Inweekly Sept 3 2020 Issue

Independent News | September 3, 2020 | Volume 21 | Number 36 | Anna Monk / Photo by Emily Veal

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winners & losers

outtakes

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5

news 6, 8

Is it a joke? Is it funny?

Is it a joke on me?

cover story

buzz

13

10 publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

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

contact us info@inweekly.net

a&e 15

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

Destany McKim / Escambia County

winners DESTANY MCKIM The Girl Scout was

recognized for her heroism with a pinning ceremony last month at the Molino Escambia County Fire Rescue Station 18. Escambia County Fire Rescue nominated McKim to receive the Girl Scout Bronze Cross for Valor for the heroic and lifesaving actions of saving her mother, grandmother and two dogs from a house fire at their home last January. McKim was only 12 years old at the time and awoke her mother and grandmother after smelling smoke. The smoke was rapidly filling up in the house, but Destany remained calm and led her family to safety. Once outside, she realized their two family dogs were kenneled on the porch and went back to rescue them.

ASAIH WILLIAMS The Coast Guard recently recognized the lifesaving actions of the 9-year-old boy during a presentation ceremony at NAS Pensacola. Asaih Williams acted to save his father, Josh Williams, when the older Williams dove into shallow water and injured his neck at Quietwater Beach on Santa Rosa Island in early August.

CENTRAL CREDIT UNION During the week of Aug 10-14, Central Credit Union of Florida (CCUF) presented 11 checks to 11 different charities in the Panhandle area. From its five branches in Pensacola and Panama City, CCUF sold candy bars all year. The proceeds went to support the Bay County Council on Aging, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County, Covenant Care, Everett Animal Welfare Group, Loaves & Fishes, Manna Food Pantries, Ocean Hour, Panama City Rescue Mission, Pensacola Humane Society, Phoenix Rising Rescue and the Stamped Film Festival.

PENSACOLA MOM COLLECTIVE Seeing

the need to prioritize community, local moms Jane Lauter and Jen Kinsella launched Pensacola Mom Collective, a local parenting resource for moms in Northwest Florida. They have brought together a team of 26 writers who are also local moms to provide insights. Check out pensacola. momcollective.com.

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Richard Corcoran / flgov.com

losers RICHARD CORCORAN Judge Charles Dodson has granted a temporary injunction against the state’s order requiring school districts to reopen schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Dodson granted the request in a lawsuit filed by the Florida Education Association to block the order issued by Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran on July 6 compelling schools to reopen five days a week for families who did not want their children to do all virtual learning. Districts were threatened with loss of state funding if they did not comply. Dodson declared sections of Corcoran’s order were unconstitutional and ignored the requirement of school safety.

FLORIDA BOARD OF BAR EXAMINERS

Law school graduates have been in limbo because of the coronavirus. Florida Chief Justice Charles Canady last month issued an apology after the Florida Board of Bar Examiners postponed a plan to offer the exam online after canceling an in-person exam in July. In calling off the online exam, the board blamed problems with software, but the move touched off an outcry from law school graduates who must pass the test to be licensed in the state. On Monday, Aug. 24, the Florida Supreme Court released a temporary program that will allow law school graduates to work under the supervision of Florida attorneys who have been practicing for at least five years. The program lasts until the results of the February 2021 bar exam are released.

ANTHONY SABATINI The Republican lawmaker’s crusade against masks suffered another loss after Judge David Frank ruled in favor of Gadsden County's ordinance.

The ruling marks the fifth time a judge has rejected the Lake County lawmaker’s argument that mask ordinances are unconstitutional. Judge Frank has tired of the antics of the state representative from Lake County and delivered a second blow to Sabatini, telling him he could face judicial sanctions if he continues filing anti-mask lawsuits. inweekly.net

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outtakes

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HISTORIC 2008 CITY ELECTIONS Last week, I wrote about what I considered the biggest local election upsets of the past two decades (Inweekly, "Ballots Spark Change," 8/27/20). Former Pensacola City Councilwoman Diane Mack reminded me how the 2008 city council elections changed the course of the city.

Two years earlier, Pensacola voters had approved a referendum for the Community Maritime Park that would build a multi-use stadium across from city hall on Pensacola Bay, but the construction had yet to begin.

Rishy and Quint Studer formed the Better Pensacola Forum that hired MasonDixon Polling & Research to conduct a Quality of Life survey to measure the attitudes of voters toward our local economy, elected leaders, and our area's quality of life.

After listening to politicians claim they had their fingers on the pulse of the community, the survey provided measurable data of the voters' thoughts on local issues.

The results weren't good. More than half of the voters believed the area was on the wrong track.

Almost one out of three adults were thinking about moving out of the area within the next five years.

Only one of 10 voters believed local elected officials had successfully addressed new challenges and attracted economic opportunity and job growth.

Pollster Larry Harris was shocked by the low numbers, telling us they were similar to those found in the Rust Belt and other depressed communities. He said, "What's the most important issue facing Escambia? The second most frequently mentioned problem was leadership. Where are the leaders? Who is the champion in your community? Who is beating the drum and making the changes and making people accountable and forcing the change that needs to occur?"

Many of the incumbent city council members scoffed at the report. Mike DeSorbo, Marty Donovan, Ronald Townsend and Jack Nobles either lost their re-elections or were forced into runoffs. In the end, only four of the 10 council members

survived the 2008 election—Sam Hall, P.C. Wu and Jewel Cannada-Wynn, and Mike Wiggins, who had served as an at-large councilman, won the mayor's race.

Veteran politician DeSorbo outraised Maren DeWeese for Pensacola City Council District 3, $15,015-$3,535. DeWeese went door-to-door with her children and won the election handily, 53%-47%.

Inweekly Rising Star Megan Pratt walked away with 66% in a three-person race, defeating Wendall Hall and former councilman J.D. Smith.

In the race for the other at-large seat, top vote-getter Mack and incumbent Nobles appeared headed for a runoff. Mack had outpolled Nobles in the general election, 12,373-8,792. Joe Buehler placed third with 5,487 votes. However, Nobles decided the cost of the runoff for the city was too great for the taxpayers to bear, and he withdrew from the race.

For the second time, Townsend faced Shumaker in a runoff.

In 2004, 191 votes separated them in the general election.

In 2018 they were 219 votes apart, with Townsend the top votegetter. Townsend won the runoff, 64%-36%.

The City District 4 race also needed a runoff. Larry Johnson beat incumbent Marty Donovan, 2,138-1,769, in the general election in a three-man race that also saw former Councilman Rhett Anderson pull in 876 votes. In 2004, Donovan had soundly defeated Johnson, but the councilman had seen his support eroded as he fought the Studers and the Community Maritime Park.

Johnson won the runoff, 61%-39%.

The following year, Pensacola voters approved a referendum for a new charter that created a strong-mayor form of government, 55%-45%. In 2010, Ashton Hayward was elected mayor, leading the way for a decade that saw the completion of Blue Wahoo Stadium and renovation of the downtown library, the construction of three community centers and an economic turnaround for the area.

Diane was right. The 2008 city election was a game-changer. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Almost one out of three adults were thinking about moving out of the area within the next five years.

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AMBITIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

By Jeremy Morrison Like many other cities around the country, Pensacola faces an affordable housing quandary. In the pursuit to remedy this, a municipal task force created by the city council has been brainstorming and strategizing for the better part of a year. Its final recommendations will soon be delivered to the Pensacola City Council.

The Pensacola Affordable House Task Force was tasked with a tall order from City Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn— figure out a way for the city to gain 500 units of affordable housing within five years.

That's what task force member George Brown Jr. calls "really, really big numbers" and what Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May considers "a little aggressive" and "certainly ambitious."

But Cannada-Wynn hasn't flinched.

"The goal is to do the job and to make this happen," she said last week at the task force's final meeting. "And if we as a community come together, we may do more than 500 houses."

Recently, local entrepreneur and community leader Quint Studer penned a column for the daily paper urging the setting of "Big Hairy Audacious Goals," a nod to researcher and author James Collins.

