens reorganized the Human Jukebox service project at Chain Reaction and raised $300 to sponsor eight weeks of music lessons for children at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. The Human Jukebox usually consists of 10-12 teens who get together for the fall semester to create Christmas ornaments and to practice a Christmas choir performance at the Palafox Market in late November. This year, however, the performance got canceled due to the risk of COVID-19. Pascoe and Waldie decided to take things into their own hands. The pair met once a week at the Chain Reaction center throughout the fall semester and handcrafted over 80 Christmas ornaments for the fundraiser.

GOODWILL GULF COAST MacKenzie

Scott, the former spouse of Jeff Bezos, recently donated $5 million to Goodwill Gulf Coast, which is the largest private donation in the organization's 64-year history. The gift enables Goodwill Gulf Coast to expand its efforts to equip people with essential job skills and other forms of support that they need to move forward with their lives and onto sustainable career paths.

Since 1956, Goodwill Gulf Coast has been governed by a local Board of Directors and has served 10 counties in Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida.

FAMILY PROMISE OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY A Community Thrives, a grant-

making and crowd-funding program from USA TODAY and a part of the Gannett Foundation, gave the nonprofit a $7,500 local operating grant for its first year of serving children and their families experiencing homelessness. A Community Thrives supports nonprofit organizations with projects focused on community building and has helped to contribute more than $12 million since 2017. Family Promise of Escambia County was named one of 180 regional grant winners this year. The nonprofit helps families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.

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losers WEAR-TV The ABC affiliate decided to

ignore an embargo and released a press release concerning a vaccination event four days before the rest of the media. Professional news outlets honor requests for an embargo. The event was a Florida Division of Emergency Management pilot program to distribute the vaccine to 500 underserved adults aged 65 and over in Escambia County scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 3. The county email stated, "The release is embargoed, so the site is not overwhelmed by the general public arriving without appointments during this pilot." WEAR-TV chose to release the information on Wednesday, Dec. 30, when they saw it on Facebook. Maybe the station didn't understand what "embargo" means.

FDOH ESCAMBIA To avoid being swamped by citizens 65 and older calling its office, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County last week announced that citizens could only make appointments for the COVID-19 vaccination via SurveyMonkey form. Even then, the FDOH Escambia website stated, "Completion of this form confirms interest in vaccination.

It does not secure an appointment for vaccination. FDOH Escambia will schedule appointments based on supply availability." Pensacola City Councilwoman Sherri Myers hopes Mayor Grover Robinson and his staff will set up a system to help elderly citizens without computer access register for the vaccination. Maybe the local health department will develop a better process by the time this issue hits the stands, but this was a horrendous start for the agency.

MITCH MCCONNELL The U.S. Senate

President blocked President Donald Trump and the House of Representatives' effort to increase the COVID stimulus checks to $2,000 by including two other controversial measures demanded by Trump—investigation of election security and the removal of legal protections for social media platforms. Trump signed a $900 billion stimulus package, and House Democrats passed a bipartisan bill increasing the payments on Monday, Dec. 29, which forced McConnell to act. inweekly.net

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

WHO TO WATCH Here are a few of the people I will be watching in 2021:

ROBERT BENDER

The District 4 county commissioner is the new chairman of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners. He spends long hours in this county office and has been the first to defend the county administrator and her staff. Though most of his district is inside the city limits, Bender has been reluctant to fight for city initiatives, such as a mask ordinance and other COVID safety measures, or CARES Act dollars for the city.

Will he figure out how to work with Pensacola officials or continue to be at odds?

DEBBIE BOWERS

The assistant county administrator over infrastructure and public safety will have her first anniversary in April. She supervises corrections and public works, two departments that had significant challenges last year. The commissioners repeatedly had to demand the county jail implement a COVID testing program. By Aug. 31, only 237 inmates had been tested. When three commissioners won their primaries, the testing increased so that 544 more were tested by Dec. 30. Public Safety is like a multi-car crash at the Snowball Derby. Public safety directors have about a six-month tenure with the county. We hear County Administrator Janice Gilley would like to put Bowers in charge of economic development, but the assistant administrator has to prove she can fix her other departments first.

TENIADÉ BROUGHTON

I can't wait to see the impact that the new District 5 council member will have on city government. As the president of the John Sunday Society and chairperson of the Escambia County Equal Justice Initiative, Broughton has already been an agent for positive change in the community.

RON DESANTIS

What will the Florida governor do without Donald Trump in the White House?

Will he continue to hide COVID reports and data from the public? Will he work with or against the Biden administration to help his constituents? Will he start wearing better fitting suits?

January 7, 2021

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DAVID MORGAN

Will he run for the mayor of Pensacola?

Many city hall watchers think it's a foregone conclusion that the recently retired three-term sheriff will challenge Grover Robinson. Others question why someone would give up the most powerful elected position in Escambia County for the headaches of running city government.

If Morgan does pre-file, we expect a marathon slugfest until the 2022 election.

LAWRENCE POWELL

Mayor Grover Robinson rewarded the minister who helped his 2018 mayoral campaign by naming Powell his neighborhoods administrator in July 2019. Powell's responsibilities include serving as a liaison between the City of Pensacola, nonprofit agencies, neighborhood groups and other community stakeholders, along with providing recommendations for long-range community development programs. According to the press announcement, Powell was to ensure that no citizens are left behind as the city continues to grow and progress. Meanwhile, the Black community still feels the city underserves it, and gun violence has become a big issue inside the city. We need to see measurable results.

MICHELLE SALZMAN

A freshman state lawmaker is like watching a puppy or kitten learn their environment. Mistakes will be made. Things will be broken. But it's fun to see them grow and enjoy the world. Replacing former Rep. Mike Hill won't be a challenge. Showing up for work and making friends puts her ahead of the Portofino firebrand. Salzman brings energy to her job and already has shown a willingness to take on the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. She will be a strong advocate for military veterans and families.

CHIP SIMMONS

The new Escambia County sheriff worked his way up the Pensacola Police Department ladder and served as police chief under Mayor Ashton Hayward.

His next two jobs were assistant county administrator under Jack Brown and chief deputy under Sheriff Morgan. Now, he's under nobody. Will he change the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, or will the law enforcement agency change him? {in} rick@inweekly.net

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Photo Courtesy of The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart

NEW PEDIATRIC ICU OPENS The

Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart is opening a new pediatric intensive care unit and operating rooms designed specifically for pediatric surgeries.

The 10-bed pediatric intensive care unit will replace a unit built 25 years ago at the former Children's Hospital building on Ascension Sacred Heart's Ninth Avenue campus. The six operating rooms and two new procedure rooms mean that pediatric surgeries will no longer be performed in the same ORs currently used for adult surgeries.

The new $19 million surgical facility and ICU opened on Monday, Jan. 4. It is the only one of its kind in Northwest Florida, with the latest pediatrics surgical technology and pre-surgical and post-surgical recovery areas designed just for children.

"This investment in specialized pediatric facilities reflects our ongoing commitment to provide the children and families of our region with the safest, highest level of care," said Will Condon, president of the Children's Hospital. "No other hospital in Northwest Florida provides this level of expertise, training, technology and equipment that is dedicated solely to caring for children."

The new facilities are an addition to the 126-bed Studer Family Children's Hospital that opened in 2018.

"The physical, emotional and developmental needs of children are quite different from adults, so when they are sick or injured, they need pediatric facilities and physicians, nurses and therapists trained for their care," said Dr. Bryan Weidner, a pediatric surgeon at the Children's Hospital.

"Their bones are still growing, their blood vessels, organs and airways are much smaller, 66

their hearts beat faster and the dosages of anesthesia and other drugs have to be different," continued Dr. Weidner. "This means the clinical care and treatment environment for children must be different from care of adults, which is what we provide here at Northwest Florida's only children's hospital."

For more information, visit studerfamilychildrenshospital.com.

VACCINES GIVEN On Sunday, Jan. 3, the

Florida Division of Emergency Management ran a pilot vaccination program for 500 senior citizens, ages 65 and over, at the Brownsville Community Center.

Interim Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore said that Escambia County was one of two Florida counties chosen for the pilot program. County Commissioner Lumon May credited the Brownsville Community Center's selection with how well the facility handled the distribution of water and ice after Hurricane Sally.

"The state reached out to Pastor Horton of Brownsville Assembly of God and me and said that they wanted to do two sites in the state of Florida as test sites for the distribution of the vaccine," said Commissioner May. "I think they reached out to us because of the coordination we did in Brownsville with FEMA on the ice and the water distribution."

The commissioner pulled in Gilmore, Community Health and the local office of the Florida Department of Health. He reached out to local pastors to help schedule senior citizens for the vaccine.

"I think that we probably had representation from every church here today," said Commissioner May. "We had our Vietnamese churches, we had Pentecostal churches

and we had our traditional African American churches, as well as white churches. It was a pretty diverse group receiving the vaccine."

Gilmore told Inweekly that 445 people had signed up for the vaccine, and he planned to let walk-ins receive the remaining vaccines.

"In the first 45 minutes, 77 people were vaccinated," he said. "We only had three noshows and handled five walk-ins."

Gilmore said all the county's first responders that wanted the vaccine would receive the shot by Monday, Jan. 4. The hospitals have completed vaccinating their employees and will begin to move the supply to their clinics. Walgreen's and CVS are handling the nursing homes.

