Inweekly March 3 2022 Issue

Independent News | March 3, 2022 | Volume 23 | Number 9 | Carissa Phelps / Photo by Shannon McMillen Photography

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winners & losers

outtakes

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news

5

6, 8

Life smacked me in the face.

happenings

feature story

buzz 10

15

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publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Gina Castro, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Jeremy Morrison, Sydney Robinson, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

contact us info@inweekly.net

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. © 2022 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

Vladimir Putin / Photographer RM / Shutterstock.com

winners PROHEALTH The Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce named ProHealth "2021 Business of the Year" during their annual awards gala held at the Hilton Hotel, Pensacola Beach, last month. This was the second Business of the Year award the health care provider has received in the past four months. In November 2021, ProHealth was named "Small Business of the Year" by the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce.

LANDRUMHR ClearlyRated, in partnership

with Indeed, has recognized LandrumHR as a Best of HR Services Award recipient for providing superior service to clients. Winners of this award have proven to be industry leaders in service quality based solely on ratings provided by their clients. ClearlyRated's CEO Eric Gregg said, "These service leaders have kept the client experience at the heart of their business strategy, and it's my honor to celebrate and showcase the 2022 Best of HR Services winners alongside feedback from their actual clients on clearlyrated.com."

SPOTLESS LOGISTICS The Downtown Im-

provement Board selected the Pensacola business as its new cleaning contractor. Services include keeping downtown sidewalks and curb lines free of litter, managing weeds, removing graffiti, performing quarterly pressure-washing and reporting maintenance issues to the city.

Spotless Logistics is a minority-owned business owned by Labarian Turner and was founded in 2014. The company also provides post-construction, office and medical facility cleaning.

PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will dole out $1.2 billion to Florida airports over the next five years, including $4,841, 447 for the Pensacola International Airport. The funding can be used to expand capacity, address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions, and drive electrification. It will go for new and improved runways, air traffic control towers and stateof-the-art terminals with room for more gates and more planes.

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losers VLADIMIR PUTIN Russia vs. Ukraine is a

Goliath vs. David battle. The United States stands on the side of David, and we are reminded of President Ronald Reagan's speech in 1983. We cannot "ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire" and remove ourselves "from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil."

PEDESTRIANS The local news has been

filled with articles about pedestrians being killed on our roadways. Escambia County isn't alone. Pedestrian deaths from cars rose to record levels during the pandemic, according to Governors Highway Safety Association data.

Crashes nationwide killed 6,700 pedestrians in 2020, up about 5% from 6, 400 in 2019, according to the association.

MARTIN HYDE The Republican congressional candidate in Florida's 16th Congressional District was caught on police body camera footage threatening to end Sarasota Police Officer Julie Beskin's career because she pulled him over for a traffic stop. Hyde was clocked driving 57 mph in a 40-mph zone while texting on his phone. He refused to cooperate and threatened to call her supervisor and asked her if she was behaving that way because she was an immigrant. Hyde later apologized on Facebook. He wrote, "I have faults, and one of them is to be overly aggressive on occasion when I'm challenged. In the political arena that is possibly a good thing, but on a personal level it's not."

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT The mega utility

has a new headache. Federal officials have ordered a review of potential environmental risks at its South Florida nuclear power plant.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission last week issued an order to reverse a 2019 decision to extend Florida Power & Light's operating license for two reactors at the Turkey Point nuclear power plant until 2052 and 2053, respectively. They have been in use for 50 years.

The NRC plans to hold hearings after staff completes a new site-specific environmental impact statement. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES Missed opportunities are rarely mentioned in Escambia County, except maybe after a few beers. If Interstate 110 extended north to Nine Mile Road, how different would the county be?

What if the downtown YMCA had been built at the Maritime Park? Or if the county bought the Pensacola Soccer Complex in 1998?

Twenty-five years ago, the Pensacola Soccer Complex was the only arena of its kind between New Orleans and Jacksonville. The privatelyowned facility on 50 acres located where W St. connected with Highway 29 had 13 soccer fields.

Its 5,000-seat stadium once hosted an exhibition game between the Australian Women's National Team and the U.S. Olympic Team that was televised on ESPN. Hotels, restaurants and fast-food outlets in the area thrived.

However, the investors lost $1.3 million in less than three years. They tried to get the county commission to buy it, but the board wasn't interested. The property deteriorated, and the businesses in the area began to decline.

Meanwhile, soccer continued to thrive across the Southeast.

Cities like Memphis built huge soccer complexes near Interstate exits. The fields could be refigured to handle various levels of soccer and other sports from youth to professional.

Teams with their families traveled to weekend tournaments held at the venues.

In 2000, Escambia County had a dormant soccer complex that could become the perfect magnet to attract visitors during the shoulder seasons. First National Bank in Milton had foreclosed on the complex. Joe Elliott got an option of the property and convinced the Escambia County Commission to buy the land for $3.9 million. He paid the bank $3.3 million and pocketed $600,000.

Escambia County was poised to get into sports tourism in a big way. But the deal, which was approved by the commissioners late one night after the reporters had left to post their articles, didn't pass the smell test. Four commissioners were indicted and removed from office.

Former Commissioner Willie Junior was later

found dead under a Pensacola house. Former Commission Chairman W.D. Childers was convicted of bribing Junior and sent off to prison.

But the county still had the 50 acres with a Ruby Tuesday's at its entrance. Hotels still lined the road. Escambia County still had a shot of making it work. The daily newspaper didn't want it to happen. County Administrator George Touart had an offer to sell the property at a $1 million loss, and the board accepted it.

Today, the site is still undeveloped. The Ruby Tuesday's is gone. The hotels have continued their decline. Several restaurants and fast-food outlets are gone.

It took a while, but Escambia County did get back into soccer tourism with the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park. The park has 103 acres with 12 soccer fields and a 2,500-seat stadium.

Pensacola Sports has a two-year agreement to host the NAIA Men's National Invitational Lacrosse Championship, beginning this May at Brosnaham. Last week, it was announced that the park will be home to Southeastern Conference's Women's Soccer Tournament through 2024, with an option to extend the agreement two more years.

For the past decade, the SEC tournament has been at Orange Beach. Had the county kept the Pensacola Soccer Complex, we might have hosted those games in Escambia County.

Other events could have been held, and the lodging and restaurants on Highway 29 would have thrived. Tax dollars would have been collected, and jobs would have been created.

Instead, the county wanted out of the deal without ever analyzing the soccer complex's potential as an economic generator. We lost the opportunity, and it has taken us nearly two decades to get back into soccer tourism.

Now, Pensacola City Council has to make a decision about Inspired's $110 million mixed development at the Maritime Park. The land has been vacated for a decade. There isn't a long line of buyers fighting over it. Let's hope the council doesn't let this opportunity slip away. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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POTENTIAL CHARTER CONFLICT

Pensacola City Hall / Photo by Tim Bednarczyk

By Jeremy Morrison At the onset of a recent meeting of the Pensacola Charter Review Commission, Pensacola City Council Executive Don Kraher gave the panel some useful information.

"If you go either out this door or that door," Kraher told them, "you'll see a little kitchenette back there, and we have snacks back there."

As exciting as the snacks in the kitchenette were—and the announcement did elicit hoots— the charter review commission would soon get down to the real meat of the matter—How deeply will the panel review the city's charter?

Mayor Grover Robinson isn't looking for major modifications. He stressed to the commission, "I think there are things that need to be changed, but I don't think everything needs to be changed."

Mayor Robinson has sounded alarms bells over the past few weeks on the prospect that the commission might revert to the council-manager form of government that the city had for 62 years until the new charter was passed in 2009.

"If you thought they were simply going to tweak the charter, I'm not so sure," the mayor noted about the commission's possible direction during a mid-February press conference.

The charter review process is still early on in its journey, though they have already bandied

about such grand notions switching away from the current strongmayor system.