Pensacola's 500 units of affordable housing in five years appears to qualify, but Commissioner May believes that such an effort will require a truly holistic approach that could ultimately deliver even bigger, hairier, more audacious goals—such as ensuring that individuals living in the city's affordable housing have access to services like high-performing schools and are able to not only afford housing but also find jobs 66

that pay enough for them to obtain some form of the American dream.

"How do you create the environment and community that Quint talks about?"

May asked.

Soon, the Pensacola City Council will be considering the task force's slate of recommendations, including developing tax credits, partnering with the private sector and selling off city property, and determining how best to move forward.

"That's an awfully big goal," Mayor Grover Robinson conceded, "but we wouldn't have taken it on if we weren't serious about it."

ALMOST EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE

In considering ways to realize more affordable housing in the city, task force members put all options on the table— well, almost all options.

One option proposed by task force member and real estate broker John Rickmon got a particularly chilly reception.

"I suppose since I brought all this up about the parks, I should jump on this grenade here," Rickmon said as the task force reviewed its potential recommendations.

Rickmon thought it would be good to consider selling off some of the city's parks.

He called this option a "sticky wicket" and the "invisible obvious." Specifically, he pointed to the East Hill neighborhood, which he contended has more parks, some of them "paltry," than the city can afford to keep up.

"If we had 50 parks instead of 90 parks, all of our parks would be nice and would be used," Rickmon argued.

The idea of selling off city parks for private development hit a quick brick wall with the task force and got a hard no from

the mayor, who linked the parks with a neighborhood's value.

"If you live in a neighborhood with a park, that's your equity, and I would not take that from you," Robinson said.

While the city won't be offloading its parks, it will be considering a host of other options in an effort to increase the stock affordable housing. In total, the task force is forwarding six recommendations to city council for consideration: Engaging in strategic partnerships— Tackling something like affordable housing is best done in coordination with other relevant parties. The task force is suggesting the city look at working with governmental partners, like Escambia County, as well as those in the private sector, like developers, and nonprofits.

Identify incentives—Working with private businesses and the nonprofit communities, the city can identify possible financial and regulatory incentives. Incentives could include the waiving of permitting and development costs or a revolving low-interest loan.

Leverage city property—While parks are off the table, the city has a lot of other property. The city could look at establishing "a robust RFP process" for affordable housing developments on identified cityowned parcels.

Tax credit development—Lacking the tangible drama of leveraging property, this option is a little dry, but it may yield some of the biggest results. The city could work to "create an environment that attracts and assists affordable rental development" by working to support tax credit development through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation process and working with Escambia County on Local Government Areas of Opportunity Funding.

Infill development—Following Escambia County's lead, the city could look beyond larger parcels to the smaller properties nestled in neighborhoods and commercial zones. These parcels would be suitable for single-family homes or even tiny-home communities.

Reusing existing properties—There may be some properties, city-owned or otherwise, that could be candidates for adaptive-reuse possibilities. These could include anything from warehouses to school buildings.

"EVERY HOUSE THAT'S ADDED"

Pensacola City Councilwoman Ann Hill, whose district includes East Hill and Belmont-DeVilliers, is excited to dive into the affordable housing discussion in earnest. Finding viable solutions, she said, is essential.

"If Pensacola, in collaboration with Escambia County, doesn't reach this goal of

500 homes in five years, hundreds of families could be facing no housing choices at all," Hill contended. "The affordable housing task force report offers doable ways to keep people in their homes and to provide affordable housing to those without homes."

She continued, "That housing can take many shapes—as tiny homes, apartments, multi-family units and whatever commercial buildings are available for repurposing."

"That housing can take many shapes—as tiny homes, apartments, multi-family units and whatever commercial buildings are available for repurposing." Ann Hill Commissioner May, who has helped Escambia County develop an infill housing development program, with the goal of a couple of hundred units over the next two or three years, said he looks forward to working with the city—"absolutely, we will partner" —but cautioned that a baby-step approach may be in order before racing into a 500-unit challenge.

"You can build 500 or 5,000, but you've got to build one, two, three, four first," May said, pointing out the development, financial and regulatory hurdles that need to be addressed in order to create an environment welcoming of affordable developments.

"It's great to have the conversation," the commissioner said, "but it's a lot harder to implement it."

During the final city task force meeting, Mayor Robinson thanked the task force for providing a variety of paths to pursue in the effort to realizing more affordable housing.

He told the group that he felt like enough possibilities were being laid before council— "a lot of different arrows to put in the quiver"—so that members could focus on the directions they felt would be most advantageous.

"We want a lot of different things, a lot of different options to start pursing," the mayor said.

Robinson also said he recognized that the city was embarking on an ambition quest but said he was confident the goal was obtainable.

"We are serious about working these and trying to find solutions," the mayor told task force members as they handed off their recommendations. "I'm not promising it'll happen overnight, but I am promising you'll see progress on this."

Cannada-Wynn said she looked forward to getting the recommendations before council and getting down to work.

The council president said, "Every house that's added will reduce our numbers we need." {in} inweekly.net

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CAN USPS DELIVER ON THE ELECTION?

David Tran Photo / Shutterstock.com

By Jeremy Morrison The United States Postal Service (USPS) gets our mail delivered across the direst landscapes. This creed is woven into its official motto—"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers ..."

But recently, concerns have been raised that elements beyond "rain" and "gloom" may be impeding the postal service at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has ensured that vote-by-mail ballots will play a crucial role in the 2020 presidential election.

These concerns stem from President Donald Trump's numerous comments on the topic—ranging from casting doubt on the mail-in ballot process to sounding the alarm about the potential partisan effect mail-in ballots might have on the election to threatening to withhold funding from the USPS—as well as his recent appointment of Louis DeJoy—a campaign donor with no postal experience—to the position of postmaster general.

In his Congressional testimony in late August, DeJoy assured lawmakers that the postal service would be able to accom-

modate the surge of mail-in ballots expected this year despite employing cost-cutting measures and taking equipment offline that has led to a slowdown in delivery. Regardless, a number of states are mounting legal challenges against these changes at USPS, and polls show many voters are considering voting in person at polling places due to concerns that their mail-in ballot won't be counted in the election.

Locally, Escambia County Supervisor of Elections David Stafford has heard these concerns. He tells voters that voting by mail is as dependable as ever, while also explaining that they may use early voting sites or save their vote for the polls on Election Day. "There's been a lot of national discourse about vote-by-mail, so certainly, we've gotten questions that people have posed to us," Stafford said. "We just continue to tell people about the process and how it works but then also reiterate that in Florida, you have three different choices; you're not tied into one or the other. You can vote by mail, certainly, you can vote early in person at our early voting centers, or you can vote at your polling place, your precinct, on Election Day. We promote three ways to vote. We like to say, 'We don't care which method you choose; just choose one and make sure you vote.'"

VIRUS VOTING

Escambia County got its first taste of pandemic voting in March during the Democratic presidential preference primary. It got another taste last month, during the August primary.

"It was definitely a little different," Stafford said, reflecting on the August election. "Probably the most significant

thing, we saw a significant increase in ballots that were cast by mail."

For the August primary, 44% of Escambia voters cast their ballot by mail. For comparison, in the 2016 presidential election, 38% of voters used mailed-in ballots.

"It was definitely up, and we certainly expect that we're gonna continue to see that vote-by-mail increase, the requests increase, as we get closer to a general election," Stafford said, looking toward November.

Voter turnout locally in August was pretty good too. At 33% of registered voters, Stafford said it was the best primary turnout since 2006.

"We were about five percentage points above the state average," the supervisor noted.

Turnout for a general election is reliably higher than the preceding primary. And this year, that will mean a whole slew of vote-bymail requests. Thus far in Escambia, there are already around 60,000 such requests.

"That's certainly going to continue to increase daily between now and when the cutoff is for requests, which is 10 days before Election Day," Stafford said. "Yeah, we fully are anticipating a robust turnout and are preparing for it."

SIGNED, SEALED ... DELIVERED?

In an effort to ensure that voters casting their ballot by mail experience a smooth process, Stafford points to Escambia's track-my-ballot feature. It's nothing new but may be a bit more relevant this year.