The next distribution stage will include essential workers, such as the city of Pensacola, Gulf Power and those employers with inhouse clinics. Walgreen's, CVS and the pharmacies at Publix and Walmart are expected to handle the distribution to the general public.

Commissioner May talked about the importance of building relationships with state agencies and having a reputation in Tallahassee for getting things done.

"We've earned the reputation that we can quickly mobilize and the facility," said May. "With the programs that we put in at Brownsville, like Escambia CARES and all of the work we do with Community Health, the governor's office knew would could deliver the vaccine to those in need."

By the end of the day, the community center vaccinated over 580 people, thanks to FDOH Escambia providing additional vaccines to handle the walk-ins.

BATTLE FOR GARCON TOLL On Monday, Dec. 28, bondholders asked Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper to quickly order the Florida Department of Transportation to reinstate toll collections on the Garcon Point Bridge where tolls have been suspended since Hurricane Sally struck in September.

The attorneys for UMB Bank, the trustee for bondholders, have asserted the hurricane emergency lasted "only two or three days."

Early last year, Judge Cooper forced FDOT to increase tolls on the bridge, and in this last week's filing, the attorneys claimed the state agency had "yet again thumbed its nose at its obligations."

The attorneys also wrote, "Not only is the department not collecting the increased tolls on the bridge, it is now allowing completely scot-free use of the bridge for three months and counting."

In suspending the tolls, FDOT has cited executive orders issued by Gov. Ron DeSantis that declared a state of emergency in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. While it is common for the state to suspend tolls because of hurricanes, as it tries to help with such things as evacuations, attorneys for

UMB Bank have argued that such a suspension should not continue for months.

The underlying battle about toll revenue stems from about $95 million in bonds that the state-created Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority issued in 1996 to build the bridge— known in Tallahassee as "Bo's Bridge" because it was championed by former state House Speaker Bo Johnson of Milton.

The bridge opened in 1999, and inadequate toll revenue was complicated by the fact that the bridge authority has been effectively defunct since 2014, according to court documents.

Under a lease-purchase arrangement, the Department of Transportation operated and maintained the bridge for the authority and remitted tolls to the bondholders. UMB Bank said in court papers that bondholders were owed $134.9 million as of July 1, 2018, a number that has continued to grow.

However, Judge Cooper ruled in November that FDOT could not be forced to pay damages to bondholders, which prompted UMB Bank to appeal the damages issue to the 1st District Court of Appeal.

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS Escambia County turns 200 years old Saturday, July 17, and the 200th Anniversary Commission is excited to celebrate and share the county's rich history and unique heritage with the public.

Created on the same date in 1821, Escambia and St. Johns counties were Florida's two original counties, covering the entire territory within modern state boundaries. The Suwannee River was the border between Escambia and St. Johns counties, which follows a winding path from the northern border of the state to the Gulf of Mexico. Essentially, the Escambia County government had jurisdiction over the "panhandle" and "big bend" areas and St. Johns over the remainder of the entire state.

The 200th Anniversary Commission members are: •Dr. Judy Bense, chair and historical archaeologist, 18th century •Margo Stringfield, co-chair, historical archaeologist •Rob Overton, director, UWF Historic Trust •Dr. Elizabeth Benchley, historical archaeologist, 18th and 19th century •Darien Schaefer, president/CEO, Visit Pensacola •Nicole Stacey, Director of Marketing and Communications, Visit Pensacola •Jack Brown, former City and County administrator •Dr. Brian Rucker, historian, Northwest Florida •Gregg Harding, historic preservation planner, City of Pensacola •Maria Goldberg, Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Events, Great Southern Restaurants •Dr. Marion Williams, local historian and African American leader •Dr. Bill Lees, historical archaeologist, 19th inweekly.net

century; and executive director, Florida Public Archaeology Network •Teniadé Broughton, Pensacola City Council; president, John Sunday Society; member of Pensacola Save Our Structures •Laura Coale, director for communications and public information, Escambia County The new website, visitpensacola. com/200th, includes a feature to submit an event for review. Click the "submit an event" tab and fill in the information. Due to COVID-19, event organizers are requested to submit plans that include backup plans, virtual options and precautionary measures.

EMS SHAKE UP 3.0 County Administrator

Janice Gilley has named Emergency Manager Eric Gilmore as Escambia County's interim public safety director. Gilmore has served as the emergency manager since January 2020.

He replaces Jason Rogers, who resigned from the job after about six months.

EMS Manager Jimmy Maddrey also stepped down to become an Escambia County sheriff's deputy. Maddrey was promoted to EMS operations manager in August 2019 after EMS Medical Services Manager Leon Salter and EMS Captain Jim Bonoyer resigned. Gilley later named him interim and then full-time EMS Manager within nine months.

After Maddrey's announcement, Gilley named Billy Shipp, Escambia County EMS operations manager, to be her interim EMS manager, effective Monday, Jan. 4.

KEY HOUSE APPOINTMENT Florida Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls has appointed Rep. Jayer Williamson (R-District 3) as chairman of the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee to help guide the state's budgeting efforts over the next two years.

"I am honored to be named a chairman of Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee under Speaker Sprowls and grateful for the trust he has placed in me with this significant appointment," said

Williamson. "Serving as a subcommittee appropriations chair again this term allows our region to have a continued voice in the budget process and ensures we bring adequate funding back home to Northwest Florida."

As an appropriations subcommittee chairman, he will also serve on the full House Appropriations Committee. Williamson is only one of only seven House members appointed to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, allowing him the opportunity to work with members of both the House and Senate on the state budgeting process.

The Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee makes budget recommendations for the following state agencies—Department of Economic Opportunity, Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, Department of Military Affairs, Department of State and the Department of Transportation. Additionally, he will serve as a member of the newly created Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee as well as the Rules Committee, the Finance & Facilities Subcommittee and the Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight.

off at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 21, at the Roger Scott Athletic Complex, 2130 Summit Blvd.

2021 Cordova Mall Ball: The 26th annual event will be held virtually Saturday, Jan. 30. Proceeds will be designated for the Bear Family Foundation Pediatric Oncology Center for Hope, now under construction at the Studer Family Children's Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart.

The Virtual VIP package for $65 includes a drive-in style viewing of the event at Cordova Mall, entertainment by a New Orleans-style jazz band, a to-go style meal from one of our participating restaurants and an exclusive swag bag of goodies.

"We are thrilled to be able to continue this event in a new way in 2021 to benefit children battling cancer," said Carol Carlan, president of Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation. "This new center will provide areas where a family can enjoy some family togetherness during a challenging time in their lives."

Guests can register at cordovamallball. com. For event information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jennifer Saba at jennifer.saba@ascension.org.

CLIMATE CHANGE Morgan Stanley finan-

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT The Escambia

cial advisors Chesley Allegri and Jacey Cosentino will outline a climate change and fossil fuel aware investment strategy at a virtual meeting co-sponsored by 350 Pensacola and Healthy Gulf at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

The presentation highlights key investment opportunities that can help clients meet their long-term financial goals while helping with the transition to a low-carbon economy. Event registration is available at bit.ly/2WWeJjr.

COVID-19 EVENT CHANGES Mardi Gras Postponed: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the postponement of another Pensacola cornerstone event. Pensacola Mardi Gras Grand Carnival Parade will take place Saturday, May 29, in downtown Pensacola. The Mardi Gras celebration will kick

County Board of County Commissioners is seeking county residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the West Florida Public Library Board of Governance.

The duties of the board include establishing policy and overseeing the management of Escambia County library services and making recommendations to the BCC regarding the annual budget according to the purposes and authority set forth in resolutions, interlocal agreements and other agreements, as well as state and federal laws. These duties also include establishing an annual plan of service and the long-range strategic planning of library services.

West Florida Public Libraries provides service to all of Escambia County, with the board typically meeting on the fourth Monday of the month from 4-6:30 p.m.

Residents interested in serving on the board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by close of business on Friday, Jan. 29. Resumes should be submitted to Todd J. Humble, Director, West Florida Public Libraries, 239 N. Spring St., Pensacola, FL 32502, or by email to tjhumble@mywfpl.com.

Please be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.

CITY PLANNING BOARD The City of

Pensacola Planning Board will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 222 W. Main St. Agenda materials are available at bit.ly/2L6Yiy2.

Members of the public may attend the meeting in person, but there will be limited seating capacity. Consistent with CDC guidelines, attendees will be required to sit at least 6 feet apart and to wear face coverings that cover their nose and mouth.

Members of the public may attend and participate via live stream and/or phone.

To watch the meeting live, visit bit. ly/3rHVtEA. To provide input for the open forum, for items not on the agenda, citizens may submit an online form at bit.ly/3o5c1UA 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. only to indicate they wish to speak during the open forum and include a phone number. Staff will call the person at the appropriate time so the citizen can directly address the planning board using a telephone held up to a microphone.

For agenda items, citizens may submit an online form at bit.ly/3o5c1UA beginning at 2 p.m. until that agenda item has been voted upon to indicate they wish to speak to a specific item on the agenda and include a phone number. Staff will call the person at the appropriate time so the citizen can directly address the planning board using a telephone held up to a microphone. Any form received after an agenda item has been voted upon will not be considered. {in}

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7

THE STUDER IMPACT During the holidays, Studer sat down with Inweekly and talked about his efforts to help Pensacola attract and keep talent.