"It's been brought up several times whether or not we need to maintain this form of government we have now and look at making changes or tweaks to it or if we should look at doing a clean slate," said commission member Antonio Bruni at the Wednesday, Feb. 23, meeting. "The sooner we address that issue, the better, so we know if we're making changes to what's sitting in front of us or doing something else entirely," Pensacola's charter outlines precisely how the city operates.

The charter mandates a review process every 10 years. The charter review commission is comprised of nine members, appointed by council members and the mayor.

While the charter sets forth the management of the city, Chairman Samuel Horton encouraged his members to take it slow and resist digging into anything too deep too soon.

"I hear us getting too far in the weeds right now," Horton cautioned as members began fleshing out particulars of the charter with the city attorney. "We need to take in information for quite a while."

Any recommended changes from the commission must be submitted this summer in a report to the city council, which will either approve them to be placed on the 2022 general election ballot or return them to the commission for further changes.

At some point, the commission will have to decide if city government is best led by a mayor who serves as the chief executive officer or a city manager who is hired by the council.

Mayor Robinson implored the commission to resist getting distracted with notions of ego or titles or politics. He said, "The only way Pensacola succeeds is if we have a good council and a good executive and a good mayor. Those things have to be there, and they don't have to have a term, 'weak' or 'strong,' they just both need to be good."

The possibility of changing the city's form of government has energized a chorus of critics that have painted any shift away from the strong-mayor model as dangerously inefficient and ineffective.

In early February, the mayor had prompted three of his top employees—City Administrator Kerrith Fiddler and Deputy Administrators Amy Miller and David Forte—to argue in favor of a strong executive, pointing to the city's prosperity and progress in recent years.

During the Feb. 23 commission meeting, two other proponents of the strong-mayor system, Brian Spencer and John Peacock, joined the mayor. They were instrumental in the campaign that led to the 2010 switch to the strong-mayor system. Spencer's wife, attorney Crystal Spencer, chaired the charter commission that proposed the new charter. He served two years on the council, from 2010-2018, and ran against Robinson in the last mayoral race.

Spencer recounted how he consulted with the city's former mayors, including Mike Wiggins, who now sits on the review commission, leading up to the 2009 charter referendum. Each relayed how they felt they lacked the authority to lead the city effectively. A strong executive, he said, afforded the city better opportunities.

"It's kind of the basic model of what our countries, our businesses that have been successful have followed for now centuries," Spencer said.

The former councilman noted the "open communication which is afforded by this form of government," referencing the state's Sunshine Law that bans council members from discussing city issues with each other outside of public meetings.

Spencer also nodded to one of the primary concerns voiced about vesting so much power within the executive branch, downplaying any dictatorial overtones. He joked, "I don't think, mayor, anybody has been calling you Fidel, right?"

"Only when we did the mask mandate," the mayor deadpanned.

Peacock recounted how he became an advocate for the strong-mayor system. He began, "Nobody's ever gotten it right on why I wanted to change the charter and why I was involved in it from the beginning. So let me tell you why."

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years ago and finding it a "diamond in the rough" with loads of potential. He had an epiphany during a 2005 trip with his wife to Charleston, S.C. "It dawned on me. Wait a minute—we have just as much or more history as Charleston does; we have better beaches for sure; we have way better people—so why is Charleston such a vibrant city?" Peacock recalled. "And it dawned on me—the reason was Joe Riley, who served as the Charleston mayor for 40 years and did amazing things. I said, 'We have to do something to put somebody in charge.'''

He added that the strong-mayor form of government empowered voters. Under the old charter, voters could only cast a diluted district vote for one council person, according to Peacock.

He noted that now voters also pull the lever on the official ultimately tasked with making executive decisions. (see note) Peacock urged the commission to resist dismantling the city's strong-mayor system, pointing to city operations before the switch, which he deemed sluggish. He said, "The results of that void before that were really obvious. Nothing ever happened. Good people, but it was very difficult, especially in the Sunshine world, to have anything happen and push forward."

Chairman Horton advised the members to continue studying the charter. He said, "All of us need to really think about and read this charter closely, so we can have an idea about how we feel about maintaining the current form or making a change."

The next Charter Review Commission meeting is 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, in the Hagler/Mason Conference Room on the second floor of City Hall, 222 W. Main St. Note: City residents voted for their district representative, two at-large council members and the mayor under the old charter. However, the mayor didn't have executive powers. The council had 10 members, which included the mayor. The entire council hired the city manager who ran city operations. Under Mayor Ashton Hayward, voters passed a charter amendment eliminating the atlarge seats. The council now has seven members, elected by their districts.

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FINDING FUNDS FOR MORE PARTNERS

Photo Courtesy of Children's Home Society of Florida

By Tom St. Myer A mad dash is on to secure state funding before the 2022 Florida Legislative Session concludes on March 11. Lobbyists are leaning heavily on their state legislators for every dollar possible.

Children's Home Society is among those lobbying for millions of dollars from the state.

The agency is a core partner in 21 of the 29 Community Partnership Schools. Children's Home Society Executive Director Lindsey Cannon said the agency is seeking $10 million in state funding to increase the number of community schools by a dozen. Currently, the budget allocates $7.1 million in recurring funding for Community Partnership Schools.

"If we stay at the $7.1 million, there are no growth opportunities for other schools to come on board," Cannon said. "We're wanting to expand, including in the Escambia school district and Walton school district. It's not something we can ignore, especially when you start looking at data and at how well these schools have done."

Cannon declined to name which schools are being considered for transition to the community model. C.A. Weis Elementary is the lone Community Partnership School in Escambia County, having joined the program in January 2016 as the

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state's second such school. The Children's Home Society, Community Health Northwest Florida, Escambia County School District and the University of West Florida serve as its core partners, providing services to address critical barriers for students and their families.

Weis celebrated its sixth anniversary as a community school at the beginning of the year, and the positive impact since implementing the model is evident by any measure. The elementary raised its school grade from an "F" in 2015-16 to a "C" in its first full academic year as a community school in 2016-17. Discipline referrals were reduced by more than 90% and out-of-school suspensions by nearly 94% from 2016-2020. Last year, 49% of Weis students experienced learning gains in ELA reading, and 51% of students improved in ELA math.

Statewide statistics indicate that the success of Weis falls in line with other community schools. The Community Partnership Schools graduation rate is 95% compared to the state rate of 90%.

The positive impact on adults in the Weis community includes increased health care, family education and after-school activities.

Artencia Haynie is the mother of two children at the school, and she, too, is a student.

Haynie is at the school four days a week, studying to earn her GED in classes taught by UWF professors. She is an advocate for the community school model at all grade levels.

"I believe it would keep a lot of kids out of trouble to want to keep going and make a career for themselves," Haynie said. "It's never too late."

Each community model is unique to its environment, but the foundation includes on-site access to health and wellness services, on-site food pantries, counseling, leadership opportunities, cultural enrichment activities, after-school activities and parent resource centers.

Escambia County Superintendent Tim Smith is a proponent for increasing the number of community schools in his district and spreading the model to high, middle and other elementary schools. Students from impoverished families without the financial means to provide essential

services is an all-too-common theme at schools in certain zones of the district.

"I really think it is appropriate at any grade level," Smith said of the community school model. "We could use that model at a number of our schools where resources are necessary.

Just think if students are able to have their vision checked out and the doctor provides glasses to them, that's huge."

He continued, "That's a big difference-maker for students being able to perform in the classroom. I would have no problem coming up with a dozen schools to put that program in."

This is perhaps an ideal session for lobbyists from Children's Home Society and other agencies associated with Community Partnership Schools to campaign for increased funding.

Florida is flush with tax revenues and federal funding. The state currently operates on a record $100 billion budget that lawmakers approved in June. In December, Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed a $99.7 billion budget for the next fiscal year that includes $1,000 bonuses for teachers.

His proposed budget includes $15 billion in surplus reserves, a significant increase from the current budget's $9.5 billion in reserves. The surplus is set aside for use when natural disasters and other unexpected events impact the state.

Legislators will ultimately determine the state budget, though, and that is where the lobbying to increase funding for Community Partnership Schools comes into play.