"That's something that's been in place for some number of years," Stafford said.

The online track-my-ballot tool functions much like tracking numbers offered by delivery services—including USPS—and allows voters to essentially follow their ballot along its trek to the ballot box.

"Basically, it's the ability for a voter to know, number one, that we received the request for a vote-by-mail ballot," Stafford explained, "number two, to see when we sent that ballot out, and then third, see when that ballot was returned back to our office."

Additionally, Escambia has deployed ballot drop boxes at the county's early voting sites, including outside the supervisor's downtown offices. In total, there are nine drop boxes, with the permanent box downtown remaining after early voting sites have closed.

This option gives the voters the choice of bypassing the postal service altogether.

"People have been taking advantage of that," Stafford said. "I suspect that that is going to become a more popular method of return in the general election."

But if voters decide to mail their ballot via the traditional venue, Escambia's supervisor is confident USPS will deliver a smooth process. He noted that having a regional mail processing facility locally is key, calling it a "blessing."

"We have good relations with the postal service," Stafford said. "We actually send a team over on Election Day to go to the postal facility itself just to ensure that we have received all the ballots that they have received, because we have to have them in our hands by 7 p.m."

But even in a year when a president hasn't questioned the soundness of mailin-voting and hasn't sparked concerns by appointing a politically-tethered postmaster general just ahead of the election, there are mail-in ballots that don't get counted, that arrive late.

This means thinking ahead. Expect delays in the mail and cast ballots early. For example, the deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 10 days prior to the election, but that ballot must be mailed to the voter, filled out and mailed back to the elections office in a perhaps unrealistically tight window and may not make it into the election count.

"It happens every election cycle," Stafford said. "We get ballots after Election Day, and we're not able to count them under Florida law." {in} For more on voting by mail in Escambia County, visit escambiavotes.gov/vote-by-mail.

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CARES FOR FAMILIES Families and small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic will have to wait until Sept. 15 before they can apply for Escambia County's CARES Act grants. The county commissioners approved the allocations for the assistance programs and some of the parameters at a special meeting held Thursday, Aug. 27.

County Administrator Janice Gilley recommended that households would self-certify how they were impacted by the pandemic by checking boxes for increased expenses for housing telework, groceries, utilization of sick leave, childcare, care of the elderly or disabled and funeral costs.

Applicants would need to submit a photo ID, such as a driver's license, and a form of primary residency in Escambia County.

The initial recommendation from Gilley was not to put any restrictions on the income of the applicants—families living paycheck to paycheck would be in line with those with six-figure incomes. Commissioner Robert Bender was the first to question the fairness and quickly found support from his fellow board members.

The commissioner agreed on setting the income level for eligibility at less than $45,000 and allowing the applicants to self-certify their incomes, knowing the grant awards would be public record. For households with five or fewer members, the grants would be up to $1,500 and for those over five, $2,500.

Another concern of the board was the system might favor those families with internet access and familiar with the online application process. Commission Chairman Steve Berry said, "The more savvy tech folks are possibly going to be the first ones that would be able to access the portal. I don't think that's the intent of the board."

Bender recommended a portion of the funds be set aside for people who have issues with their applications. He said, 010 1

"When people in your district and people that don't have access to computers, or don't have the information at their fingertips, to reassure them that we are here to help, we're going to work through this process with you."

Commissioner Lumon May stressed the need for the county to help people complete the grant process.

"We have (CARES) money to hire staff," said May. "We shouldn't just have regular 8:00 to 5:00 hours. I would expect for staff to be in libraries, community centers in the north end, south end, working 8 o'clock at night. I mean, this is all hands on deck. There's a pandemic. We were going to be required to do more, and staff's going to be required to do more as well as citizens."

Gilley will present the commissioners her implementation plan for family and business grants at the board's meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3.

JAIL TESTING UPDATE—PART 1 On Thursday, Aug. 27, the Escambia Board of County Commissioners learned only six inmates at the Escambia County Jail had been tested for COVID-19 a week after the board approved $1.25 million to be spent on rapid testing and instructed County Administrator Janice Gilley to make it available to prisoners.

At the special commission meeting, Corrections Chief Rich Powell told the board his staff couldn't get prisoners to agree to be tested—"a lot of them find out what the process is and the protocols; they don't want to go into a lockdown unit. And none of them that had requested had any medical signs or symptoms."

Commission Chairman Steve Barry objected to Powell's statement about symptoms being a factor in testing.

"Well, that part doesn't matter," said Barry. "I don't think the board's ever said that they care about that. If they've asked to be tested, that's the only parameter the board sets. The fact of anyone's assessment of their symptoms has not ever been anything the board's given feedback about."

Powell replied, "Well, I understand, sir.

What I'm saying, though, is for them to be tested, we have to assume that they maybe want to be tested for a reason. We move them out of the general population."

"I understand, but the reference to their medical condition or their symptoms

is not relevant, I don't think, to any of the board's discussion," said the chairman. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I understand what you're saying," said the corrections chief.

After the board had instructed the administrator to test inmates upon request at three meetings—July 2, Aug. 6 and Aug. 20—Barry wanted to leave no doubt about the board's intentions.

"The board's never given any feedback about, do you think they're symptomatic or does your staff think they're symptomatic?" said Barry. "If they ask to be tested, the board is giving clear feedback—we want [them] tested."

Chief Powell replied, "I understand that, sir."

On the status of the rapid testing, Chandra Smiley of Community Health Northwest Florida said her organization had executed a contract with Abbott for the rapid test.

"We'll be getting 24 analyzers," said Smiley. "So the first step is to get the analyzers. I'd expect that within the next week or two. And then very shortly thereafter, the tests will begin to come in. By the middle of September, we would be able to deploy a process where everyone being booked would be tested."

Barry asked, "And you become a fixture at CBD (Central Booking and Detention)?"

"Yes, we would deploy and analyze it," answered Smiley.

Barry added, "As quickly as you're able to deploy, the board is very supportive of it, Chandra, as quickly as you're able to do it."

Commissioner Lumon May wanted to clarify that the board had voiced approval of rapid testing for inmates several times. He said, "That was, quite frankly, a directive months ago, that we should have.

And so, hopefully, more inmates will feel comfortable with this swab. And I think it's an educational process of letting them know it's not a deep swab. I mean, it's not as inconvenient as the other one."

Smiley agreed, "Right. We're not touching brains. It's easy, quick, easy to train and a very quick result."

JAIL TESTING UPDATE—PART 2 In July, Inweekly received a letter signed by 53 female inmates in Escambia County's work release building pleading to be tested. Last week, the inmates of Work Release Building Dorm Three wrote the newspaper again about the conditions in the facility.

"We, as women of Dorm Three, have been exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 for over a month, and we're being told that they are treating us as if we are positive by quarantining us," wrote the prisoners. "We are begging to be tested."

At the Aug. 27 special board meeting,

Commissioner Robert Bender asked Corrections Chief Powell about the testing in Dorm Three.

"I know you sent somebody out there that day to check on the ladies and to offer testing," said Bender, "And it came out again this week that they're still claiming that they haven't been tested. Can you expand on it?"

"And it came out again this week that they're still claiming that they haven't been tested." Robert Bender "There's no cells at the work release center that is under observation," said Powell. "If we were to test them, we need to pull them out of the population in case they were positive, to limit the further of the spread."

Bender continued, "And my understanding is that when you've gone into Dorm Three and asked them if they wanted to be tested, they have declined testing."

"Yes, sir. That's a true statement," said the corrections chief.

Bender asked how many had been tested in Dorm Three, and Powell didn't know.

The chief couldn't tell the commissioner if any of the females had been tested.

"Have we tested any?" asked Bender.

Commissioner Lumon May asked for clarification, "The ladies that signed the letters and sent to all the commissioners, all that have signed that letter were offered testing, correct?"

"Absolutely," said Powell. "We went in there and then literally asked them to please step forward for it to be processed and be tested."

Commissioner May said, "And they refused."

"And absolutely, they refused," answered the chief.