He admitted that not every idea worked as he had hoped, such as the Century Business Challenge, Studer Communications and Springfest Revival, but he hasn't been afraid to take risks.

"We've got to go big," said Studer.

"It's like three steps forward, two steps back, three steps forward, two steps back, and some of them aren't backward steps.

They're solidifying things or getting better use out of something that you didn't maximize the first time."

STEPS BACK

Quint Studer / Photo courtesy of Studer Community Institute

By Rick Outzen Few individuals have had a more significant impact on Pensacola over the past two decades than Quint Studer.

The former Baptist Hospital president and health care consultant and his wife Rishy first came into the Pensacola spotlight when they purchased a defunct independent baseball team, the Pensacola Pelicans, midway during the 2002 season. Studer has been swinging for the fences ever since.

His progression has been steady. The baseball team led to Studer leading the fight for a downtown stadium as part of a maritime park development across from Pensacola City Hall. Through a series of complicated deals, the team evolved into a Major League Double-A club, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, which recently was named the Double-A Organization of the Year.

His 2006 fight to win the citywide referendum to build the maritime park led to Studer creating the first the Better Pensacola Forum, which developed the Quality of Life survey that measures the public's attitudes about the area, and then the Studer Community Institute, which focuses 88

on early brain development, civic engagement and economic development.

As part of his commitment to the maritime park, Studer agreed to build an office building, the first high-rise downtown office building in decades, to be the headquarters for his Studer Group. However, he and Rishy didn't stop building and renovating there.

They renovated the former home of WBOP and Gus' Record Shop at the corner of Belmont and DeVilliers streets to create the Five Sisters Blues Cafe. The Studers also bought the north corners of Government and Palafox streets that had been vacant for years and created the SoGo District, which houses their Bodacious Shops and half a dozen other restaurants and retail shops.

They moved into the housing market with Southtowne and Savoy Place and also built the Urban Core Building and acquired the SunTrust Building on Garden Street.

As crucial as the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park has been to the revitalization of downtown Pensacola, Studer's biggest impact may have come in the last decade when he moved from working within the system to changing the system into one that others have started to model.

In 2013, Studer tried to get Mayor Ashton Hayward and the Community Maritime Park Associates Board's approval to lease Parcel 8 for a downtown YMCA. The CMPA board rejected the plan and tried to redirect the nonprofit away from the waterfront. Seven years later, the parcel remains empty. The Studers pledged $5 million to the new downtown YMCA and fulfilled that commitment when the facility was later built on Intendencia Street.

Studer shared that the idea for the YMCA at the maritime park came from Atlanta developer Harold Dawson, who told him, "YMCAs are becoming economic engines for communities. (Parcel 8) would be a great spot for a YMCA. You've got the water.

People would love to come down there. Plus, if you put it way over here, all these people are going to have to walk to it, so all that land in front of it becomes much more desirable."

"It just so excited me I could hardly stand it because it just made so much sense," said Studer. Others, such as Teri Levin, Lewis and Belle Bear and the Switzers, also became excited and made financial pledges to the project. He thought what also made the project a no-brainer for the city was the YMCA would pay market value for the lease.

"We thought we had it, and then all of a sudden, some people started talking. People began saying the Y was a terrible idea."

Quint Studer "We thought we had it, and then all of a sudden, some people started talking," he remembered. "People began saying the Y was a terrible idea. That needs to be this.

That needs to be that."

While the Pensacola City Council voted for the CMPA to negotiate on Parcel 8, the CMPA board members interpreted the vote to include other parcels, too, and approved the lease for any of three parcels—but not the waterfront one the YMCA had requested.

Studer said, "We walked away, and it just bothered me because it seemed just to make so much sense."

Later that year, the Studers purchased the News Journal building and its parking lot behind Seville Quarter. The sites now include the Southtowne Apartments, Urban Core Building and the new downtown YMCA. The YMCA wasn't Studer's only failed effort to help develop vacant park parcels.

In 2015, he proposed leasing maritime park sites for a $20 million UWF Center for Entrepreneurship, a conference center and another building that would house a childcare facility and sports museum. He won the support of the Pensacola City Council and CMPA, only to have Mayor Hayward and Council President Andy Terhaar block a final council vote and demand the Studers renegotiate the deals.

The proposal had begun with a meeting between Studer and Brendan Kelly, University of West Florida's vice president for University Advancement. Studer said, "We'll give you a million bucks for the center, but we'd also like to build a building, which was around $20 million, and if we build a building, would UWF consider moving some of their things down here?"

Studer offered the city a lease similar to the one the CMPA had negotiated with Beck Partners, the only non-Studer building at the park. He said, "We held a press conference at the Voices of Pensacola museum, and everything, I think, is going down the road. The next thing you know, we're in a ditch again."

He felt he had offered the city the best deal possible because he lives in Pensacola and wouldn't want a "sweetheart deal" that would hurt the city. He said he told city officials, "I'm going to give you the best deal I can, and I'm not going to negotiate because if I come back and negotiate, that means I wasn't giving you a fair deal in the first place."

Once again, Studer walked away from city hall, but not from the idea of building an ecosystem to support entrepreneurs.

Though the mayor had nixed the center, the Studer Community Institute (SCI) stayed the course and held in 2015 its first EntreCon, a two-day seminar that brought national business speakers to Pensacola. Two years later, he and Rishy purchased the SunTrust Building that has become the home for SCI, the Center for Civic Engagement and The Spring, his entrepreneurship initiative.

STEPS FORWARD

Having two well-researched proposals rejected by the local government pushed Studer to seek other means to improve his adopted hometown. While at Studer Group, he talked about the concept of needing a burning platform for change. The term comes from the decision people make inweekly.net

on a burning offshore rig—do they jump 15 stories into the ocean or stay on the platform and possibly burn to death?

Studer lamented that too many people were willing to turn down good projects for something else that may never happen, which is precisely what has happened at the maritime park. He saw the need for a burning platform in Pensacola.

"I started having breakfasts at my house, and I invited a whole mixed bag of people—young, black, white, male, female, the whole bit," he said. "I gave them all the book to read by Jim Clifton, 'The Coming Jobs War,' in which he talked about how it comes down to talent."

He continued, "As they read that book, you could just see we were coming together on a common understanding. Somebody asked—it wasn't me—'How can we educate the community?'"

Studer recognized the need for a civic conversation about best practices on several topics, like city planning, streets and tree preservation. He asked Christian Wagley of Sustainable Town Concepts to find the best well-known urban planners in the United States and ask them to come and speak in Pensacola. He agreed to pay whatever fee they wanted. The News Journal liked the idea and signed on as a partner, which led to the creation of CivicCon and Center for Civic Engagement that is led by former New Journal publisher Terry Horne.

Studer credits the daily newspaper for CivicCon's success, "The News Journal's been a huge part of this because they carried the word and would write a column on the people. I don't think CivicCon would have been successful without the News Journal."

"Everybody's trying to figure out how to get the communities better and how to get more civic engagement. I'm not saying CivicCon is the answer, but it's part of the answer." Studer The first CivicCon featured Chuck Marohn, the co-founder of Strong Towns.

Over 275 people signed up to come to the

Pensacola Little Theater, and another 5,000 people watched it streamed live over the web. Studer said, "It was almost like, 'Whoa, there's a lot of pent-up demand for people.'"

"What I love about CivicCon is I know there were people in there on the polar opposite ends of their parties," said Studer.

"But, man, when they came into that theater and talked about safe streets, cleaner water, better citizenship, it just seemed like there was a feeling when you left that you were in the same boat and on the same page."

The impact of a more informed public has led to citizens successfully fighting a plan to build a fish hatchery on Bruce Beach and for the push for a safer, more pedestrian-friendly West Cervantes Street. City and county officials are held to a new standard.

"Everybody's trying to figure out how to get the communities better and how to get more civic engagement," said Studer.

"I'm not saying CivicCon is the answer, but it's part of the answer. It gives you a more educated public that holds your government much more accountable because they know how to ask the right questions."

Today, Studer marvels at the changes in downtown Pensacola, which has a vibrancy that had been lacking for so long. He shared his conversation with a group of health care executives that came to see downtown Pensacola as part of their annual getaway.

"They'd been here years ago, and they just kept saying, 'We just can't believe it. We just can't believe it. We just can't believe it,'" said Studer. "So, yeah, it's pretty neat to see people so excited about downtown on social media taking pictures, but that was another strategy."

He continued, "I always tell people, 'It was less of a downtown strategy and more of a talent strategy,' because what Gallup says is 'Talent wants a vibrant downtown.' If Gallup would have said talent wants motels on the interstate, we should build motels on the interstate."

He said when he visits a community, there's always a debate about the importance of the downtown area. He tells the leaders, "Just have a strategy that attracts talent and keeps talent because that's really what this thing's all about—what attracts wins."

Studer smiled and added, "I think downtown has been really fun, and the other thing we found out is the same amenities that young people like, so do all ages like." {in}

BUILDING A BETTER PENSACOLA In August 2007, Inweekly asked Quint Studer to identify the six main things the Pensacola area could do to improve the quality of life for all its citizens (Inweekly, "The Ultimate Challenge," 8/30/07): 1. Identify current local employers that bring revenue inside the area from outside the area, such as the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Silver Bullet Technology and others. Also, identify small entrepreneurs who have the potential to become big companies.