"I know there are only x amount of dollars that our state has, but those would certainly be valuable dollars," Smith said. "Any extra that could be pushed toward the community school initiative would be great and could really make a difference to a school and a community."

The Escambia superintendent is investigating how to replicate that model without increased state funding. Dr. Amy Ellis, program director for the University of Central Florida Center for Community Schools, is one of his primary contacts. The Community Partnership Schools Model originated in Florida through a partnership among UCF, Children's Home Society and Orange County Public Schools.

The UCF center serves as a comprehensive

resource for schools statewide, nationally and globally. The center offers technical assistance, university-assisted partnership, training and development, and assessment and evaluation to develop and sustain high-quality community schools. Its model calls on partners to collaborate and provide a community school with a wide variety of academic support and enrichment opportunities in addition to primary medical, dental and behavioral health care for students, their families and the surrounding community.

"The biggest challenge with the model is it's a lot of money," Smith said. "Are there new ways we can think outside the box and be creative?"

Duplicating the model at schools throughout the county is unrealistic financially, but Smith sees the possibility of incorporating certain aspects to serve students and the communities better. In the meantime, he is waiting with bated breath to see if legislators increase the funding for community schools.

"If I could get one more school, that would be great," Smith said. "If I could get two, even greater. If I could get three, that would be phenomenal. It's a difference-maker."

The positive impact to the Weis community is an example that lobbyists from Children's Home Society share with legislators as they seek to expand through increased funding. Cannon said the Weis story impresses lawmakers.

Whether the success of Weis and fellow community schools impresses legislators enough to convince them to take $3 million from other pots and pour into the community school model is the question that will soon be answered. Cannon is optimistic that legislators will be swayed by how the model benefits communities by improving student behavior, increasing academic gains and graduation rates and enhancing parental involvement.

"We always get a positive response from our legislators," Cannon said. "They love what we do at C.A. Weis. We'd like to see it expand, but they have to make it a priority. We're hopeful that will be the case."

To learn more about Community Partner Schools, visit chsfl.org/services/communitypartnership-schools. {in}

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Trailblazer Awards / Photo Courtesy of UWF

2022 TRAILBLAZERS The University of

West Florida Office of Equity and Diversity, in partnership with Epps Christian Center, awarded nine community members who inspire and empower the Pensacola area.

"This year's awards are particularly special because they recognize individuals for providing leadership and service during a very difficult time," said Dr. Greg Tomso, interim vice president of academic engagement and student affairs and UWF's chief diversity officer.

He continued, "It's inspiring that so many good things are happening in our community despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. UWF is very grateful for these outstanding leaders and our ongoing partnership with the Epps Christian Center."

Over the last six years, 53 differencemakers in the community have been awarded.

The following people received a Trailblazer Award this year: •Sandra Donaldson, Community Service Award •My-Hanh Smiley, Helping Hand Award •Nicole Dixon, Community Voice Award •Marilyn Robinson, Servant Leader Award •Dr. Michelle Grier-Hall, Servant Leader Award •Freddie Tellis, Faith and Service Award •Dr. Keya Wiggins-Jackson, Educational Leadership Award •Mikia Carter, UWF Alumni Award •Sherri Myers, Trailblazer Award Myers was honored with the signature Trail010 1

blazer Award for her work as a civil rights attorney and advocate for disability rights. During her legal career, she has been an advocate for the poor, people with disabilities, women and minorities. Among her greatest accomplishments was the creation of one of the first rape crisis centers in the country in Nashville, Tenn.

She worked at the Center for Independent Living Disability Resource Center as an advocacy outreach coordinator for 14 years and currently serves on Pensacola City Council. She spent many years advocating for and improving access to local public beaches for people with disabilities.

Myers drafted the Project Universal Access that the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners selected among its 10 RESTORE projects. Project Universal Access will ensure that all people have the opportunity to live, work and play in an area that has beautiful beaches and natural resources.

"My passion in life has been to advocate for and empower those who have been marginalized and disenfranchised," Myers said. "I am honored to be among those who have advanced the cause of humanity and have been recognized for their work by UWF." For more information about the Office of Equity and Diversity, visit uwf.edu/inclusion.

"UNACCEPTABLE" Escambia County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh spoke with NorthEscam-

bia.com about his recent tour of the old county jail, which is still housing prisoners. Bergosh called the jail's conditions "unacceptable."

The commissioner said he observed mold growing on walls and ceilings, windows shattered and never replaced, fixtures pulled off the wall and leaks that have been repaired with tarps that catch water before it is drained away with a hose.

The new facility has problems, too. One of the three elevators has not worked for weeks, according to the commissioner. Several pods, or housing areas, in the new jail are not open due to staffing issues.

Families with loved ones in the county jail have reached out to Inweekly.

"The jail is overcrowded and understaffed," wrote one mother. "The new jail is riddled with issues much like the old jail—leaking toilets and sinks, poor nutrition offerings, no access to sunlight and exercise, poor communications facilities for lawyers to meet with clients."

Another wrote that her son had been transferred to the old jail—due to issues at the new facility—and was told to clean the dirty walls in the shower area. The "dirt" was feces spread on the wall.

"This is inhumane," she wrote. "The guards are frustrated, and you can imagine the frustration of the inmates. They are told nothing, treated like animals and disrespected at the most basic human level."

The parent continued, "This is a jail, not a prison. They are awaiting sentencing or conviction, a process that is unreasonably delayed.

Someone has forgotten they are innocent until proven guilty."

ALLSTAR COLD CASE TEAM Retirement offers its share of perks, but Buddy Nesmith misses the thrill of solving a case. So when Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons first approached him about forming a group of retired law enforcement investigators to assist the ECSO cold case unit, Nesmith enthusiastically volunteered his services.

"When he was campaigning (in 2020), he told me he would love to do it, and I told him at that time that when it's ready, I want to be the first one to sign up because it's my life," said Nesmith, who devoted 35 years to law enforcement, 20 of those on the Escambia County Sheriff's Office homicide unit, before retiring in 2016.

He explained, "For a homicide investigator, every case means something. We're a different breed. We live and breathe these cases.

We take these cases home. I can't tell you how many times I've woke up in the middle night thinking of things to do. You just never lose it, no matter how old you get or how long you've been gone from it. When the opportunity came, I just felt like it was a chance to give back."

Nearly 20 retired certified law enforcement investigators, including Nesmith, have

convened for the inaugural Cold Case Symposium on Wednesday, Feb. 23, and Thursday, Feb. 24, at ECSO. Simmons referred to the retired investigators as an "all-star team" and noted they combine for nearly 300 years of experience specific to homicide cases.

"The evidence we have—the case file, the notes, the blood samples, the DNA samples, all this stuff—it's a finite number," Simmons said. "It's an amount that's not going to change.

So we're going to have to take another look at that, and what we want is a unique perspective with experienced eyes, and we want to make sure we do right by the family."

The investigators have been assigned six cases—Ernest Finklea, Patricia Lynn Stephen, Broderick Johnson, Lakerian Demell Thomas-Peters, Joanna Kay Otto and Jessica Schuchman (Inweekly, "New Plan for Unsolved Murders, 1/20/22).

Simmons said the plan is for the group to reconvene every three months to review cold cases. Ideally, the investigators will develop leads for the cold case unit to follow up and ultimately provide closure for the victims' families.

"We may not solve a single case, but we're going to move forward with some of these cases, and the families will know that the Escambia County Sheriff's Office has put its best foot forward," said the sheriff. "We've done everything we possibly can to show that your family member has not been forgotten."

SEC SOCCER The Southeastern Conference

has entered into an agreement with Pensacola Sports to make Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex the new home of the SEC Women's Soccer Tournament. Under the terms of the new agreement, the tournament will be played in Pensacola through 2024, with an option to extend the agreement through 2026.

"We are thankful to the city of Pensacola and Pensacola Sports for providing a tremendous venue to conduct our SEC Soccer Championship," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "Their commitment to this event promises to provide lasting memories for our studentathletes and an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region."