Bender addressed him, "Again, because it was being reported on, I just wanted to make sure I followed up with you when we got the initial letter. And so they're stating that they're still being quarantined and—" Powell interrupted, "We have no units under observation at this time as of this morning.

The last one was released yesterday."

He added that corrections staff were only being tested if they showed any COVID symptoms. He said, "We're not testing any of our employees per se."

Commissioner May asked, "So any of our staff employees can be tested at any time, they could be tested?"

"Yes," replied Powell. "As you know, at one period, we had over 80 employees that were out, either positive and/or symptomatic or contact tracing. We were down to, I believe six, yesterday morning." inweekly.net

Commissioner May followed up, "And I just want to, just for the record, any employee that wants to be tested can be tested at any given time, whether they show symptoms or not.

Chief Powell said, "We've not put any restriction on them."

RE-EMPLOY ESCAROSA The Greater

Pensacola Chamber of Commerce created the Re-Employ Escarosa campaign to offer virtual job fairs and professional development during September with the help of FloridaWest, CareerSource Escarosa, Studer Community Institute, Pensacola Young Professionals, Fleet and Family Support Center and Gulf Coast Minority Chamber.

To register for any of the four virtual job fairs, both employers and job seekers should visit careersourceescarosa.com. All professional development training, townhall and virtual meeting registrations are on the Greater Pensacola Chamber Facebook page and website.

INPUT ON ENSLEY PROJECT The Ensley Gateway Beautification Project is planned for the open parcel north of the intersection of North Palafox Street and East Johnson Avenue in the area that remained after the realignment of West Detroit Boulevard and East Johnson Avenue.

The public is invited to view the preliminary design concepts for the District 3 Ensley Gateway Beautification Project at myescambia.com and provide their comments. The public comment period will be open through Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Public comments can be submitted in the following ways: •Email: ensleygateway@gmail.com •Mail: Atkins, 2114 Airport Blvd., Ste. 1450, Pensacola, FL 32504 •Phone: (850) 378-6961 The proposed concept plan includes pedestrian walkways and seating walls that will provide a pleasant passive use park

for neighborhood use and enjoyment and will include shaded lawns, walking paths, seating areas, native landscaping and a transit stop that meets ADA accessibility standards. A plaza at the intersection is planned, which will provide access to the existing safe pedestrian crosswalks.

The site concept proposes landscaping with native trees and grasses along a bioswale/rain garden to handle stormwater management in a low impact, natural, sustainable form. A sidewalk along North Palafox Street is proposed to connect the site to space for an ECAT transit stop.

LIVING SHORELINE INPUT The Pensacola Bay Living Shoreline Project team has completed required in-field data collection and 30% of the design. Project concepts incorporated into the design were selected based on project goals, site conditions, regulatory guidance and public input. A project design update video is now available for viewing on the project page on myescambia.com.

Citizens are still able to provide comments and/or questions utilizing the comment form. Comments received at this time will be taken into consideration as the current project concepts are advanced from 30% to 60% design. Another opportunity for public comment is anticipated once the 60% design has been completed. Escambia County greatly appreciates community input into the development of the overall project design.

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP Keep Pensacola Beautiful is participating in the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Park West on Pensacola Beach.

ICC is a global network of volunteers who come together every September with a common goal—clean coastlines. The cleanups began in 1986 in a small town in Texas and have since become a worldwide

movement in over 100 countries under the Ocean Conservancy.

"The coolest part about International Coastal Cleanup is the fact that we're literally gathering with people across the globe to help clean and protect our coastlines.

We're proud to bring an international initiative to Pensacola and represent our beautiful home," says Lauren Doubek, Education and Outreach Coordinator.

"We're proud to bring an international initiative to Pensacola and represent our beautiful home." Lauren Doubek Keep Pensacola Beautiful has appreciated all of its volunteers from years past and hopes to see many members of our community join them again. The first 40 volunteers will receive a free T-shirt.

Due to COVID-19, Keep Pensacola Beautiful has implemented various safety protocols and asks that all volunteers come to sign-in with a mask. All equipment has been properly sanitized, and gloves will be available. For more information, visit Keep Pensacola Beautiful's event page or keeppensacolabeautiful.org/beach-cleanups.

APPLICATIONS SOUGHT Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD), a women's philanthropic group, is accepting grant applications through Sept. 28. The grant funding is provided by collective annual membership dues, of which 100% is distributed back to the community.

Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding. GBWD has awarded more than $300,000 to initiatives in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities since its inception in 2014. The 2020 grant awards will be announced on Nov. 15.

Prospective grant applicants must have

a project or initiative that serves the communities in the 32561 and 32563 zip code areas. Organizations and groups without tax-exempt status will be considered.

Grant amounts range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 in the following categories—1) Art, Recreation and Sports; 2) Education; 3) Hardship Support Services; 4) Public Safety; and 5) Environment. The grant application and guidelines are available at gulfbreezewilldo.org.

9/11 REMEMBRANCE On Friday, Sept.

11, Wreaths Across America calls for every American to stand outside and wave a flag for one minute at 8:46 a.m. and then again at 9:03 a.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, five hijackers took control of American Airlines Flight 11 and at 8:46 a.m. flew it into the heart of New York City and the northern facade of the World Trade Center's North Tower.

At 9:03 a.m., five other hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the southern facade of the South Tower.

Following the events of 9/11, three women—Elaine Greene, Joann Miller and Carmen Foote—were moved to stand on a hill in Freeport, Maine, waving a flag to honor victims. These women became nationally known as "The Freeport Flag Ladies" and proudly hoisted the Stars and Stripes every Tuesday morning for the following 18 years.

After they retired on Sept. 11, 2019, Wreaths Across America took the helm and continued the weekly flag-waving tradition along U.S. Route 1 in Jonesboro, Maine.

This year, participants are encouraged to take video and pictures of their participation in the national flag waving and share them with Wreaths Across America, their family and their friends. Please use the hashtag #flagsacrossthecountry and #americastrong when posting on social media and tag the Wreaths Across America Official Facebook page. {in}

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There are just about eight weeks left before the 2020 general election, which means there is still plenty of time to get down to brass tacks with the candidates vying for your vote.

While you’ve probably been following along with the campaigns of your preferred candidates, we want to challenge you to dig a little deeper over the next few weeks into research.

That can seem like a daunting task, so we’ve created a checklist for you with some handy research tips to help you find what you need. Don’t worry—we’ll be diving deeper into some races over the next few weeks as well, but every voter should feel equipped and empowered to investigate their choices before they vote. (Also, don’t forget that you can share some of the work with friends and pass along your findings to each other.)

Before you get too deep into candidate research, we hope that you’ve taken the time to get clear about what you consider to be your platform priorities based on the needs you see in your community and the country, plus your own unique perspective on the positive change you can make through voting and holding your elected officials accountable.

CANDIDATE CONSIDERATIONS

These are the basics. The questions are applicable to long-term civil servants and political newcomers. If you can’t find this information from a simple Google search, their campaign website or the Supervisor of Elections database, reach out directly to their campaign to request it.

•What is their platform?

•Can they fulfill their campaign promises/platform? How? •What is their professional experience and/or education?

•Are they connected to other elected officials or candidates?

•How long have they lived in the area they will serve?

•Is there past media coverage you can review?

•Are they active in community organizations?

INCUMBENT INQUIRIES 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 212 1

For candidates running for re-election or even for those who have served in other elected roles that might differ from what they are running for now, here are some parts of their service record to consider.

•How long have they served? What are the term limits, if any, for the office?

•Have they contributed beyond the basic responsibilities of their role?

•Are they accessible and responsive to their constituents?

Looking up an incumbent’s voting record can be tricky depending on where they serve, as some legislative and municipal websites are easier to navigate than others.

FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL VOTING RECORDS congress.gov/members STATE CONGRESSIONAL RECORDS •flsenate.gov/session/journals •flsenate.gov/search/sitesearchtips •myfloridahouse.gov/representatives •myfloridahouse.gov/sections/myhouse/ login.aspx LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS •cityofpensacola.com/2684/agendasminutes-and-video •myescambia.com/elected-officials/ commissioners Looking for a quick digest of the key info for a candidate? Ballotpedia is a nonprofit digital encyclopedia sponsored by the Lucy Burns Institute. Use this site to do quick searches on elected officials to get biographical highlights, key votes, sponsored legislation and results from previous elections. Check it out at ballotpedia.org.