2. Create better work environments for employees, focusing on better leadership, wages and benefits.

3. Work on quality of life issues, including public safety, clean environment, education and entertainment, including activities for families.

4. Establish a well-organized economic development effort involving city, county and state governments, the chambers of commerce, local economic development groups and businesses.

Make sure it's ready to act quickly.

5. Consolidate government agencies, nonprofit agencies and even businesses to become as efficient as possible.

6. Maximize what is good or the positives about the area. The community-wide effort includes everyone from citizens to top business executives.

We asked Studer to repeat the exercise for the first Inweekly issue of 2021: 1. Become the world's center for cybersecurity. Andrew Davis, a national expert in messaging who spoke at CivicCon, stated cities need to make a statement on what they want to be known as. He called it "putting a stake in the ground." Cybersecurity is an opportunity.

Years ago, two physicians in Rochester, Minn., created a world-class health care facility—the Mayo Clinic. Let's be the Mayo Clinic of cybersecurity.

2. Let's be the leader in improving the quality of life for all. Today, Escambia

County ranks near the bottom in the state on pre-term births. Only 49% of our children are kindergarten-ready. The Escambia Children's Trust will have $8 million annually for 10 years to address these determinants. It's vital to select who gets the funds and to hold those organizations accountable.

3. Consolidate heart and cancer care.

In Escambia County, all three hospitals provide cancer and heart care. By combining them with each hospital owning a part of the LLC, many good things can occur. Research shows there can be a connection between volume and clinical outcomes. Combining into a seamless system would be better for patients as well as staff and physicians.

4. Expand the number of county commissioners and school board members. With only five members, votes can be influenced by one or two members whom others may not challenge because they feel they may need that person for another vote. Going from five to as many as 10 creates less leverage for each person and provides increased intellectual capital with the additional members.

5. Complete the SCAPE project. This project provides so much for the community. It creates beach access in downtown Pensacola and can be a great educational area for history and the environment.

To have a beach this close to downtown and a connecter with the west side is something very few, if any, other cities our size have. It will also attract more private investment that will pay taxes that will make the city stronger financially.

6. Continue to build on the current economic entrepreneurship opportunities. Capital follows talent, and talent follows place, meaning a great spot to work, create and build a company. We have the resources for entrepreneurs, including space, cash, mentorship and skill-building, and they are offered at a level better than ever before. There is the opportunity to message more on how this area is the leader in eco-entrepreneurship.

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January 7, 2021

9

COVER TO COVER

Typically, we like to start out the new year by looking ahead and making plans. But this time around, things feel different, so we're doing something different for the first issue of 2021.

Not only do we not want to jinx anything that may or may not happen this spring, we also just want to make sure that we really pause and reflect on 2020 and how we covered it as a paper before we put it in the rearview.

We already run a pretty tight ship around here, with even tighter deadlines, but the pandemic really tested us.

Independent News | March 19, 2020 | Volume 21

FREE ▶

| Number 12

Independent News | March 26,

Inweekly's 2020 Hits & Misses

There was always more to do—more leads to look into, more data to study, more small businesses and nonprofits that needed help promoting something … and we tried—we really did—to cover as much as we could. But, of course, we didn't get to everything and some things we wrote never even saw the light of day (news changed fast in 2020, remember?).

Like most small businesses, we also saw a pretty steep decline in our revenue—which meant any given week, we had more work to do but fewer resources to do it with. But we managed to stay in the game and publish a paper every

damn week—thanks to our advertisers and staffers who stuck it out with us.

And now that we're back after a much-needed holiday break, we're able to see 2020 a little more clearly. It wasn't easy, but our tiny team, made up mostly of dedicated freelancers, did some great work that we're incredibly proud of.

So before we turn the page and start a new year of coverage, here's a look back at some things we loved and some things we missed this past year.

2020 | Volume 21 | Number 13

FREE ▶ FREE ▶ June 4, 2020 Independent News |

| Volume 21 | Number

23 | Photo by Natalie

Independent News | June 11, 2020 |

Allgyer

Volume 21 | Number 24 | Photo by Nicholas

Gunter

FREE ▶

"HE WAS A GOOD-HEARTED PERSON" An Interview with Kimberly Henderson

Independent News | July 2, 2020 | Volume

21 | Number 27 | Kimberly Henderson

, Partner of Tymar Crawford

Independent News | May 21, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 21

/ Photo by Natalie Allgyer

Hits

Issues, Interviews, Columns and Covers that Defined Inweekly in 2020

COVID COVERS March 19 and 26

We started off cute—encouraging people to wash their hands and stay home, while simultaneously publishing testing information and basic facts. Of course, things got more serious pretty quickly, but looking back to those early, pre-shutdown days, these covers still feel timely.

PROTEST COVERS June 4 and 11

This summer, protests against systemic racism and police reform took over the streets in most cities, including Pensacola.

Our local protests took the form of a weeks-long vigil at Graffiti Bridge and ultimately led to the creation of the Citizen Police Advisory Committee.

010 1

FREE ▶

FREE ▶

KIMBERLY ON TYMAR July 2

On July 5, 2019, Tymar Crawford was shot to death by Officer Daniel Siemen of the Pensacola Police Department during a traffic stop in front of his home with his family watching, including his partner, Kimberly Henderson. C. Scott Satterwhite spoke in-depth with Kimberly about Tymar to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his death.

COVID-19 BALLSY PLAN July 15

We brought back the Ballsy Plan issue to help layout how Escambia County could spend its $57 million of CARES Act funds.

We wanted to see the majority of the dollars go to families and small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Unfortunately, it would take the county another three months to send out checks, and only about a third went to households and businesses.

Independent News | October 15,

2020 | Volume 21 | Number 42 |

Best of the Coast 2020 Art by Richard

Humphreys of The Workweek Design

& Print Studio

FREE ▶

Independent News | October 22, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 43 | Rest of the

Best 2020 Art by Richard Humphreys of The Workweek Design & Print

FREE ▶

Studio

BEST OF THE COAST & REST OF DIGNITY AT THE BALLOT BOX Nov. 5 But we couldn't encourage people to vote THE BEST 2020 Oct. 15 and 22 without also talking about the voter suppres-

To say that we were blown away by the response to these annual issues this year would be an understatement. To every reader who voted and every small business that bought an ad to support us, thank you. Seriously. We couldn't do any of this without you. We also have to brag on the cool ass collage art one more time, created by Richard Humphreys of The Workweek Design & Print Studio.

PENSACOLA VOTES

Weekly column started in July Covers Aug. 6, Oct. 1, Oct. 29 and Nov. 12 We decided to step up our game this election season by launching a new column called Pensacola Votes. It was a weekly nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide.

During the months leading up to the November election, we covered everything ballot breakdowns to municipal budgets to fact-checking.

sion that's still happening in the state of Florida, despite the passing of Amendment 4. Sydney Robinson helped put a human face to this issue by talking to local entrepreneur Zachary Keaton about his struggle to register to vote.

PROOF WE STILL HAD FUN (SOMETIMES)

Stay-At-Home Activity Book—April 23 Featuring a Dr. Fauci contact-the-dots page that we still have on our fridge The Good News Only Issue—May 21 Because there really is always good happening somewhere if you look hard enough

By You—June 18 Featuring words and photos by Inweekly readers The Pet Issue—July 30 We weren't sure about this one, but you guys sent us your pet pics, so we made it happen inweekly.net

WHO' S VOTING?

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

A VOTER REGISTR ATION GUIDE + A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BLACK VOTE Independent News | October

1, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number

40 | Charles Williams / Photo

by Natalie Allgyer

FREE ▶

FREE ▶ Independent News | August

6, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number

32

Are You Bored Yet?

Connect the Dots

By Carol Rice

In Fauci We Trust

Stay-At-Home Activity Book FREE ▶ 23, 2020 | Volume Independent News | April

DIGN ITY AT THE BALLOT BOX Independent News | November 5, 2020

| Volume 21 | Number 45 | Zachary Keaton

21 | Number 17

Why voter disenfranchisement continues in Florida even after Amendme nt 4

| Photo by Natalie Allgyer

FREE ▶ Instructions: Connect

the dots in numerical order

010 1

starting with "1." Each number

is either above or to the

right of its corresponding

CARMEN

dot. inweekly.net

JANUARY 22 & 24, 2021

H.M.S. PINAFORE MARCH 12 & 14, 2021

Choir! Choir! Choir! / Photo

2019

inweekly

by Joseph Fuda

Stompfest

POWER LIST

#1 Lumon May Independent News |

March 28, 2019 | Volume

20 | Number 13 | Photo

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Independent News | May 16, 2019 | Volume

by Natalie Allgyer

Independent News | October 24, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number 42 | Model:

Bella | Owner: Brandi Rodriguez | Photo by: Natalie Allgyer

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20 | Number 20 | Cardi B / Photo by Jora

Frantzis, Vampire Weekend / Photo

by Monika

Mogi, Khalid / Photo by Ben Houdijk

Independent News | October

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31, 2019 | Volume 20 | Number

43

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Misses

Issues We Really Missed Doing This Year Even though we had more than enough to write about, we still missed these annual events and special issues being part of our editorial calendar.