Orange Beach, Ala., has served as the home of the SEC Tournament for 18 of the 19 previous seasons. This will mark the second time the state of Florida has hosted the event since Gainesville was the home for the 1997 event.

"We've been working on this thing since June 25, 2021," Pensacola Sports CEO Ray Palmer shared with Inweekly. Pensacola Sports had bid on the tournament several times, but the conference was pleased with Orange Beach. However, Orange Beach has grown and couldn't comply with some of the requirements of the Southeastern Conference's contract. The SEC began looking for other beach community sites.

"We resubmitted our proposal along with inweekly.net

other communities, and we did site visits and I made a trip to Birmingham," said Palmer. "And we just ultimately finally negotiated a contract and a little give and take here and there and landed with a three-year deal with an option for two more."

The first Pensacola tournament will be this fall in late October or early November.

BEACH GARDEN REVITALIZED The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) announced the completion of the renovation to the James P. Morgan Memorial Park and Botanical Garden on Pensacola Beach. Organized by the SRIA, in partnership with Escambia County, the University of Florida IFAS Extension and Florida Master Gardener Volunteer, a planting day was held on Saturday morning, Feb. 19.

Approximately 30-40 volunteer gardeners turned out to help lay 75 bales of pine straw on the trail and in the landscaping beds and plant nearly 100 native plants, including Firebush shrubs, dune sunflower, palmetto palms, green saw palmetto, pineapple guava and others.

"Morgan Park is a hidden gem on our beach that needs to be preserved and maintained for generations to come," said Leigh Davis, executive director of the SRIA. "We are so grateful to all of the volunteers who turned out to help spruce up the park and allow its natural beauty to shine again."

The small, often overlooked park has survived numerous hurricanes and tropical storms in the decades since its founding in 1995. The park is dedicated to the late Dr. James P. Morgan, a world-renowned beach geologist and professor at Louisiana State University and the University of West Florida.

CIVICCON RETURNS CivicCon is now in

its fifth year. It is a partnership of the Studer Community Institute and the Pensacola News Journal with the goal of making our community a better place to live, grow, work and invest through smart planning and civic conversation.

Speaker events are free and open to all.

There will be two presentations in March.

On Thursday, March 3, from 6-7:30 p.m., Charles Marohn, president and co-founder of Strong Towns, will focus on strategies for safer streets for pedestrians, bicyclists and people in autos. This presentation will be at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. On Tuesday, March 22, from 6-7:30 p.m., author Lisa McNair will preview her book "Dear Denise: Letters to the Sister I Never Knew," which is about her older sister Denise, one of the four girls killed in the infamous 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. McNair will share the impact of her sister's murder on her parents and Birmingham. Her racial unity theme emphasizes that we have more in common than things that are different.

RAPID COVID TESTING DOH Escambia

had closed its drive-thru testing site due to a decline in demand for COVID-19 tests.

COVID-19 testing continues to be available at several locations in Escambia County.

Rapid Testing is available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the FDOH-Escambia Fairfield, 1295 W. Fairfield Drive. All persons (ages 2 and up) who are experiencing symptoms or those who have been exposed to someone with known COVID-19 are eligible.

Appointment needed. Call (850) 595-6500 option 6 to schedule an appointment. Bring a valid form of identification.

Rapid testing results are available within 30 minutes. Questions can be directed to FDOHEscambia's COVID-19 phone line at (850) 5956500 option 6. Dates and locations are subject to change. Please visit escambiahealth.com for up-to-date information.

WAHOOS' NEW VOICE The Pensacola

Blue Wahoos announced Erik Bremer will be the team's lead play-by-play broadcaster for the 2022 season. Bremer becomes the third broadcaster in team history, following the promotions of Tommy Thrall (2012-2018) and Chris Garagiola (2017-2021) to positions in the Major Leagues.

Inweekly caught up with Bremer as he was packing for his long road trip to Pensacola.

He was excited to join Pensacola's Marlins' affiliate. He said, "The Blue Wahoos have a really good reputation, well deserved, around the world of Minor League big baseball for doing things really, really well, taking care of their fans and taking care of their employees as well."

In addition to serving as the team's broadcaster, Bremer will contribute to team social media, public relations and community initiatives. Notably, he is the son of Minnesota Twins television play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer, who has called games for the Twins since 1983.

When asked about following his father into the broadcast booth, Bremer said, "Regardless of the industry, if you see any parent enjoy going to work every day and really taking pride in what they do, it's no wonder that you want to do the same thing."

He continued, "And I left myself open to doing other stuff, but I grew up around the game of baseball. I'd like to think I know it pretty well, and I certainly have a passion for it.

So I really enjoy what I do."

SEEKING GUMBO CHEFS Gulf Breeze Ro-

tary is challenging chefs to show off their skills at its annual Gumbo Cook-Off from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at Shoreline Park in Gulf Breeze. Both private groups and restaurant teams are welcome to vie for prizes.

Gumbo lovers can donate $10 for unlimited gumbo samples and the opportunity to vote for the crowd's favorite gumbo.

The Gumbo Cook-Off is the primary fundraiser for Gulf Breeze Rotary college scholarship program. The club has awarded more than $800,000 to deserving Gulf Breeze students throughout the past two decades. Celebrity judges will name the Best Gumbo while the crowd will select the People's Choice. Nearly 1,200 people sampled gumbo from more than 20 teams at the previous year's event.

Contact gumbo@gulfbreezerotary.com to

sign up to cook, learn more about sponsorship opportunities or purchase tickets.

FUR BALL The Fur Ball, a black-tie gala supporting the Pensacola Humane Society, is scheduled for Saturday, March 26, at the Pensacola Yacht Club.

The evening will begin at 5:30 pm with a cocktail reception, the Puppy Parade, dinner, music, and silent and live auctions. A few tickets are still available at $150 per person. The silent auction will have online bidding prior to and during the event. Some sponsorships are still available.

Honorary Chair is Jim Rigsbee. Honorary Committee members are Mona Amodeo, Lindsey Braxton Shook, Mary and Dave Hoxeng, Dr. Charlie Matyi, Lumon May, Phil and Tom McClung, Collier Merrill, Jill and Grover Robinson, Dr. Dustin Russell, Sue Straughn, and Janie and Bobby Switzer.

For more information, email furball@pensacolahumane.org.

LOOKING FOR ENTREPRENEURS The Spring is accepting applications for its Venture Mentoring Service, which is based on the VMS program started by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program pairs local entrepreneurs with three-five mentors with a variety of expertise. To apply, visit surveymonkey.com/r/vms2022. The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, March 7.

Twenty companies have participated in Spring VMS since it was launched two years ago. In May 2020, SCI selected Argo Cyber Systems, De Luna Coffee International, Eastburn Woodworks, Extreme Tactical, Nail Company Wholesale Supply, Rainey's Closet, Snap Soccer, Something Old Salvage, Tap the Coast and Warfighter Fitness.

An additional 10 companies were chosen last year—Bird of Prey Fishing Tackle, BJ's Exotic Hardwood, Cycle Joint, Grind and Glaze, InHer Physique Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Wellness, Jones Cold Brew, Native Café, RCI Health Metrics, Station 96 and WM Martin Transport. {in}

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850.435.7000 | LEVINLAW.COM | PENSACOLA, FL March 3, 2022

11

BY TOM ST. MYER

Carissa Phelps / Photo by Shannon McMillen Photography

A homeless runaway with seemingly nowhere else to turn at the vulnerable age of 12, Carissa Phelps accepted an offer from a man twice her age who promised to take care of her if she returned the favor.

Phelps soon discovered what the man really meant by that promise. He took her to a hotel room and exploited her sexually, leaving her feeling disgusted and embarrassed, like a discarded piece of trash. She snuck out of the hotel room in Fresno County, Calif., with nowhere to turn for food or shelter and somehow wound up in a worse situation when she bumped into a pregnant girl who introduced her to a pimp by the name of Icey.

A 10-day crash course in the seedy world of human trafficking destroyed any remaining fragments of her youth and nearly killed her.