CAMPAIGN QUESTIONS

Not only is it important to consider the candidates or incumbents individually, but we should also consider the way they are funding and running their campaign and what that might reveal about how they would lead in office.

•Who is running their campaign?

•Who is endorsing their campaign?

•What kind of ads are they running?

•Who is funding their campaign?

Financial disclosures are available for both campaign funding and candidates themselves.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS escambiavotes.gov/ current-candidates-and-finances FLORIDA DIVISION OF ELECTIONS dos.myflorida.com/elections/candidatescommittees/campaign-finance/ FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION fec.gov/data/browsedata/?tab=candidates *Pensacola Votes is a nonpartisan voter education and civic engagement guide developed by the team at Inweekly to empower local voters to show up and stay focused. Got questions? Send them to us at pensacolavotes@gmail.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram, @pensacolavotes.

GENERAL ELECTION DATES TO REMEMBER OCT. 5—Voter Registration Deadline OCT. 24—Vote-by-Mail Ballot Request Deadline OCT. 24-31—Early Voting NOV. 3—Election Day

inweekly.net

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Anna Monk / Photo by Emily Veal

As we transition from "Sad Girl Summer" into "Pumpkin Spice Pandemic," the occasional dine-in meal is back on the menu for many. With this new normal comes a subtle evolution of rules and etiquette that any savvy diner should be observing. You want to be safe, keep your servers safe and have them actually like serving you, right?

September 3, 2020

To explore the new dining rules for the COVID-19 world, Inweekly spoke with a few area service industry folks to identify some do's and do not's for safely venturing to your favorite dining establishments.

Wear Your Damn Mask

At this point, the fact that you should (and, within city limits, must) be wearing a

mask inside any public spaces is well known.

Anywhere you go, you will see people wearing masks and following the ordinance put into place by Mayor Grover Robinson in June and affirmed by the city council in July.

Of course, wearing your mask correctly is key. This means covering your nose as well as your mouth, avoiding the dreaded "chinstrap" look, washing your mask regu-

larly and keeping it on when you talk and— heaven forbid—sneeze.

Matt Lerch, bartender and server at Khon's on Palafox, says that one of the most frustrating elements of the mask mandate are those who know the requirements but, rather than just putting on a face-covering, force employees to have the awkward conversation.

13

Photo courtesy of Union Public House

"There are multiple signs at the front of every business, and people are walking in without [their masks] on, which prompts me to address it. It's such an unnecessary step.

You know you're supposed to be wearing it, so why not save us both the trouble?"

"It's such an unnecessary step.

You know you're supposed to be wearing it, so why not save us both the trouble?" Matt Lerch Lerch says most people are complying fully, and even the majority of those who enter the building without their masks are quick to correct the issue. But occasionally, he is met with someone who is looking to make things complicated.

"Who likes confrontation? Nobody. But I have no problem stepping up and enforcing [the mandate]."

Lerch says he has had potential customers leave rather than wear a mask, and one particularly fraught encounter ended when a man attempted to turn his shirt into a mask, thereby violating the rule requiring a shirt to be worn for service.

"I think the biggest issue is a lack of leadership locally and nationally regarding rules of masks and public safety," said Lerch. "It's a lack of accountability."

And if you're asking, "But how do I wear a mask while I eat?" the answer is you don't—but you aren't eating every minute you're inside a restaurant.

Most restaurants within the city require customers to wear a face-covering while moving around inside, permitting the 414 1

removal of the mask when they are seated to eat or drink. When a customer stands to go to the restroom or pay their tab, they are asked to replace the mask.

As an additional step (that we encourage), some diners also choose to cover their faces when approached by their server throughout their dining experience, as well as leaving their mask on until their food has arrived as a show of respect for those serving them. These small steps are part of a developing etiquette associated with maskwearing and good COVID hygiene.

"The more we play by the rules and the more everybody works together, that's how we stay open and everybody stays employed," said Lerch.

Seriously, Wear Your Damn Mask

With clear science about the efficacy of mask-wearing reducing the spread of COVID, it's no longer cool to only wear a mask when the government tells you to.

After the city established its mask mandate in July, the mayor and community called for the Board of County Commissioners to enact their own mandate. After repeated discussions as recently as August, the board has refused to put a mandate to a vote.

The most recent discussions featured passionate support for a mandate from Commissioner Lumon May, who said he was called to do so in part because of three funerals he was attending for COVIDrelated deaths just that week. May's motion failed to garner a second.

Without clear leadership, businesses in the county are left to enforce their own rules—or not. One such dining establish-

ment with a strong mask policy is Craft Bakery, where barista and front-end manager Anna Monk works.

"We are out of city limits, so we've had lots of people who will come in without [masks] and want to be asked to put them on," said Monk.

"It puts us as employees in a really uncomfortable position because it's not our job to police people, tell grown people something they have to do to keep us all safe."

Monk said that Craft Bakery has had an easier time because the other restaurants in their strip are also enforcing a mask rule but that elsewhere in the county is a much different story.

"I do think people feel more emboldened outside of the city limits. I've been to places on the west side of town where it's much harder because people are making a game of it.

They're waiting for people to say something. We can't stop existing and making money, so these are the kinds of things we have to do to continue our jobs. I don't understand why people can't at least respect that," she told Inweekly.

Monk says she is grateful their customer base has been mostly compliant and that the community has been incredibly supportive of Craft throughout the ups and downs of COVID.

"Some people just forget, and we are all learning. For the most part, our customers have really cared about our well-being."

Anna Monk "Most [customers] have been super awesome with following the rules. Some people just forget, and we are all learning.

For the most part, our customers have really cared about our well-being. People have offered to put down deposits on cakes and things like that so they know we will survive.

It has been wonderful to see," Monk said.

Tipping is Mandatory

In pre-COVID times, tipping 15-20% was standard but could vary depending on the level of service and personal preference of the tipper. Now, if you can afford to dine out, you should be tipping at least 20% every time, including to-go orders.

With restaurants operating on far smaller margins than normal, fewer service industry folks employed and many restaurants across the nation expected to permanently close before the pandemic is all said and done, a generous tip just makes sense.

Now is the time to suspend your practice of scrupulously evaluating your service before deciding on a percentage of your pre-tax

bill until such a time that your server is no longer risking illness to bring your filet (or preferably, retire this practice altogether).

At Union Public House (UPH), owner and executive chef Blake Rushing says that customers have been more than generous in recent months.

"For the most part, people are tipping more often," said Rushing. "People have been polite, nice and happy that we are there."

Rushing says that fans of UPH have been vocal in their plans to keep the Southern pub's lights on no matter what.

"Each week is getting better and better. We're happy about all the support we've gotten." Blake Rushing "Each week is getting better and better.

We're happy about all the support we've gotten," Rushing said.

Be Nice, Man

On social media, UPH caused a stir in August when they posted a text-only post reminding customers about the mask mandate and warning that they would "not tolerate abuse of our staff members who are simply trying to follow the rules and keep all [their] guests and employees safe."

Rushing said the post was in response to a minority of customers who made the mask protocol difficult.

"That post was just about being rude to our staff, and sometimes people don't like being told what to do. We aren't as busy as we are used to, so staff is stressed out enough; they don't need the stress of a guest being rude to them about wearing a mask for 30 seconds," he said.

Rushing says the post garnered a large response, with nearly 600 likes on Instagram and dozens of supportive comments.

"I've never seen so many comments and likes," he told Inweekly.

Stay Local

Whether you feel comfortable dining out or are more the curbside pickup sort, now it's more important than ever to support local spots. By spending money with local businesses over corporate chains, you are actively working to keep that money in the Pensacola community, contributing to the survival of beloved local businesses and your fellow residents alike.

From dining outside on the patio of your favorite spot, grabbing a growler from a local brewery, picking up a multi-course to-go meal from a fine dining establishment or purchasing a gift card from your usual takeout spot, you can choose your level of comfort and support.