THE POWER LIST

Typically slated for late March, this was the first issue we postponed due to the pandemic. We assumed we'd bring it back in June or July, but that never happened. It just felt like a joke to us to pretend anyone had "power" other than COVID-19 in 2020.

January 7, 2021

HANGOUT FEST

Man, it feels like forever ago, but we were really bummed last spring when it finally sunk in that we wouldn't be seeing Megan Thee Stallion on the beach.

FOO FOO FEST

Fall is our favorite time of year in Pensacola, and this festival is one of the major reasons why. We missed writing about it almost as much as we missed attending it.

BARKTOBER FEST

We love this event because it gives us a reason to put a dog in a costume on our cover. Obviously, we missed this excuse to be cute, and we're sure you did too. {in}

Follow your heart. Love Opera.

WWW.PENSACOLAOPERA.COM 11

JOIN US FOR A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION GET YOUR LEGAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 6 - 8 PM BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM - COMMUNITY MARITIME PARK 351 W CEDAR ST, PENSACOLA, FL 32502

presents

A discussion with attorneys Mike Papantonio, Brian Barr and community leaders on the ongoing litigation against Skanska.

THUR JAN 14TH

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This is a FREE event - Masks Recommended Contact 850.435.7000 or skanska@levinlaw.com a light meal and refreshments will be provided SkanskaFixYourMess.com 212 1

inweekly.net

WEEK OF JANUARY 7-13

Arts & Encouragement hope, help and other signs of humanity at a time when we really need it...

Pensacola's "Best Artist" Wants a Mural on Every Wall

By Jennifer Leigh

Daniela de Castro Sucre / Photo by Bridges Breeze Photography

Daniela de Castro Sucre is leaving her mark on Pensacola one mural at a time.

The Venezuelan artist didn't always imagine she'd make a home for herself in Northwest Florida. She was living in Madrid when she met her husband and they decided to move to Pensacola, where he was from. It was after seeing the revitalized downtown—not to mention the domino effect it had on neighboring areas— that they knew Pensacola could be home.

"The stars aligned," said de Castro Sucre.

Since moving to Pensacola six years ago, she's graduated with a degree in graphic design, painted murals for Pensacola businesses including Perfect Plain Brewing Co. and Pensacola Beach RV Resort—with a new one recently unveiled at Perennial Patio Bar—designed the 2017 Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival poster and, more recently, was named "Best Artist" in Inweekly's 2020 Best of the Coast.

What she might be most known for is her mural of colorful transparent flowers at Garden & Grain, for which she also designed the logo. What was already a popular spot to gather is now an Instagram favorite.

For de Castro Sucre, murals are a "democratic art."

January 7, 2021

"Everyone has access to them," she said.

"As an artist, you don't really own a mural. They belong to the surface they're painted on."

During the process of painting murals, de Castro Sucre said she makes an effort to connect to the space the mural will live. Instead of listening to music in her headphones, she listens to the environment around her, which becomes part of the piece.

"That's the nature of it," she explained. "(Murals) are exposed to the elements; it lives and breathes with the environment. It's a nice, closed circle."

The artist is also a fan of murals because they promote walkability and serve as a "lift up" for neighborhoods. The Miami neighborhood of Wynwood is one example of this, she says. Around 2009, the late urban developer Tony Goldman worked to revitalize the area by having artists paint murals on old warehouses, now known as the Wynwood Walls, which—outside of a pandemic—attract around 2.9 million people yearly. de Castro Sucre talked about the importance of murals and graffiti in her speech "The Power of Street Art" at last year's TEDxPensacola, which you can watch on YouTube.

"Art is a universal language through which people from different countries and backgrounds can understand each other and connect with each other," she said in her TED Talk. "Street art is a unique branch of this language because of how relevant it can be to a location and how many people it can reach with its message."

It's hard for de Castro Sucre to see an empty wall and not be quietly mapping a mural in her mind, although codes and regulations stop her from acting on all of those impulses.

"Anytime I see an empty building, I think, 'I could cover all of that up with something,'" she said. "As I'm talking, I see this curved corner behind Volume ONE … there's nothing here, but it would be such a cool spot for artwork."

What started as an early passion for art eventually evolved into murals. de Castro Sucre said she was "always an artsy kid," and her parents supported that with art classes since she was 7. By the time she was 15, she was "serious" about it. While there weren't many artists in the family, de Castro Sucre said her parents were "huge proponents" of not just education, but culture.

Her biggest influence was Conchita Firgau,

a Spanish realism painter who taught de Castro Sucre for three years—not just about art, but how to become an artist and make a living.

"You have to know how to talk to a client and learn to sell yourself," said de Castro Sucre. "You're your own marketing person and business manager."

With all the event cancelations and closures, it's been a "slow year," said de Castro Sucre, which was why winning "Best Artist" in Best of the Coast was a big surprise.

"I really do love Pensacola," she said.

"Coming from Madrid, which is so art-focused, Pensacola has a nice art scene where people love and appreciate art."

During the pandemic, de Castro Sucre started teaching art again as a private tutor for children—one of the ways she's had to adapt as artistic gigs waned. But that's all part of being an artist, she said.

"It's a fortunate thing that's happened because I love kids," she said. "As an artist, you always have to re-invent yourself and figure out a new way to stay connected." {in} Follow Daniela de Castro Sucre and her art at instagram.com/danielapaints.

13

a&e happenings

Wade Jeffrey's photo exhibit, "Antarctica:Seasons of Water and Ice," / Photo by Pensacola Museum of Art

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

ARTS + CULTURE

STAND-UP COMEDY AT THE REX THEATRE Visit The REX Theatre every Fri-

day at 8 p.m. for national stand up acts. On Jan. 8, Hank Denson and Lee Hardin will be performing. Tickets are $30 at the door. For more information, visit rexpensacola.com.

"SOME KIND OF HEAVEN" AT PENSACOLA CINEMA ART "Some Kind

of Heaven" will open Friday, Jan. 15, with showtimes at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16, at Pensacola Cinema Art, located in Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St., Ste. 506A. The Darren Aronofsky-produced film tells the story of the largest retirement community, The Villages. Tickets are $7. The film will also be available for streaming. For more streaming options, including some free movies, visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

NEW EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART "Antarctica" is a new ex-

hibit coming to Pensacola Museum of Art through April 4 at the downstairs gallery.

Other exhibits include "… I Forgot to Laugh: Humor & Contemporary Art" on view through Jan. 10 and "In Memoriam," from Panhandle Slim, which honors the lives of Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Airman Mohammed Haitham and Airman Cameron Walters, who were killed in a terrorist 414 1

attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola. For more information and hours of operation, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

PENSACOLA OPERA'S "CARMEN" Performances for Pensacola Opera's "Carmen" will be Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25, and online streaming options will be available. To purchase your tickets, visit pensacolaopera.com.

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL 2020 LIMITED-EDITION POSTER AVAILABLE ONLINE With the cancellation

of this year's Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival due to COVID-19, the festival committee invited local artist Kreg Yingst to create a poster for 2020 in his original woodcut print design.

The 250 limited-edition posters are each signed and numbered by the artist. Festival posters have become a local collector's item and are available online this year only.

The posters are available at ggaf.org for $27, including shipping and sales tax.

Yingst, a long-time GGAF artist, received his B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio after attending the University of Texas and his M.A. in painting from Eastern Illinois University. After graduation, he taught art for 13 years and has been a full-time artist since 2003.

The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival returns Nov. 5, 6 and 7, 2021, at Seville Square, Fountain Park, Bartram Park and Museum Plaza in Downtown Pensacola.

DRAG SHOWS AT DOLCE AND GELATO Bring your singles for live drag shows at

Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave. Dates include 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, and Friday, Jan. 29. For more information, visit facebook.com/dolcegelatopensacola

OPERALIVE: THROWBACK THURSDAYS Take a walk down memory lane with

friends of the Pensacola Opera. Learn more about the craft and look back on past productions with live discussions on Facebook Live Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Viewers are encouraged to join in the conversation. Tune in at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Per-

forming Arts (MMPA), a boutique performing arts studio located at 1010 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 238, will be offering a limited class schedule this fall. MMPA offers professional dance, fitness and "Mommy and Me" instruction for all ages and skill levels with weekly classes including, but not limited to, Creative Movement, Ballet/Jazz Combo, Broadway, Tap, Showstoppers, Acting and Voice. Classes will be provided for children as young as 2 years old (with a parent or guardian) through adult.

MMPA is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all students and families and has implemented protocols based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Masks are required for entry into the building and studio. More information about Mixon Magic Performing Arts can be found at mixonmagic.com, by contacting hello@mixonmagic.com or emily@mixonmagic.com or by calling 221-7438.

CRAFT CLASSES AT STUDIO SOUTH ON NINE MILE Learn a new craft or meet

up with other makers at Studio South. Tuesday is Knit Night 4-7 p.m., and Sit & Stitch is Saturdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Both classes are free. For a full calendar of events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road.

GALLERY NIGHT PENSACOLA PRESENTS: ARTIST TALKS Join Gallery Night

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

SUNDAYS ON THE MEZZANINE Enjoy a full-length concert series every other Sunday at 3 p.m. on Facebook. Tickets are $9.99 and can be purchased online at facebook.com/pensacolaopera.