Today, the now 45-year-old Phelps is a remarkable success story, rising from the ashes to become an attorney specializing in federal human trafficking cases for the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm. Married and with three grandchildren she adores, Phelps shows no outward signs of the nightmarish childhood she survived as a trafficking victim.

"Why I Do This"

The Department of Homeland Security describes human trafficking as "modern-day slavery" involving the "use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." In 2020, nearly 11,000 situations of human trafficking involving nearly 17,000 individual victims were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. Studies show the average age a victim enters trafficking is between 11-14.

Phelps admittedly entered trafficking naively when Icey coerced her into letting him pimp her out that night to raise $250 to pay for his impounded car. His pregnant girlfriend stood outside the hotel room watching as men took turns raping Phelps. That one terrible night turned into 10 horrific days for Phelps as Icey pimped her out to men of all ages.

"He forced me to smoke crack, took me to drug dealers' houses to sell me, raped me horribly and wanted to make me feel like nothing," Phelps said. "I cried for my mom. I was in the car 212 1

with him, and I think he was taking me to kill me after a week and a half of his routine with me."

Law enforcement intervened by the grace of God, according to Phelps. Police pulled over the vehicle, and Icey provided a fake name that brought up a warrant in the system. Phelps told her story, but instead of treating her as a victim, the police handcuffed her and put her in the backseat with Icey.

"They pulled the car over, and that's what saved my life," Phelps said. "I wouldn't have been here if they hadn't pulled me over. But then what happened next with being arrested and treated like a criminal is why I do this."

A leader in the anti-human trafficking movement since the documentary "Carissa" detailed her story in 2008, Phelps accepted a position with Levin Papantonio Rafferty (LPR) nearly three years ago after meeting firm shareholder Kim Adams. Adams sold Phelps on her compassion for clients and commitment to fighting human trafficking on multiple fronts, including lawsuits against hotels and websites that benefit from the sex acts.

"I could tell she was the real deal and cared about clients the way I do," Phelps said. "You don't see a lot of people that have that level of understanding for the depths of the trauma of what their clients are going through, and I felt she did."

LPR is among law firms across the nation leading litigation to hold the lodging industry and other businesses accountable for permitting human trafficking in their establishments. The legal push involves filing over 30 federal cases nationwide. Some of the lawsuits cite websites such as PornHub for failing to identify ages and consent of individuals in videos. Others call out lodging industries ranging from Motel 6 to higher-end chains such as Hilton and Marriott for enabling and profiting from human trafficking.

A lawsuit of particular interest to Phelps is in the appeals process. Phelps, Adams and fellow LPR attorney Kathryn Avila represent an anonymous client identified by the initials J.B. The anonymous client made sex trafficking claims against the classified advertisement website Craigslist. In her complaint, J.B. said as a teenager, she was advertised for sale on Craigslist's "Erotic Services" and "Adult Services" classified categories. The complaint stated Craigslist knew

sex trafficking was occurring on its platform and benefited financially from her abuse.

J.B.'s legal team argued that Craigslist's conduct constituted a violation of Section 1591 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, which bars the sex trafficking of children by force. In September, U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. dismissed the federal claim, saying the plaintiff failed to show the site violated the Communications Decency Act. J.B.'s legal team is appealing that ruling.

"I'm hoping we get to the (U.S. Court of Appeals) Ninth Circuit and win, and Craigslist challenges us, and we get to go before the Supreme Court," Phelps said. "Should this website have gotten away with so much trafficking online? If we could make the determination that what Craigslist did was wrong, it gives us so much validation that what happened to (the victims) was wrong. They were transacted and sold to adult buyers. We need to do restorative justice at this point."

Sharing Her Plight

As a fellow survivor, Phelps easily relates to the human trafficking victims she represents.

She said her job is to listen and ask the right questions so the clients feel as comfortable as possible in telling their gruesome stories.

Phelps has shared her plight in documentaries, books, speaking engagements and countless media interviews. An early childhood of bouncing back and forth between unstable homes with males who viewed her as an object, not a human, put her on the path to being a trafficking victim.

Only 5 when her parents divorced, Phelps, her mom and five siblings left Coalinga, a city in Central California, and moved to the southern part of the state. Her mom soon married a man with four kids of his own, and the couple added another child to the mix, expanding the family to 13. Suddenly thrust into a family that grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Phelps and her siblings felt isolated.

"We lived in a small pop-up trailer," she said.

"We couldn't live with our stepfather and family because of the religious rules his mother followed.

Those were fun times compared to later on."

After five years, the family moved back to Coalinga. The children grew up with a stepfather who abused Phelps' brothers and sexually as-

saulted her older sister. Phelps recalled her sister telling her secretly that the sexual abuse began when he offered her $50 for a topless back rub.

Phelps agreed to keep her secret, but she had no interest in sticking around and being the next victim. At age 11, she and a younger brother moved in with their dad and older brother. Phelps found life just as challenging in his Redding, Calif., home. Her father suffered from depression and owned pornography that her older brother enjoyed showing her. One night, her brother came into her room and slipped into her cot with her.

A frightened Phelps lay frozen, fearing his touch.

She managed to escape that night without him sexually assaulting her and then convinced her father to let her and her younger brother move back in with their mom by making up a story about how her brother missed their family in Coalinga.

"The Ping-Pong thing started," Phelps said.

"Where do I go? A friends' house seemed like the best option or boys because at least it wasn't my brothers or stepdad molesting me."

She lived with her dad on three separate occasions, including in Sarasota and Orlando, Fla., but she always wound up back in the Fresno area.

Even after she escaped from Icey when the cops pulled him over, Phelps' life continued spiraling out of control. At age 13, police arrested her for joyriding with friends in a stolen vehicle.

Phelps anticipated being sentenced to a youth prison with her juvenile rap sheet already long. Instead, the judge sentenced the four girls to a juvenile hall program for boys in Fresno.

Ron Jenkins headed the program and became a father figure for Phelps. She shared with Inweekly, "God's hand was definitely in that."

Consistent counseling in the juvenile hall program and success in school turned the tide for Phelps. She finished high school on time, graduated summa cum laude from Fresno State University and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law and an MBA from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

Runaway Girl

Phelps began sharing her story in school and found her voice as an advocate for sexually exploited runaway children and homeless youth. She initially accepted her position at LFR intending to split her time between the inweekly.net

law firm and Runaway Girl Inc., a nonprofit she founded in 2012 to create career development and employment opportunities and also improve and create services for runaway, former runaway and homeless youth.

Runaway Girl flourished for almost 10 years before COVID-19 rocked the economy. Donations dried up for the nonprofit.

"All of the sudden, all of the contracts got canceled," Phelps said. "I was on the phone trying to tell people that trafficking is not going to stop and kids aren't going to stay at home. Agencies' budgets were tightening, and I couldn't stomach it."

Runaway Girl still operates but is a shell of its former self. Phelps is now focused full time on litigation. One of her mentees at Runaway Girl, Courtney Baldwin, followed her to Pensacola.

The 28-year-old Baldwin recently began as a paralegal at the law firm. Baldwin first met Phelps at an event in Stockton, Calif., and the two survivors connected instantly.

Baldwin is featured in "Taking Down Backpage," a book by Maggy Krell, a former prosecutor who contributed significantly to halting the illicit sexual marketplace. Phelps introduced Baldwin to Krell after hearing her story. A pastor's daughter, Baldwin's life spiraled into trafficking after his death.

"My family wasn't whole anymore," Baldwin said. "At age 17, I was out of the house. My whole life, I had gone through things, but I had been more fortunate because I had parents and a twin brother. My dad passed away, and it was like, I don't have anything. Life smacked me in the face."

Life on the streets for Baldwin meant relying on traffickers to provide her food and shelter in exchange for her bringing in money for sexual acts. Each day mirrored the previous. Baldwin turned tricks until 6 a.m., scarfed down some food, slept until about noon and then put on a skimpy outfit and started trafficking all over again. Men routinely hired her out on the website backpage.com.

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Baldwin recalled an incident in May 2013 with her cowering in a motel room as a gang of sex traffickers cursed at her. Baldwin said they shouted, "You're my bitch now. You'll never get away."