While the world of dining and leisure is fraught with new rules and expectations, one thing is clear—those in the service industry want and need conscientious, hungry customers to help them keep the bills paid and the lights on. So order the veggie dumplings from Khon's, the jalapeno bread from Craft, the sous vide meal kit from Union Public House or whatever you're craving from your favorite spot. Just make sure you mask up, dine local and be well, Pensacola. {in} inweekly.net

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3-9

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

Exploring the Intersection of Art and Humor

By Jeremy Morrison

Lauren Ruth's installation of mirrored acrylic sculptures titled "Orbital Encounters" and Xavier Cha's video work in the background / Photo courtesy of Pensacola Museum of Art

What is art? What is funny? This is the territory currently being explored at the Pensacola Museum of Art's (PMA) next exhibition "…I Forgot to Laugh: Humor & Contemporary Art." "It is subjective," PMA Chief Curator Anna Wall said of the concept of humor. "And it works in art because art is subjective, too."

On display until January, this exhibition showcases the work of a dozen artists.

It includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos, puppets and an iridescent fiberglass ponytailed pillow.

"Not all of the work is necessarily funny or intended to be funny," Wall said, explaining that the exhibit's featured artists are dealing with rather serious subjects using elements of humor. "A lot of the artists use humor as a tool."

Hanging above Wall's head as she says this, from the gallery ceiling, are huge mirrored orbs. In the center of the orbs are unflinching eyes. The curator gazes up, and the eyes look down upon her.

"It plays on this relationship of humor and irony," Wall said of the large mirrored installation.

That particular piece is by Californiabased artist Lauren Ruth. Another of the September 3, 2020

artist's works—giant smiles—is also on view and plays with that same theme of humor and irony.

"Is it a joke? Is it funny? Is it a joke on me?" Wall pondered.

Wrapped in humor, Ruth's work addresses the issue of surveillance. The mirrored orbs, in fact, are fabricated from domed security mirrors found watching over shoppers as they navigate a store.

"Surveillance, a lot of time, has to do with control and domination," Ruth said. "I'm trying to take that experience and flip it around so we experience it in a humorous way."

Though centered on a subject such as surveillance, the artist thinks of her work as playful.

"The genesis of my work is a place of playfulness," she said. "I try to create that similar place of play for the viewer."

Ruth said she considers the element of humor, particularly in the context of nonhumorous topics, to be a useful, maybe integral, aspect of the human experience.

"I think it's important for us to look at serious subjects through the lens of humor," the artist said. "I'm not a scientist, but I imagine that we developed humor as a way to survive as a society."

Ruth's work dealing with the subject of surveillance seems especially poignant displayed at the PMA, which previously functioned as a jail. This fact was not lost on the artist.

"That was actually something I was thinking about when I was creating this work," she said. "Obviously, people in a jail are constantly under surveillance."

Another artist featured in this new exhibition is Caroline Wells Chandler, who uses the pronouns he, him and his and explores the concept of bodies and boundaries—in this case, through the medium of crochet.

"You can't help but love them," Wall said of the brightly colored crochet characters comprising the artist's work. "When we unpacked them, we were just delighted."

That particular piece is part of a larger work entitled "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas." It blurs gender boundaries and features elements such as cowboys with mastectomy scars.

"He's really queering the stereotypes of the American West," Wall said, studying the work.

Chandler considers this work one of his "queer arenas" and "a celebratory transpositive fever dream."

"I explore gender and representation by mining my own personal history while queering the art historical canon," Chandler explained.

While the work isn't necessarily thematically humorous, the artist recognizes an element of humor woven in. The cowboys and Native Americans featured in the piece displayed at PMA, for example, flash-friendly, colorful smiles.

"I don't try to be funny, but it tends to assert itself in the work," Chandler said. "Sometimes when I try to be serious, the humor amps up even more."

The accommodating venue of humor, the artist said, can act as a particularly unifying and exploratory space.

"I find humor to be an effective way to reach the unreachable," Chandler said. "I think humor establishes common ground. Standup comedy has done more to heal and unify this broken country than any genre of art."

Elsewhere in the gallery, the exhibition features other artists playing with the concept of humor while dealing with decidedly unfunny subjects. For example,

a video by artist Xavier Cha displays actors expressing seemingly random emotions, though it's not clear exactly what emotions.

"It's really hard to tell if it's joy, ecstatic, terror, and it explores the fine line between these emotions," Wall noted.

Artist Natalie Baxter's quilted guns drooping flaccidly was featured in an article

by HuffPo and subsequently digested by conservative commentator Glenn Beck and his band of online trolls, who ripped it apart in the comment section. This led the artist to enshrine some of those comments— such as "clearly confused about her role as a woman"—in colorful quilted banners.

"They're also reminiscent of suffrage and protest banners," Wall pointed out.

Typically, artists install their own work at the PMA. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, only one artist—Miss Pussycat from New Orleans—was able to do that with this exhibition, leaving much of the installation to museum staff.

"It was a weird installation," Wall said.

"It was a lot quieter and lonelier than it normally is."

Ruth said that while she was disappointed she couldn't tend to her mirrored eyeball orbs herself, she also enjoyed the collaborative experience with the PMA. "I really appreciated them being coconspirators," she said, relaying a discussion about where to place some particularly prying, spying orbs. "I was like, 'What about the bathroom?' And they said, 'Yeah, sure.

Yes, let's do that.'" {in} *The museum is currently operating at 50% capacity rules and is open three days a week—Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Before visiting, visitors must book $8 timed tickets online. PMA is also enforcing the city-wide mask mandate and offering free disposable masks at the entrance to visitors who don't have one.

"...I FORGOT TO LAUGH: HUMOR & CONTEMPORARY ART"

WHEN: On view through Jan. 10, 2021 WHERE: Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. DETAILS: pensacolamuseum.org

15

a&e happenings but we think it will be the most fun and socially distant art show of the year. We're really excited about all of the amazing pieces we've had come in so far and can't wait to showcase the talented members of our community," said Madelyn Newton, Keep Pensacola Beautiful's marketing coordinator.

The second annual Pieces Adrift Art Show & Auction will take place 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Studer Community Institute, located at 220 W. Garden St., with submissions from residents all over Escambia County with various backgrounds. The gallery will display pieces made of at least 50% trash or litter.

There will be raffle prizes from businesses across Pensacola, live music and food vendors—like Le Dough, Jordan Valley, the ECUA Quench Buggy and a mobile bar from Tap the Coast. This event is for all ages.

Due to COVID-19, Keep Pensacola Beautiful has implemented various health protocols and asks that attendees wear a mask for the safety of all guests.

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit Keep Pensacola Beautiful's Facebook event page or keeppensacolabeautiful.org/pieces-adrift/.

Photo by Tim Bednarczyk

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

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

PENSACOLA HUMANE SOCIETY RIDE FOR THE PAWS Support dogs and cats

in need and enjoy a fun scavenger hunt/ dice run with this inaugural fundraiser.

The event is Saturday, Sept. 5, with a live auction kick-off Friday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. at The Shack, located at 2800 W. Nine Mile Road. Scavenger hunt stops include American Legion Post 340, The Shack, D&R, The Sports Bar and Harley-Davidson of Pensacola. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at American Legion Post 340, 8890 Ashland Ave. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

PENSACOLA OSTEOPATHS HOSTS IN-CLINIC FOOD PANTRY Pensacola

Osteopaths' in-clinic food pantry is open and available any time that the clinic is open, which is typically Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., for both patients and members of the community who are concerned about hunger and income during the COVID-19 crisis.

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

"As a doctor, I cannot ensure good health outcomes when my patients are hungry or when they're worried about their kids going hungry," said Dr. Alexys Hillman. "I've never been the type to stand by, see a situation and not take action. If there's something I can do to help, I'm going to do it, and in this case, an in-clinic food pantry helps a lot of people."

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

616 1

DOGGIE BATHE-INS RESUME The Pen-

sacola Humane Society 2020 Doggie BatheIn season has begun, with proceeds going to fund its foster program and kitten supplies.