LIVE MUSIC

CODY COPELAND LIVE Head to Gary's Brewery & Biergarten on Saturday, Jan. 16, for live music from singer-songwriter Cody Copeland while enjoying some local beer.

Show begins at 6:30 p.m. Gary's is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook.com/garysbrew.

CURT BOL JAZZ QUARTET Visit Five Sisters Blues Café, located at 421 W. Belmont St., Sundays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and listen to Curt Bol Jazz Quartet. Visit curtbolband.com for more information.

inweekly.net

a&e happenings OPEN JAM AT ARTEL GALLERY Artel

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

KARAOKE AT MUGS AND JUGS Sing

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

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

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER Seville Quarter and the Blues

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

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUARTER Enjoy smooth jazz with Me-

lodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

FITNESS + RECREATION

PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS HOME GAMES Pensacola Ice Flyers 2020-2021

season has begun. Tickets are sold in groups of two starting at $18. Tickets for groups of three or more are also available, and prices vary. To purchase tickets, go to ticketmaster.com. Home games are at the Pensacola Bay Center, located at 201 E. Gregory St. For more information, visit pensacolaiceflyers.com.

UPCOMING GAMES: •7:35 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8: Birmingham vs.

Pensacola •7:35 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15: Macon vs. Pensacola •7:35 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29: Birmingham vs.

Pensacola

BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS BRIDAL EXPO Local bridal vendors will be on site at the Pensacola Bay Center for the annual Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Expo providing samples and tips to anyone planning a future wedding.

The expo begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan.10.

Tickets are $10-$15. For more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.

PUBLIC ICE SKATING AT PENSACOLA BAY CENTER The Pensacola Bay Center will be open for ice skating. All sessions will be at a reduced capacity to maintain social distancing, and only one spectator is allowed per skater. Tickets are $12 for adults and children with skate rental or $9 for adults and children without skate rental. Groups of 15 or more receive a reduced rate of $10. Purchase tickets at pensacolabaycenter.com January 7, 2021

DATES: •10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 •1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 •1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 •10:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 •10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 •1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31

PENSACOLA SPORTS LAUNCHES HOLE-IN-ONE MILLION DOLLAR SHOOTOUT Pensacola Sports, along with

several area golf courses, announced a new golf program to build excitement in the local golf scene. The program includes Marcus Pointe Golf Club, Scenic Hills Country Club and Tiger Point Golf Club.

All golfers can choose to participate when they sign in at the respective pro shop before their round. All participating golfers from all three courses will be entered into the same pool, increasing the amount the golfer can win. The entry fee is $3, and that entry is valid for that round only. If a participating golfer hits a legitimate hole-in-one, after proper verification, the golfer will win a third of the entire pot, with a minimum guaranteed winnings of $200. Full rules and event information can be found at pensacolasports.org/holeinone.

In addition to the original winnings, all players who hit a hole-in-one during the program will be invited to participate in a $1 Million Dollar Shootout. The date and location of the Pensacola Sports' Million Dollar Shootout will be announced at a later date.

Players who make a hole-in-one must notify Pensacola Sports with their information that day. If multiple holes-in-one are hit in the same day, the prize will be divided evenly. The competition starts over immediately after a qualified winner is determined. There are approximately 144 reported holes-in-one at the Pensacola area courses annually.

The Pensacola Sports' Hole-in-One Million Dollar Shootout is also a fundraiser for Pensacola Sports, a private not-forprofit sports event and tourism company.

RELEASE & RENEW AT FITNESS IMPACT TRAINING At 8:15 a.m. on Mon-

days, Wednesdays and Fridays, release into a yin yoga flow centered around low-stress training for high-stress individuals. The focus will be on the basics of breath and openness in the shoulders, hips and spine.

For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

Cost is $12 per class, and the location is 375 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. B. Limited space available. Ask about membership pricing.

GULF COAST BREWERY RUN Thurs-

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

BEER GARDEN YOGA Join Coastal County Brewing Company Saturdays at 9

a.m. for the new Yoga in the Garden Series.

Classes will be led by Tara Taylor, a highly experienced instructor from Breathe Pensacola.

All skill levels are welcome. Cost is $10 and includes a pint of beer after the class. Coastal County Brewing Company is located at 3041 E. Olive Road. For more information, visit facebook.com/coastalcounty.

SOUL FLOW YOGA AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., flow

and vibe with some soulful music to start the day. This hour-long class will center around engaging the core through smooth yet strong yoga sequences. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for an unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Beginner Yoga with John is 10 a.m. Thursdays, 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays.

Funky Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Tuesdays. And Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Thursdays. All classes at Ever'man, 327 W. Garden St. For a full calendar of events, visit everman.org.

SELF-LOVE SUNDAY AT BEAUTIFUL YOU STUDIO Come show yourself some

love through yoga every Sunday morning at 7 a.m. Self-love Sunday Slow Flow is all about giving yourself the love you deserve through loving kindness meditation, mindful breathwork and slow vinyasa. Cost is $10 per class or $99 for unlimited 30-day pass. Located at 513 W. Intendencia St. For more info, go to mindandmetta.online.

OCEAN HOUR BEACH CLEAN-UPS

Ocean Hour has picked up its weekly beach clean-ups in the Pensacola area Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. Supplies will be provided, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own.

For locations, visit oceanhourfl.com.

FOOD + WINE

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: GOOD PEOPLE BREWING CO. Enjoy sips and pairings from local breweries at the monthly Atlas Beverage Class on Thursday, Jan. 7, at Atlas Oyster House, located at 600 S. Barracks St. Classes are at 5 and 7 p.m. and tickets are $25 per person. With limited seating, reservations are required. To reserve your seat, contact Taylor Dawson at 287-0200.

TEACHER APPRECIATION HAPPY HOUR Teachers get well-deserved rec-

ognition with their own designated Happy Hour starting at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8, at Dolce and Gelato, located at 2050 N. 12th Ave. For more information, visit facebook. com/dolcegelatopensacola.

CAST IRON FILET & SHRIMP COOKING CLASS Learn to make this surf and

turf classic from Bodacious chefs. Class is Monday, Jan. 11, from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $65. So Gourmet is located at 407-D S. Palafox. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.

VINO MAGNIFICO Head to V. Paul's for Vino Magnifico at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday,

Jan. 12. Tickets are $15 per person. V. Paul's is located at 29 S. Palafox. Only 56 seats available with limited seating, so reserve your spot now by going to vpauls.com.

PASTA DONE-LIGHT: HEALTHY COOKING IN THE NEW YEAR Join

Chef James Briscione and Angelena's Wine Director Brooke Parkhurst to learn how to prepare light and delicious pasta preparations from their latest cookbook, "Flavor for All." Class is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14. Tickets are $65 plus tax and includes a tasting and wine pairings and a take-home recipe booklet. Reservations are required.

To reserve your spot, please contact Brooke Parkhurst at brooke@angelenaspensacola.com or 917-573-1613.

MEXICAN STREET FOOD LUNCH AND LEARN Learn how to create Mexi-

can street food at home from the talented Bodacious chefs. This lunch and learn class starts at noon on Friday, Jan. 15. Cost is $30. So Gourmet is located at 407-D S. Palafox. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.

MURDER GRAS MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE Seville Quarter

and Improbable Cause Mystery Theatre presents this Mardi Gras-themed dinner theatre. Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16. The show will be at Heritage Hall in Seville Quarter, located at 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $59 each. For more information, visit sevillequarter.com.

EVERYTHING SUSHI WITH PENSACOLA COOKS Learn traditional sushi

making skills, creating variations of the basic rolls, including design tips and techniques from Pensacola Cooks Kitchen. The class is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Pensacola Cooks Kitchen, located at 3624 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $45 per person. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolacooks.

DOWNTOWN TROLLEY DINNER

Enjoy a progressive trolley tour of some of historic downtown Pensacola's finest dining establishments. The five-course dinner is paired with hand-selected wine and craft beers begins and ends at Apple Annie's in Seville Quarter and includes stops at So Gourmet, Union Public House and 86 Forks Pop-Up Noodle Bar. The dinner starts at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. Tickets are $125 each or $200 for two. For more information, visit firstteegulfcoast.org/trolley-tickets.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: HOME COOKING IDEAS Join Chef

Irv Miller of Jackson's Steakhouse for the monthly series of cooking demonstrations.

The next class is Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Cost is $55 per person, which covers the demonstration, tastings and wine pairings and a take-home recipe booklet.

Reservations are required. Reserve your spot by calling Jessica Edwards at 686-3149 or emailing jessica@goodgrits.com.

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a&e happenings THURSDAY BIERGARTEN TRIVIA NIGHT Gary's Brewery Trivia Night is back

by popular demand. Thursdays from 7-9 p.m., test your trivia skills with a glass of beer or wine. Arrive early to grab a spot.

Gary's Brewery is located at 208 Newman Ave. For more information, visit facebook. com/garysbrew.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is

back at its regular location in MLK Jr. Plaza.

In a carefully planned, phased reopening, Palafox Market has launched with about half its regular vendors, showcasing food, farm produce and products geared toward safety and sanitation such as handmade soaps and face masks. For more information, visit facebook.com/downtownpensacola.