"The whole time in trafficking, there wasn't a moment when someone wasn't trying to take me or hurt me," Baldwin said. "Sometimes, I just had to let them rape me. You feel like nothing, soulless."

Desperate to escape trafficking, Baldwin called and asked to meet her old high school counselor. Baldwin confided in the counselor, who found her a place in a women's shelter in Stockton.

Her trafficking life still loomed over her for months after moving into the shelter. Baldwin said a pimp lived in the area and confronted her on her walk from school back to the shelter one day.

"He grabbed me and slammed me against the fence," Baldwin said. "He smelled me and tried to kiss me. I never felt so low. He finally stopped because I was crying and I was terrified. I grabbed my stuff and just ran back into the shelter. I cried and put my head down on the desk. I did a police report, and fortunately, I didn't see him after that."

She continued, "I still had a lot of fears after that, however. I had to block people who hurt me because my peers trafficked me. 'Johns' would follow me and circle the shelter looking for me."

Those fears subsided as the months passed, March 3, 2022

and Baldwin has since treated each day as a new lease on life. She has successfully advocated for sexually exploited youth by sharing her story and listening intently to theirs.

"Working with so many victims, I found the law was where there was the biggest gap. Victims were falling through the cracks," said Baldwin, who exudes an infectious positive energy. "Carissa then told me about the opportunity here.

It's nothing fancy, but it's just a great firm and a great place to start and build my expertise, so when I am ready, I can be effective in that area."

Phelps checks in with Baldwin daily, and her phone is filled with photos she has taken of her mentee at the law office. The mentor speaks in a prideful tone and smiles affectionately as she describes Baldwin and her journey from victim to paralegal and advocate.

The two women symbolize what is possible for trafficking survivors, but as they point out, their success stories are the exceptions rather than the rule. Millions of women worldwide are not as fortunate. Phelps said the fight against trafficking must come from two directions.

"No more money to companies that don't do anything about trafficking, whether it be hotels, credit cards, websites. Investors need to say, unless they're taking a human stance, we're not going to do business with them," she said. "The other thing is survivors and victims need to know they have rights and not be ashamed to go after them. There is a lot of shaming in lawsuits."

Phelps promises to be in their corner, encouraging trafficking victims to stand their ground as they seek restorative justice. She wakes up every day as a survivor, advocate and attorney, ready to destroy what nearly destroyed her.

"My goals are huge every day I wake up," she said. "I'm thinking about my lifetime legacy every single day. Thank God I lived past 12, past 16. I never thought I would. Now that I'm 45, that's a milestone. I wake up every day with big ideas and big dreams." {in} To learn more about Carissa Phelps and the work she does, visit runawaygirl.com.

Phelps also provided us with this list of regional anti-human trafficking organizations if you're looking for additional resources or ways to help.

•Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O'Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A. levinlaw.com/human-trafficking-lawsuit •The Secret Place Home 2221 S. Blue Angel Pkwy. thesecretplacehome.org •Magdelene's Gifts & Gatherings 3268 Fordham Pkwy., Gulf Breeze magdalenes.org •The Set Free Refuge, Inc. 8373 East Bay Blvd., Navarre setfreerefuge.org •SAFE safeinthepanhandle.com •National Human Trafficking Resource Center Call: (888) 373-7888 Text: 233733 "BE FREE" humantraffickinghotline.org 13

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inweekly.net

a&e happenings THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT LUNCHEON The Junior League of

Pensacola is hosting its annual Women's Empowerment Luncheon on Tuesday, March 8, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Pensacola Country Club, located at 1500 Bayshore Drive. The luncheon will honor six women who will receive a Women's Empowerment Award. Tickets are $60 each and can be purchased online at pensacola.jl.org.

THE HELLO GIRLS PenArts presents a new mu-

sical that tells the story of these brave women who answered the call and volunteered to serve their country. The show dates are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 9-Saturday, March 12, and 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 13, at The Gordon Community Art Center, 306 N. DeVilliers St. Tickets are $5-$15 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com.

Photo Courtesy of WUWF

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA MARDI GRAS BOWL Junior

Achievement of Northwest Florida and Cordova Lanes Bowling is having their 20th Anniversary of the Annual Mardi Gras Bowl fundraiser Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, at Cordova Lanes Bowling Center, located at 2111 Airport Blvd. Games start at 5 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. The fee is $30 per person; kids 7 and under bowl free. Cost includes your lane fee, shoe rental and event Tshirt. For more information, visit janwfl.org.

PET ADOPTION AT BOB TYLER TOYOTA

Bob Tyler Toyota will be hosting a pet adoption on Saturday, March 5, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in an effort to help adoptable animals of the Pensacola Humane Society find their forever homes.

During this event, Bob Tyler will pay 75% of adoption fees. Pensacola Humane Society and the Humane Express will be at Bob Tyler Toyota dealership, which is located at 7201 Pensacola Blvd. All interested adopters can find more information online at pensacolahumane.org.

WUWF HOSTS STORYCORPS FOR LOCAL STORYTELLING OPPORTUNITIES Sto-

ryCorps, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving and sharing the stories of people from all backgrounds and beliefs, comes to Pensacola Feb. 17-March 11 to

record interviews, in-person and virtually, as part of its Mobile Tour.

Participants have the option of recording in-person or via StoryCorps' Virtual Recording Booth, a video-conferencing platform that can be accessed remotely using an internetconnected device. Participants can learn more about safety precautions for in-person recording at storycorps.org.

Reservations to record can be made by calling StoryCorps' 24-hour toll-free reservation line at (800) 850-4406 or visiting storycorps.org or wuwf.org/storycorps.

ARTS & CULTURE

MASTER GARDENERS PRESENT CREATING A HEALTHY LAWN Join UF/IFAS

Extension Escambia Master Gardener volunteers on Thursday, March 3, noon-1 p.m., at the Tryon Library, located at 1200 Langley Ave. Get tips for an attractive and healthy turf as well as an opportunity to "check out" edible and flower seeds. Come learn more about this program.

Registration will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the program.

IMPROVABLE CAUSE The next Improvable Cause show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Pensacola Cultural Center, 400 S. Jefferson St. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

UWF LABYRINTH Visit UWF Tuesday, March 8, in the Student Commons Auditorium (Bldg.

22) for an evening that combines a personal and reflective experience with an intellectual conversation around the spiritual, therapeutic and meditative uses of the labyrinth from 5:308 p.m. Speakers include Dr. Eric Schade, Isabelle Peterson and LaVonne French. The SWERVE Dance Company will also perform. Attendees will also have the opportunity to walk a fullsize canvas replica of the labyrinth at Notre Dame de Chartres (c. 1200) and experience a re-creation of that popular practice from the Middle Ages. (To walk the labyrinth, RSVPs are requested.) For more information or questions, contact casshcommunications@uwf.edu or call (850) 474-3340.

BERT KREISHER: THE BERTY BOY RELAPSE TOUR Stand-up comedian Bert

Kreisher will be playing at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. Tickets are $39.75-$99.75 and can be purchased at pensacolasaenger.com.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Pensacola Op-

era's latest show is a timeless classic. Enjoy the hilarity as Figaro rescues the lovelorn Rosina from Dr. Bartolo, uniting her with her true love, Count Almaviva. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 11m and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox.

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at pensacolasaenger.com.

ANASTASIA: THE MUSICAL Inspired by

the beloved films, the romantic and adventurefilled new musical "Anastasia" comes to the Saenger Theatre, located at 118 S. Palafox.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, and Wednesday, March 16. Tickets are $58-$83.

Purchase yours at pensacolasaenger.com.

BROADWAY BOOGIE: GROWN-UPS Join

this weekly class on the basics of boogie in a fun, easy-going, non-judgmental setting.