Bathe-ins offer low-cost dog bathing and flea dips during the warm weather season. Events are held the third Saturday of the month, April through October, and continue as follows—Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.

Charges are based on the dog's weight and range from $8-$11. Please bring your own towels, or you may rent a towel for a $1 donation. Pensacola Humane Society is located at 5 N. Q St. For more information, visit pensacolahumane.org.

ARTS + CULTURE

PENSACOLA BEACH ART WALK ON THE BOARDWALK Enjoy a good view

and some art Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk, located at 400 Quietwater Beach Road. The weekly art walk will continue through Oct. 18.

WILDLY UNNECESSARY AT PERFECT PLAIN Experience the stand-up improv

group Wildly Unnecessary at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., located at 50 E. Garden St. On Friday, Sept. 4, from 8-8:30 p.m., enjoy a free preview. The premiere show is Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the premiere are $10. For more information, visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.

KEEP PENSACOLA BEAUTIFUL PIECES ADRIFT ART SHOW AND AUCTION The Keep Pensacola Beautiful

Pieces Adrift Art Show and Auction will take an interactive approach to growing awareness around litter prevention in our waterways while benefiting a local community improvement nonprofit.

"This year, Pieces Adrift will look a little different with COVID-19 protocols in place,

PLT PRESENTS: A SLEEPING COUNTRY WAKES UP THE COURTROOM

The Pensacola Little Theatre proudly presents the first production of their '20-'21 season, "A Sleeping Country." This Studio 400 production is written by Melanie Marnich and directed by Kyle Golden. Show dates are Sept. 3-5.

"A Sleeping Country" is a dreamy comedy about sleep lost and hope found. Julia, a woman from New York City with a serious case of insomnia, travels to Venice seeking help from a sleepless heiress who might be a distant relative. What she discovers is the difference between being an insomniac and being truly awake.

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

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

MUSEUMS UPDATES+NEW EXHIBITION

The T.T. Wentworth and Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) are now open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Both museums are operating at limited capacity. To ensure social distancing guidelines are kept, visitors must reserve a $5 timed ticket online. The tickets are good for both museums for one day only.

PMA's latest exhibition opens. "…I Forgot to Laugh" demonstrates how artists in recent years have used humor to explore identity, social injustice and the absurdity of modern life. By subverting expectations through surprising materials, challenging the notion of fine art and using humor to create space for taboo subjects, these artists show the power of tackling serious topics with levity.

Other exhibitions on display are "DocuFlorida 3" and "Lessons in Ink" at the T.T. Wentworth Museum.

You can also still enjoy virtual tours of exhibitions and collection highlights. For more information on both, visit pensacolamuseum.org and historicpensacola.org.

COLLECTION UNCORKED: AT HOME

The Pensacola Museum of Art has teamed up with Wine with Hilary Shaffer and Pot Roast & Pinot to bring their popular "Collection Uncorked" wine tasting into your home.

Collection Uncorked invites visitors to learn more about the permanent collection through curated wine and art pairings.

Chief Curator Anna Wall and Shaffer, a certified specialist of wine, are collaborating to match works of art with wines whose flavor profile or origins complement the art, artist or subject matter. This limitededition curated box of three wines allows you to recreate the experience at home.

Inside, you'll find reproductions of the works of art with narratives to guide you on your journey.

Each box is $65. Order by noon on Wednesday of each week and pick up at Pot Roast & Pinot the following Saturday.

For more information, visit potroastpinot. com/product/collectionuncorked.

BALLET PENSACOLA VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING The Ballet Pensacola Virtual Programming Series gives ballet fans a look at performances in the comfort of their own homes—or anywhere their devices take them.

Utilizing a new soundstage built by the ballet's technicians, the artists will reimagine, repurpose and relaunch two beloved ballets from the Ballet Pensacola repertoire—"Alice in Wonderland" (a 2017 premiere) and "The Matrix " (a 2013 premiere).

For more information, visit facebook.com/ balletpensacola.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA "VIRTUALLY TOGETHER" Be sure

to follow Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on Facebook to see videos of orchestra musicians performing special works from their homes. To watch, visit facebook.com/ pensacolasymphony.

OPERALIVE Pensacola Opera is keep-

ing patrons connected through their new online series OperaLIVE. Episodes typically include things like interviews and performances with artists, plus appearances by Pensacola Opera staff.

For updates on new episodes or to watch past ones, visit facebook.com/ pensacolaopera. You can also subscribe to their channel on YouTube.

WORKSHOPS AT STUDIO SOUTH

Face-to-face workshops have resumed at Studio South. Studio South is located at 955 E. Nine Mile Road, Ste. 101. For more information and to see a complete list of July events, visit studiosouthon9mileroad.com. inweekly.net

a&e happenings SINGERS' CINEMA Every Friday after-

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

LIVE MUSIC

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.

SIPS AND SERENADES Hang out curb-

side at the Pensacola Little Theatre for live performances from local and national talent and to-go cocktails. Mask wearing is encouraged. Events are 6-9 p.m. on select weekends. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for more information and dates.

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.

LIVE MUSIC AT PARADISE BAR & GRILL Enjoy live music at Paradise, located

at 21 Via De Luna Drive. For more information and a full calendar, visit paradisebargrill.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RED FISH BLUE FISH

Live music is back at Red Fish Blue Fish from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/redfishbluefishpensacolabeach.

LIVE MUSIC AT WATER PIG BBQ Enjoy BBQ with a view and live music 6-10 p.m.

Wednesdays through Sundays at Water Pig BBQ. For a calendar of bands, visit facebook.com/facebook.com/waterpigbbq.

FITNESS + RECREATION

OPEN BOOKS $5 FILL A BAG BOOK SALE Hundreds of books will be up for

grabs at Open Books Bookstore sale, where you can fill a bag for $5. Bring your own bag(s) or get one, or more, from staff.

The sale will take place outside in the rear parking lot Saturday, Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Everyone will be required to wear a face mask and social distance. Hand sanitizer will be available. For more information, visit facebook.com/openbooksbookstore.

DISCOVER TALL SHIP LA NINA On

Friday, Sept. 11, The Nina—replica of the September 3, 2020

historic caravel—will open in Pensacola.

The ship will be docked at the Palafox Pier, 997 S. Palafox, until departure early Wednesday, Sept. 16. The Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. The caravel was the style of ship preferred by Age of Discovery explorers such as Bartholomeu Dias, Gaspar Corte-Real and Christopher Columbus.

Historians consider the caravel the space shuttle of the 15th century.

While in port, the general public is invited to explore the Nina, an authentic floating museum. Admission charge is $5 for anyone 5 years and older and free to children 4 and under.

The ship is open every day from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. No reservations are necessary. For more information or to schedule a group tour, call (787) 672-2152 or visit ninapinta.org. Guided group tours will be limited to 10 people.

Social distancing will be practiced. Please keep six feet apart and wear a face covering on arrival. The general public will be staggered to ensure safety for both crew and guests.

Dates and times are subject to change due to inclement weather.

BALLPARK GOLF RETURNS TO BLUE WAHOOS STADIUM Eagles In The

Outfield, Blue Wahoos Stadium's popular target golf experience, will return to the ballpark Thursday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 13, offering fans the exclusive opportunity to golf at the baseball stadium.

Tee times are available from 5:30-11:00 p.m. on Thursday, 4-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30-8:30 p.m. on Sunday and can be booked online at milb.com/pensacola/events/golf.

The course features one dozen targets set up at varying distances across the outfield. Golfers, teeing off from beyond the outfield fence, compete to earn points by hitting the targets with their tee shots.

Each tee time gives golfers an hour of unlimited shots from their tee box.

Groups of up to six can book a station at the Coors Deck Tee Box, located on the Coors Light Party Deck in right field, for $120 and enjoy shaded seating and direct access to the outfield bar and grill. Groups of four can book spots at the Scoreboard View Tee Box, located beneath the scoreboard at the stadium, or the Centerfield Tee Box for $80.

Both right-handed and left-handed clubs will be available for participants to use, but golfers may bring their own clubs.