PENSACOLA POSITIVITY'S SUNDAY MARKETS Sunday Markets on Palafox

CAST IRON PIZZA COOKING Join Bodacious chefs to make a fan favorite with a cast iron skillet. Class is 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20. Tickets are $65. So Gourmet is located at 407-D S. Palafox. For more information, visit bodaciousshops.com.

1920S MURDER MYSTERY AT GARDEN & GRAIN Take part in an interactive mur-

der mystery dinner theatre with Improbable Cause at Garden & Grain, located behind Perfect Plain Brewing Co. Tickets are $55 and include a full meal and bar service. The show starts at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22. For more information, visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

JACKSON'S STEAKHOUSE OPEN FOR LUNCH Jackson's will be offering its

standard lunch menu Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. As always, during lunch service Wednesday-Friday, the first martini is free.

Enjoy lunch menu favorites, including Chef Irv's jumbo lump crab cakes with red

sweet pepper and charred sweet corn-offthe cob relish. Chef Miller has also created some new additions to add to the lunch lineup, including the Ole Hickory's fried chicken sandwich with double-dusted crispy chicken breast. Jackson's Steakhouse is located at 400 S. Palafox. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

TAMALE TUESDAYS WITH THE TAMALE TRUCK Visit Odd Colony Brewing

Co. every Tuesday from 5:30-9 p.m. (or when sold out) to grab dinner from The Tamale Truck. Odd Colony is located at 260 N. Palafox. For more information, visit facebook.com/oddcolony.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS AT THE 5 BARREL Celebrate hump day by treating

yourself to BOGO wine by the glass at The 5 Barrel, 121 S. Palafox, starting at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. You earned it. Find out more at facebook.com/the5barrel.

Street happen each Sunday from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. in MLK Plaza on Palafox. Local makers, growers and creators gather each under the oak trees to sell their goods to the community. Interested vendors can request an application by emailing requeaskmikellah@ gmail.com. For more information, visit facebook.com/palafoxmarkets.

SATURDAYS AT THE MARKET OUTDOOR VENDOR EVENT Located at 5300

Berryhill Road, the outdoor market features artisans and crafters alike from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Social distancing guidelines will be in effect. For more information, email saturdaysatthemarket@gmail.com.

PENSACOLA POP-UP FARMERS MARKET Check out fresh and organic

produce, milk, eggs, meat, fresh-baked bread, mushrooms, lumber, grits, cornmeal, pies and plants Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at East Hill Market, located at 1216 N. Ninth Ave. For a list of vendors, visit facebook.com/easthillmarket.

UPTOWN PENSACOLA MARKET Check out local vendors of art, produce and other local treasures every Saturday at 7201 N. Ninth Ave. from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/uptownmarketpensacola.

SUNDAY VIBES IN THE GARDEN

Sunday Funday is back at Garden & Grain with DJ Hdycvt and drink specials. Safety guidelines will be in place. Visit facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco for more information. Garden and Grain is located behind Perfect Plain Brewing Co. at 50 E. Garden St.

TWILIGHT THREE-COURSE SPECIAL

The District's Twilight Three-Course special is back Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. Guests enjoy three courses for $35 per person. Diners must be seated by 6 p.m. for offer to be vailed. To make a reservation, call 332-5224 or online at districtstreaks.com. The District is located at 123 E. Government St.

KID-FRIENDLY

WEST FLORIDA LITERARY FEDERATION ANNOUNCES YOUTH POETRY CONTEST The West Florida Literary

Federation (WFLF) is encouraging students of Northwest Florida to participate in its 2021 youth poetry contest titled "Unmuted Voices."

This year, the organization is offering middle and high school students three writing choices that will empower their creativity, let them share their voices, and contribute to their language development. Students can select one of these themes for their poems: •Hope and Healing •Changes and Challenges •Mirrors/Windows/Views Prizes will be awarded, and an awards ceremony will be held in April for National Poetry Month. For more information and classroom materials for teachers, visit wflf. org/communityevents.

STUDENT JAZZ COMPETITION APPLICATION PROCESS OPEN Student

jazz musicians are invited to enter Jazz Pensacola's 2021 Student Jazz Competition. The finals will be 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 15, at Phineas Phogg's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Three finalists from each division—College Instrumental, High School Instrumental, Jazz Vocal—will perform at the live finals.

Awards for first, second and third in each division, ranging from $100 to $500, will be presented at the conclusion of the event.

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

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 616 1

inweekly.net

a&e happenings Application deadline is Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.

Visit jazzpensacola.com to download the 2021 application.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR SPRING 2021 PLT CLASSES Have a rising

star at home? Sign them up for classes at Pensacola Little Theatre. Classes include Broadway Babies for ages 4-7; Acting for Kids ages 8-11; Improv for Kids ages 8-11; Acting for Teens ages 12-17, Improv for Actors ages 18+; and Social Media & Video Production ages 14-17. For more information or to register, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

MYSTERY BOOK BUNDLES AVAILABLE AT PENSACOLA LIBRARY

Mystery Book Bundles are available for preschool, middle grade and young adult readers. Preschool bags contain three new picture books. Middle grade and young adult bags contain two themed chapter books. All books can be checked out for three weeks. Mystery bundles are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Pensacola Library, located at 239 N. Spring St. Visit mywfpl. com for more information.

TAKE-HOME CRAFT KITS Take-away

craft kits and other activity bags are available at the circulation desk every day at the Pensacola Library, located at 239 N. Spring St. Availability is on a first come, first served basis. Kits rotate regularly. Available during open hours. Visit mywfpl.com for more information.

CHILDREN'S STORY TIME AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE AND CAFÉ Visit

Bodacious Bookstore and Café Saturdays at 11 a.m. for children's story time.

Bodacious Bookstore is located at 110 E. Intendencia St. For more information, visit facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

VIRTUAL EVENTS

WUWF 40TH ANNIVERSARY Join WUWF on Facebook Live to celebrate the station's 40th anniversary with special guests at 9:45 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15. More details to come. Check the Facebook event page for details and information on entering the giveaway at facebook.com/wuwfpublicmedia.

A VIRTUAL EVENING WITH POET AND AUTHOR, CLAUDIA RANKINE

Join UWF for a virtual evening with Claudia Rankine, nationally renowned poet and Frederick Iseman Professor of Poetry at Yale University. Rankine will be sharing from her work "Citizen: An American Lyric" on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 6-7 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required.

Register for the Zoom webinar at uwf.edu/ cassh/community-outreach/experienceuwf-downtown-lecture-series.

VIRTUAL POETRY WORKSHOP Study

under local Pensacola poet Quincy Hull as he guides you through an introduction to writing your own poetry. This series of preJanuary 7, 2020

recorded video sessions will be available on the Pensacola Museum of Art website.

New sessions are released each Monday.

Participants are encouraged to submit their own work to be featured on the blog series.

For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

ZOOM INTO ARCHAEOLOGY Zoom

into Archaeology is a free online series that features a short presentation by an archaeologist with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) via Zoom and an opportunity for participants to ask questions at the end of the presentation. Register for the free Zoom lectures online at flpublicarchaeology.org/nwrc.

For Your Specialty

Eye Care Needs!

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

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UWF SPECTRUM MEETINGS NOW ONLINE Spectrum, UWF's LGBTQ+ sup-

port organization, will continue its typical schedule of meeting every Friday at 6 p.m.

Bi-weekly Spectrum meetings will be online using Zoom.

In their Discord, you can meet other members, ask questions about the club or UWF, share your interests and just have a general good time. It is a very casual place for all to have a sense of community, so don't be scared to join and start socializing.

View the invite link to Discord at discord.gg/Qm4hhvE.

TEA THYME WITH DR. TONIE E. ANDERSON-STEELE This weekly broad-

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

Pensacola

(850) 434-2060

cast on YouTube supports the mission and goals of Change Tomorrow Today 365 by educating the public and providing a forum for meaningful discussions regarding the following areas of restoration—education, healing, awareness, networking, selfsufficiency and leadership. Tune in 11 a.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit facebook.com/changetomorrowtoday365.

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio

400's and Pensacola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club, invites you for monthly Zoom readings.

Want to bring your scripts for the group to read and discuss? Contact Pensacola Little Theatre to get in queue. The group reads prospective scripts for future seasons as well as new scripts that need a table read before the next edit.

Not a playwright but love to read out loud? This is your easy, fun theatre night!

Fascinated by the play selection process?

Sit in for a listen and usually a lot of laughs.

Visit facebook.com/pensacolalittletheatre for more information and the latest dates.

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART VIRTUAL SHOWINGS Pensacola Cinema Art (PCA)

is still making sure you can stream select independent films and support a local nonprofit from the comfort of your own home.

Any fees collected through virtual showings help support Pensacola Cinema Art. For more information on movies and links, visit pensacolacinemaart.com. {in} 17

free will astrology WEEK OF JANUARY 7 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): The

pandemic has made it challenging to nurture our communities. In order to make new connections and keep our existing connections vibrant, we've had to be extra resourceful.

I hope you will make this work one of your holy quests in 2021, Aries. In my astrological opinion, you should be ingenious and tireless as you nurture your web of allies.

Your assignment during our ongoing crisis is to lead the way as you show us all how to ply the art of high-minded networking.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus actor George Clooney is worth $500 million.