Classes are Fridays, April 1-May 20, from 5-6 p.m., at The Gordon Art Center, 306 N. DeVilliers St. This class teaches the fundamentals of musical theatre style dancing including jazz, tap, ballet, ballroom, fosse and more. This class is a beginner-level class for teens and adults, ages 16 and up. Registration is open through March 15 at myneighborhoodtheatre.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Enjoy shopping

for a variety of handcrafted wares at Pensacola Arts Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 1401 W. Intendencia St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more.

Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/pensacolaartsmarket.

EASY GOING GALLERY ART MARKET

Every Sunday, Easy Going Gallery and Carter J Studios present a weekly art market Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Easy Going Gallery, located at 701 N. V St. Enjoy art, espresso, vintage goods, baked treats, handcrafted unique gifts and more. Vendors can participate for a $20 fee. For more information, contact easygoinggalleryart@gmail.com.

IF YOU CAN SEE A THING WHOLE... CLOSING EXHIBIT The closing ceremony for The Art

Gallery at University of West Florida's "if you can see a thing whole…" is Thursday, March 3, at 6 p.m.

The exhibit features New Orleans-based artists Hannah Chalew and Pippin Frisbie-Calder, who will be hosting an artist talk at the ceremony. For more information, contact Cat Gambel, Gallery Director, TAG, at artgallery@uwf.edu.

TEEN-Y TINY ART SHOW Tweens and teens

have the chance to express themselves with a tiny painting kit from the Pensacola Library. Pick up a kit from the Youth Services desk through Monday, March 7. Return your masterpiece to

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 March 3, 2022

Tired of suffering from droopy eyelids? Uplift your eyelids with the once daily eye drop, Upneeq. Call now to schedule your appointment with the eye care specialists at Terrezza Optical: 850-434-2060 15

a&e happenings the Pensacola Library from Tuesday, March 8-Monday, March 14. The library will display the work in the lobby display case from Tuesday, March 15-Thursday, March 31. Suggested for middle and high school youths. All materials provided while supplies last.

20/22 VISION First City Art Center's latest

exhibit features the new artists at 1060 Gallery.

The exhibit is on view through March 18 and is located at 1060 N. Guillemard St. Visit firstcityart.org for more information.

MAPPING NORTHWEST FLORIDA EXHIBIT AT THE PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY Visualized Landscapes: A Selection

of Northwest Florida Maps is now on view at Pensacola Museum of History.

The exhibit explores the shifting topography of Northwest Florida through a series of maps selected from the Trust Archive. Visualized Landscapes: A Selection of Northwest Florida Maps is on view on the second floor of the Pensacola Museum of History until August.

For more information about the UWF Historic Trust or to purchase tickets, visit historicpensacola.org.

YOUTH ART FOCUS AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF ART The Pensacola Museum of

Art, in partnership with the Escambia County School District, is proud to present the 68th Annual Youth Art Focus exhibition highlighting the best work from art students and educators from

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Escambia County Schools. On view through Feb. 27. Pensacola Museum of Art is located at 407 S. Jefferson St and open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. For more information, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

local shops and explore the history of Pensacola through today's technology. Visit historicpensacola.org for more information.

VISIONARY APONTE: ART AND BLACK FREEDOM Visionary Aponte: Art and Black

a traveling exhibition from the New York Historical Society Museum & Library with additions from the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, is now on view the Studer Community Institute, located at 220 W. Garden St. It can be viewed Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through March 5.

Freedom is from creator José Antonio Aponte, a free black carpenter, artist and former soldier who was also the leader of an ambitious antislavery conspiracy in Cuba in 1812. The exhibit is on view at Pensacola Museum of Art through March 27.

Visit pensacolamuseum.org for more information.

2000 MEN: BLACK POLITICIANS DURING RECONSTRUCTION A new exhibit at the

Pensacola Museum of History shares the stories and histories of Black politicians during the Reconstruction period. The Pensacola Museum of History is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information, visit historicpensacola.org.

FINDING 1821 Finding 1821 is part of the UWF Historic Trust's Suddenly American exhibit. Using historic newspapers, maps and documents, it is possible to locate where businesses stood in the 1820s. From taverns to parasol shops, each site on the Finding 1821 trail reflects a local establishment that was near that location 200 years ago. Outside each business is a QR code that links to a corresponding advert from an early 1820s newspaper. Over a dozen sites have been identified so far. Take a stroll around town, visit

BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW "Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow,"

SCRIPTEASERS WITH PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE Scripteasers, Studio 400's and Pensac-

ola Little Theatre's Script Reading Club invites you to monthly script readings at PLT, 400 S. Jefferson St. 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.

OPEN MIC AT THE GORDON Show off your

talents on the second Thursday of every month at The Gordon's Open Mic showcase from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free. The Gordon is located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Visit thegordon.org for more information.

OPEN MIC COMEDY AT BIG TOP BREWERY Try out some new jokes or enjoy some homegrown talent every Monday at 7 p.m. for Open Mic Comedy at Big Top Brewery, located at 21 W. Romano St. Everyone gets five minutes depending on the number of sign-ups. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.

NEW CLASSES AT MIXON MAGIC PERFORMING ARTS Mixon Magic Performing

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 (850) 221-7438. for more listings visit inweekly.net

2/24/22 10:46 AM inweekly.net

March 3, 2022

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free will astrology WEEK OF MARCH 3 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "I not only

bow to the inevitable," wrote Aries author Thornton Wilder. "I am fortified by it."

Wow. That was a brazen declaration. Did he sincerely mean it? He declared that he grew stronger through surrender, that he derived energy by willingly giving in to the epic trends of his destiny. I don't think that's always true for everyone. But I suspect it will be a useful perspective for you in the coming weeks, Aries.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Vive la dif-

férence! Hooray for how we are not alike! I am all in favor of cultural diversity, neurodiversity, spiritual diversity and physical diversity. Are you? The coming weeks will be an excellent time to celebrate the bounties and blessings that come your way because of the holy gift of endless variety. The immediate future will also be a perfect phase to be extra appreciative that your companions and allies are not the same as you. I encourage you to tell them why you love how different they are. Now here's poet Anna Akhmatova to weave it together—"I breathe the moonlight, and you breathe the sunlight, but we live together in the same love."

Vive la différence! Hooray for how we are not alike!

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini

singer-songwriter Bob Dylan said, "I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom."

I think that will be a key theme for you in the coming weeks. Dylan described the type of hero I hope you aspire to be. Be alert! You are on the cusp of an invigorating liberation. To ensure you proceed with maximum grace, take on the increased responsibility that justifies and fortifies your additional freedom.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "I'd rather

be seduced than comforted," wrote author Judith Rossner. What about you, Cancerian? Do you prefer being enticed, invited, drawn out of your shell, and led into interesting temptation?

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By Rob Brezsny

Or are you more inclined to thrive when you're nurtured, soothed, supported and encouraged to relax and cultivate peace? I'm not saying one is better than the other, but I urge you to favor the first in the coming weeks—being enticed, invited, drawn out of your shell and led into interesting temptation.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): A woman from

Cornwall, U.K., named Karen Harris was adopted as a little girl. At age 18, she began trying to track down her biological parents.

Thirty-four years later, she was finally reunited with her father. The turning point: He appeared on the "Suggested Friends" feature on her Facebook page. I propose we make Karen Harris your inspirational role model. Now is a favorable time to find what you lost a while ago; to re-link with a good resource that disappeared from your life; to reclaim a connection that could be meaningful to you again.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Buddhist teacher Chögyam Trungpa told us, "Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquility." Instead, he said that meditation is how we "expose and undo our neurotic games, our self-deceptions, our hidden fears and hopes." Excuse me, Mr. Trungpa, but I don't allow anyone, not even a holy guy like you, to dictate what meditation is and isn't. Many other spiritual mentors I've enjoyed learning from say that meditation can also be a discipline to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss and tranquility. And I suspect that's what Virgo meditators should emphasize in the coming weeks. You people are in a phase when you can cultivate extraordinary encounters with that all fun stuff. If you're not a meditator, now would be a good time to try it out. I recommend the books "Meditation for Beginners" by Jack Kornfield and "How to Meditate" by Pema Chödrön.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Comedian

Fred Allen observed, "It is probably not love that makes the world go around, but rather those mutually supportive alliances through which partners recognize their dependence on each other for the achievement of shared and private goals." That's an unromantic thing to say, isn't it? Or maybe it isn't. Maybe it's very romantic, even enchanting, to exult in how our

allies help us make our dreams come true—and how we help them make their dreams come true. In my astrological opinion, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to focus on the synergies and symbioses that empower you.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "I always

too late to have a happy childhood!" declare many self-help gurus. "It's never too early to start channeling the wise elder who is already forming within you," declare I. Oddly enough, both of these guiding principles will be useful for you to meditate on during the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you're in an unusually good position to resurrect childlike wonder and curiosity. You're also poised to draw stellar advice from the Future You who has learned many secrets that the Current You doesn't know yet. Bonus—Your Inner Child and your Inner Elder could collaborate to create a marvelous breakthrough or two.

strive, when I can, to spread sweetness and light," said P. G. Wodehouse. "There have been several complaints about it." I know what he means. During my own crusade to express crafty, discerning forms of optimism, I have enraged many people. They don't like to be reminded that thousands of things go right every day. They would rather stew in their disgruntlement and cynicism, delusionally imagining that a dire perspective is the most intelligent and realistic stance. If you're one of those types, Aquarius, I have bad news for you—The coming weeks will bring you invitations and opportunities to cultivate a more positive outlook. I don't mean that you should ignore problems or stop trying to fix what needs correction. Simply notice everything that's working well and providing you with what you need. For inspiration, read my essay—tinyurl.com/highestglory.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): "A

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Pastor and

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): "It's never

myriad of modest delights constitute happiness," wrote poet Charles Baudelaire. That will be a reliable formula for you in the coming weeks, Sagittarius. You may not harvest any glorious outbreaks of bliss, but you will be regularly visited by small enchantments, generous details and useful tweaks. I hope you won't miss or ignore some of these nurturing blessings because you're fixated on the hope of making big leaps.

Be grateful for modest delights.

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

out some fun facts about renowned Capricorn poet Robert Duncan (1919–1988), who was a bohemian socialist and trailblazing gay activist.

He was adopted by Theosophical parents who chose him because of his astrological makeup. They interpreted Robert's dreams when he was a child. Later in life, he had an affair with actor Robert De Niro's father, also named Robert, who was a famous abstract expressionist painter. Anyway, Capricorn, this is the kind of quirky and fascinating information I hope you'll be on the lookout for. It's time to seek high entertainment as you expedite your learning; to change your fate for the better as you gather interesting clues; to be voraciously curious as you attract stimulating influences that inspire you to be innovative.

activist Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) said, "All great discoveries are made by people whose feelings run ahead of their thinking."

The approach worked well for him. In 1892, he discovered and exposed monumental corruption in the New York City government. His actions led to significant reforms of the local police and political organizations. In my astrological opinion, you should incorporate his view as you craft the next chapter of your life story. You may not yet have been able to fully conceive of your future prospects and labors of love, but your feelings can lead you to them.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: See if you can forgive yourself for a wrong turn you haven't been able to forgive yourself for. newsletter.freewillastrology.com.

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2022

inweekly.net

news of the weird BRIGHT IDEA Robin Folsom, 43, the former director of external affairs for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, was indicted on Feb. 10 for faking multiple pregnancies in order to get paid leave from her position, The Washington Post reported. Folsom reported her latest pregnancy to human resources in October 2020 and allegedly gave birth in May 2021. The "father" of the newborn, Bran Otmembebwe, emailed her bosses and said her doctor had called for seven weeks of leave following the birth, which she ordinarily would not have received. Pictures that Folsom shared with co-workers were found to be "inconsistent and depicted children with varying skin tones," the inspector general's report said.

Co-workers also noticed that her baby bump seemed to be detached from her body. In addition, "a review of medical and insurance records found no indication that Folsom had ever delivered a child." Folsom resigned after an October 2021 interview with investigators and is due back in court in April.

GOING TO EXTREMES It was sooooo cold in Beijing during the men's 50km cross-country skiing event. How cold was it, you ask? It was so cold (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) that Finland's Remi Lindholm, who spent an hour and 16 minutes covering the course, suffered some painful frostbite to an unspeakably delicate body part that was not insulated enough by his thin suit and underlayer, The Guardian reported. Yes, that one. He endured a similar setback in Ruka, Finland, last year. Lindholm said he used a heat pack to thaw out the "appendage" after the Feb. 19 race but "the pain was unbearable. ... It was one of the worst competitions I've been in."

POLICE REPORT Former Chadbourn (North Carolina) Police Chief Anthony Spivey, 36, was taken into custody in Conway, South Carolina, on Feb. 24, ending nearly a year of magnificent flouting of the law, WECT-TV reported. It all started in April 2021, when Spivey was charged with more than 70 offenses, mostly related to repeatedly raiding the department's evidence room and stealing narcotics, cash and firearms.

In June, he allegedly embezzled $8,000 meant for a family whose son was battling leukemia.

North Carolina Wildlife officers contacted the Columbus County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 21 about a boat and truck that belonged to Spivey that were found along the Lumber River.

Family members told officers the scene might indicate a suicide, and investigators searched the waters and wooded areas nearby for three days. But as the investigation continued, "it became even more apparent that the scene on the river was staged," they said. He was finally located at his aunt's apartment in Loris, South Carolina. His total bond is set at $1 million.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A HOBBY People have discovered all sorts of pastimes during COVID-19 lockdowns, and Tom Quirk, 36, is no exception, as Metro News reported on Feb. 23. Quirk,

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

of the Forest of Dean in the United Kingdom, treated himself to a new Shark vacuum a couple of years ago and quickly realized that he could make great art with it. For example, Quirk made a stunningly realistic portrait of Donald Trump in his living room rug, a frightening likeness of Jack Nicholson from "The Shining" ("Here's Johnny!") and a pretty good image of Slash. "You have to hoover the rug all over in just one direction first so it gives you an all over light image," Quirk said.

"Then I remove the hose and add the thin attachment to the end and drag the long fibers the opposite direction to get the shadows of faces.

It normally takes about 15 to 20 minutes, which isn't bad considering it took Leonardo da Vinci four years to do the 'Mona Lisa.'"

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS Welcome to Texas, where Sarah Stogner, 37, is running for railroad commissioner against Wayne Christian.

Christian has amassed a war chest of $766,000, and Stogner is apparently willing to bare all to win the contest, Canoe reported on Feb. 23: "I have other assets," she said. To prove it, Stogner posted a 5-second TikTok video of herself wearing only cowboy boots and hat and straddling an oil pumping jack as "Apache" by the Sugarhill Gang played. Unfortunately for her, the stunt may not have worked: She lost the endorsement of the San Antonio Express-News and rankled some religious conservative supporters. "I knew it would be controversial," Stogner said. "I didn't realize it would incite the rage and anger that it did from the press."

•An unnamed 22-year-old student at Brigham Young University in Utah was busily trying to make 5 pounds of rocket fuel on Feb. 20 in his dorm kitchen when the mixture exploded, People reported. Flames "engulfed the walls and ceiling around the stove, and the intense heat tripped the fire sprinkler system," BYU police said in a statement. Although no one was injured, 22 students were relocated while cleanup and repairs were undertaken. Lt. Jeff Long said the student was trying to re-create something he saw online. "He didn't think this through," Long said. Which is basically a subhead for every article about a college student.

NEWS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A JOKE What you've been waiting for: cologne for your dog.

Yes indeed, none other than the queen of England has released Happy Hounds Dog Cologne, a unisex scent for pups that smells of "coastal walks" and features a "rich, musky scent with citrus notes of bergamot," Canoe reported.

Dog owners can purchase the pooch perfume at Sandringham House, the monarch's estate in Norfolk, England, for 9.99 English pounds.

Queen Elizabeth II, 95, is a big fan of corgis and has had pet dogs since she was 18 years old. {in}

From Andrews McMeel Syndication News Of The Weird © 2022 Andrews McMeel

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com March 3, 2022

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