Yet his dazzling opulence is puny compared to that of Taurus entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg, whose fortune exceeds $100 billion.

It's my duty to inform you that you will probably never achieve either man's levels of wealth. Yet I do hold out hope that in the next 12 months you will launch plans that ultimately enable you to have all the money you need. 2021 will be a favorable time to formulate and set in motion a dynamic master plan for financial stability.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): One of

By Rob Brezsny

is that 2021 will be a time when you Cancerians will have more power than ever before to heal at least some of the wounds from your old traumas. You will also attract extra luck and help to accomplish these subtle miracles. To get the process started, make a list of three practical actions you can take to instigate your vigorous healing.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Leo author

Isabel Allende says, "We are in the world to search for love, find it and lose it, again and again. With each love, we are born anew, and with each love that ends, we collect a new wound. I am covered with proud scars." I appreciate Allende's point of view and understand that it's useful, even inspirational, for many people. But my path has been different.

As a young man, I enjoyed my endless quest for sex and romance. It was thrilling to keep leaping from affair to affair. But as I eventually discovered, that habit made me stupid and superficial about love. It prevented me from having to do the hard psychological work necessary to continually reinvent intimacy—and become eligible for deeper, more interesting versions of love. I bring this to your attention, Leo, because I think 2021 could be your time for a personal rebirth that will be made possible by deep, interesting versions of love.

your main themes for the next 12 months comes from Leonardo da Vinci. He wrote, "To develop a complete mind—Study the science of art. Study the art of science.

Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else." If you use da Vinci's instructions as a seed for your meditations, you'll stir up further inspirations about how to make 2021 a history-making epoch in the evolution of your education. I hope you will treasure the value of "learning how to see" and "realizing how everything connects to everything else." They should be at the root of your intention to learn as much as you can.

Israel Regardie (1907–1985) was an accomplished author and influencer. To what did he attribute his success? I'll let him speak for himself—"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." I hope you will write out this quote and tape it to your bathroom mirror for the duration of 2021, Virgo.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): An

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): The Kab-

extensive study by psychiatric researchers suggests that well more than half of us experienced a potentially disabling trauma in childhood. You're in the minority if you didn't! That's the bad news. The good news

818 1

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

balistic Tree of Life is a mystical symbol of the hidden structure of creation. At its heart, in the most pivotal position, is the principle of beauty. This suggests that the wise teachers who gave us the Tree did not regard beauty as merely a luxury to be

sought only when all practical business is taken care of. Nor is it a peripheral concern for those who pursue a spiritual path. Rather, beauty is essential for our health and intelligence. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to take a cue from the Tree of Life. During the next 12 months, give special attention to people and things and experiences and thoughts and feelings that are beautiful to you. Meditate on how to nurture them and learn from them and draw inspiration from them.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): According to motivational speaker Les Brown, the problem for many people is not that "they aim too high and miss," but that "they aim too low and hit." I'm conveying this to you just in time for the Reach Higher Phase of your long-term astrological cycle. According to my analysis, you'll generate good fortune for yourself if you refine and expand your personal goals. Here's a key detail—Don't borrow anyone else's standards of success.

Home in on your own unique soul's code, and give it fuller, deeper, wilder expression.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

One of my primary pleasures in reading books is to discover thoughts and feelings I have never before encountered. That's exciting! But it's hard to force myself to keep plowing through an author's prose if it's full of stuff that I already know about from my own life or from books, movies, and other art.

Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky's novels fit the latter description. I realize that many people love his fiction, but for me, it is monumentally obvious and boring. What about you, Sagittarius? Where do you go to be exposed to thrilling new ways of looking at the world? Judging from the astrological omens, I conclude that this quest will be especially fun and crucial for you in the coming months.

who wrote, "There's only one thing in life, and that's the continual renewal of inspiration."

Your second "impossible" goal is from actor Juliette Binoche, who said, "My only ambition is to be true every moment I am living."

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

past is becoming increasingly irrelevant, while your future is still a bit amorphous.

To help clarify the possibilities that you could harvest in 2021, I suggest you suspend your theories about what your life is about. Empty yourself out as much as you can. Pledge to re-evaluate everything you think you know about your purpose. Once you've accomplished that, meditate on the following questions—1. What experiences do you truly need and passionately long for—not the experiences you needed and longed for in the past, but rather those that are most vivid and moving right now. 2. What are the differences between your fearful fantasies and your accurate intuitions? How can you cultivate the latter and downplay the former? 3. What are your nightly dreams and semi-conscious fantasies telling you about how to create the most interesting version of the future?

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Author

Gunter Grass wrote, "Writers know that sometimes things are there in the drawer for decades before they finally come out and we are capable of writing about them." I would universalize his thought in this way— Most of us know that possibly useful ideas and dreams are in the drawer for years before they finally come out and we know how to use them. I believe this will be an ongoing experience for you in 2021, Pisces.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: What's the biggest and best lucky break you'd love to attract in 2021?

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): "I

only want people around me who can do the impossible," said Capricorn businesswoman Elizabeth Arden. In that spirit, and in accordance with your astrological potentials, I hereby authorize you to pursue two "impossible" goals in 2021. The first comes to you courtesy of fashion writer Diana Vreeland,

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020, 2021

inweekly.net

news of the weird BRIGHT IDEA Acting on an anonymous tip, authorities in DeKalb County, Alabama, raided the Rainsville Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 17 and discovered a large illegal winemaking operation that appeared to have been in operation for a long time, reported WHNT. The next day, plant supervisor Allen Maurice Stiefel, 62, of Fyffe, was charged with unlawful possession of illegally manufactured alcohol and suspended without pay, according to Rainsville Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt. The operation was found in a little-used building at the plant, where, Lingerfelt said, "Things happen like that." The sale of alcohol had been illegal in Rainsville until the city council passed an ordinance approving it in September.

HIGH ANXIETY As Delta Flight 462, en route to Atlanta, began to taxi away from the gate at La Guardia Airport on Dec. 21, passenger Brian Plummer noticed a man and woman with a service dog changing seats several times on the less-than-full plane, he told The New York Times, and heard the man say, "If I sit down, I'll freak out." Plummer soon felt the plane come to a stop, and flight attendants revealed why: The man, Antonio Murdock, 31, of Florida, had forced open an emergency exit door, causing a slide to activate, and picking up the dog, slid down to the ground with the woman, Brianna Greco, 23, according to a complaint filed in Queens Criminal Court, where the two were arraigned on a number of mischief and endangerment charges.

"This doesn't happen every day at the airport," said Lenis Valens, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. No one was injured in the incident, but the flight was delayed for hours.

AWESOME! Didn't get what you wanted for Christmas? The North Carolina Department of Transportation put nine vintage train cars up for auction on Dec. 15 that it purchased from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus after it ceased operation in 2017, the Raleigh News & Observer reported. NCDOT bought the cars for $383,000 to refurbish for use between Raleigh and Charlotte, but federal grants have enabled the department to buy new cars instead. "These cars have a great and amazing history," said Jason Orthner, director of the NCDOT rail division. Bidding continues until Jan. 4, but at press time, there were no bids on the cars.

SURPRISE! Andrea Ellis of East Moline, Illinois, was wrapping presents on Dec. 19 when she opened a package of garden flags she intended to give her grandmother and noticed something extra in the bottom of the padded envelope. It turned out to be a biohazard bag containing a Virginia

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

woman's COVID-19 test. Ellis told the Quad City Times that when she failed to reach the woman, she called police, who sent an officer to retrieve it, but 15 minutes later, he returned with the bag, saying, "I was told to bring it back to you." A representative of the Rock Island County Health Department picked up the sample the next day and will try to return it to the Virginia patient. Ellis has also heard from a vice president at Kohl's, where she bought the flags, who said the company is working hard to find out what happened and prevent it from happening again.

PERSPECTIVE Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, is asking luxury goods company Louis Vuitton to stop selling a yoga mat made partially of leather, calling the product "hugely insensitive" because Hindus regard cows as sacred. In a Dec. 22 statement, Zed said the idea "of yoga ... being performed on a mat made from a killed cow is painful," The Associated Press reported. The mat retails for $2,390 online; Paris-based Louis Vuitton has not responded.

GREAT ART French artist Gaetan Marron presented a new performance piece in December titled "Non-Essential," in which he locked himself for 10 days inside a clear Plexiglas cube at a shopping mall in Marseille. Euronews reported the artist described his work as an attempt to "bring culture, which clearly saved us during this lockdown, back to the center of the subject." The cube, large enough for Marron to stand up in, also contained a few nonessential items, including a TV and coffee machine; Marron left the cube to use the restroom. "I have the feeling that ... we miss what is really the real human contact ... we have really lost social links in this period," Marron said. •Police in Perth, Western Australia, are asking for the public's help in locating a thin, well-dressed man with olive skin and short black hair who was captured on surveillance cameras using an electric bicycle to draw lewd pictures of a penis on a city sidewalk on Nov. 30. "The man has appeared to spin the wheels ... in order to draw explicit images with the rubber from the tires," Crimestoppers WA announced.

A police Facebook post about the incident drew scorn, news.com.au reported: "Whatever his punishment," one user wrote, "I'm sure he will have to write it out on the board 100 times at recess." {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird Š 2021 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com January 7, 2020

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Independent News | January 7, 2021 | inweekly.net