Only short irons (sand wedge, pitching wedge, 9-iron) will be permitted for safety reasons. $5 from every booking will be donated to the First Tee of Northwest Florida to help youth across the Panhandle learn life lessons and develop their character while gaining access to the game of golf.

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.

MEDITATIONS IN THE LABYRINTH

Join Empathic Practice and Felipe Muñoz for weekly mediations 5:30 p.m. on Fridays.

The meditations are held at Long Hollow Park on Guillemard Street and are an opportunity for people to get together and practice guided meditations, singing bowl meditation and labyrinth walk meditation.

All classes are free, although donations are accepted. Social distancing will be practiced. Bring your own mat or pillow.

For more information, visit facebook.com/ empathicpractice.

OUTDOOR YOGA WITH URU YOGA

Every Friday at 7 a.m. near the Pensacola State College track, practice loving-kindness meditation, mindful alignment, corefocused vinyasa, and mobility movements.

The goal is to cultivate clear awareness of yourself and others through union of a mental and physical practice. $13 per dropin class. Go to uruyoga.com to join.

BACKYARD YOGA AT ADONNA'S BAKERY Get your yoga practice in the backyard of Adonna's Bakery. Classes are 9 a.m.

Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m. Sundays, weather permitting. Cost is $10. Class size is limited to 12 to allow for social distancing. Register through the fitDEGREE app. For more information, visit facebook.com/diskolemonade.

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.

TRANSMISSION GROUP WORLD SERVICE MEDITATION Class is 7:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

YOGA CLASSES AT EVER'MAN Stretch your muscles with Beginner Yoga at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (at the Nine Mile store) Thursdays; 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 11:45 a.m. Wednesdays. Funky yoga is at

6 p.m. (eight-person limit) on Tuesdays.

Vinyasa Yoga Flow is 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

All classes are at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit everman.org.

ZUMBA WITH FLO Class is 4:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

MEDITATION ON TWIN HEARTS & ENERGY HEALING Class is 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Ever'man, located at 327 W. Garden St. For more information, visit everman.org.

YOGA WITH ADRON CHAMBERS Yoga

with Adron is back on Thursday and Saturdays with Asher & Bee Apothecary and Tea House. Classes are 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Cost is $11. Classes are open to everyone including beginners, novices and masters. Asher & Bee is located at 3014 N. Ninth Ave. To register for classes, email 11adron56@gmail.com.

BLUE WAHOOS AND BUBBA WATSON OPEN STADIUM DISC GOLF COURSE The Pensacola Blue Wahoos

and team co-owner Bubba Watson have partnered to bring disc golf to Blue Wahoos Stadium. The course covers the entirety of the stadium and is open to the public from noon-8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is $5 per player per round.

Children ages 6-12, seniors, military members and first responders will receive a $1 admission discount. Children 5 and under receive free admission with a paid adult.

To ensure the safety of participants and in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines, new groups will be allowed to begin playing the course every 15 minutes. Players are encouraged to bring their own discs or to purchase a three-disk starter pack from the Blue Wahoos for $25. Disc rental is not available in accordance with safety. Go to Wahoos Stadium and visit the Bait & Tackle Store behind home plate to register. A scorecard and course map will be provided to each player. For more information, visit bluewahoos.com.

BIKE PENSACOLA SHARES SLOW RIDE ROUTES If you're missing the

monthly slow rides, here's a chance to enjoy the routes. Bike Pensacola is sharing slow ride maps from popular events. Find the maps on Facebook at facebook.com/ bikepensacola. You will still need to adhere to safety and social distancing guidelines.

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. for more listings visit inweekly.net 17

free will astrology WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): "A new

Stay safe & healthy.

The Lee House is here if you need us.

In the meantime, follow us on social media – where we’re sharing some of our signature baking recipes for you to try at home, as well as favorite pineapple pics, and heartwarming stories.

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idea is rarely born like Venus attended by graces. More commonly, it's modeled of baling wire and acne. More commonly, it wheezes and tips over." Those words were written by Aries author Marge Piercy, who has been a fount of good new ideas in the course of her career. I regard her as an expert in generating wheezy, fragile breakthroughs and ultimately turning them into shiny, solid beacons of revelation. Your assignment in the coming weeks, Aries, is to do as Piercy has done so well.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): "Every

day, I discover even more beautiful things," said painter Claude Monet. "It is intoxicating me, and I want to paint it all. My head is bursting." That might seem like an extreme state to many of us. But Monet was a specialist in the art of seeing. He trained himself to be alert for exquisite sights. So his receptivity to the constant flow of loveliness came naturally to him. I bring this to your attention, Taurus, because I think that in the coming weeks, you could rise closer to a Monet-like level of sensitivity to beauty. Would that be interesting to you? If so, unleash yourself!

Make it a priority to look for charm, elegance, grace, delight and dazzlement.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Author Renata Adler describes a time in her life when she began to notice blue triangles on her feet. She was wracked with fear that they were a symptom of leukemia. But after a period of intense anxiety, she realized one fine day that they had a different cause. She writes, "Whenever I, walking barefoot, put out the garbage on the landing, I held the apartment door open, bending over from the rear. The door would cross a bit over the tops of my feet"—leaving triangular bruises.

Upon realizing this very good news, she says, "I took a celebrational nap." From what I can tell, Gemini, you're due for a series of celebrational naps—both because of worries that turn out to be unfounded and because you need a concentrated period of recharging your energy reserves.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): "I like

Pensacola

people who refuse to speak until they are ready to speak," proclaimed Cancerian author Lillian Hellman. I feel the same way.

So often people have nothing interesting or important to say but say it anyway. I've done that myself! The uninteresting and unimportant words I have uttered are too numerous to count. The good news for me and all of my fellow Cancerians is that in the coming weeks we are far more likely than usual to not speak until we are ready to speak. According to my analysis of the astrological potentials, we are poised to express ourselves with clarity, authenticity and maximum impact.

(850) 434-2060

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Of all the

113 Palafox Place (Across from Saenger Theatre)

818 1

mournful impacts the pandemic has had,

By Rob Brezsny

one of the most devastating is that it has diminished our opportunities to touch and be touched by other humans. Many of us are starved of the routine, regular contact we had previously taken for granted. I look forward to the time when we can again feel uninhibited about shaking hands, hugging and patting friends on the arm or shoulder. In the meantime, how can you cope?

This issue is extra crucial for you Leos to meditate on right now. Can you massage yourself? Seek extra tactile contact with animals? Hug trees? Figure out how to physically connect with people while wearing hazmat suits, gloves, masks and face shields? What else?

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): "Like any art, the creation of self is both natural and seemingly impossible," says singersongwriter Holly Near. "It requires training as well as magic." How are you doing on that score, Virgo? Now is a favorable time to intensify your long-term art project of creating the healthiest, smartest version of yourself. I think it will feel quite natural and not-at-all impossible. In the coming weeks, you'll have a finely tuned intuitive sense of how to proceed with flair. Start by imagining the Most Beautiful You. LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I propose we resurrect the old English word "museful." First used in the 17th century but then forgotten, it meant "deeply thoughtful; pensive." In our newly coined use, it refers to a condition wherein a person is abundantly inspired by the presence of the muse.

I further suggest that we invoke this term to apply to you Libras in the coming weeks.

You potentially have a high likelihood of intense communion with your muses. There's also a good chance you'll engage with a new muse or two. What will you do with all of this illumination and stimulation?

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Each

of us has a "soul's code"—a metaphorical blueprint of the beautiful person we could become by fulfilling our destiny. If our soul's code remains largely dormant, it will agitate and disorient us. If, on the other hand, we perfectly actualize our soul's code, we will feel at home in the world; all our experiences will feel meaningful. The practical fact is that most of us have made some progress in manifesting our soul's code, but still have a way to go before we fully actualize it. Here's the good news— You Scorpios are in a phase of your cycle when you could make dramatic advances in this glorious work.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21):

"Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules," observes Sagittarian author Ashleigh Brilliant. According to my research, you have made excellent progress in this quest during the last few weeks—and will continue your good work in the next six weeks. Give yourself an award! Buy yourself a trophy! You have

discovered at least two rules that were previously unknown to you, and you have also ripened your understanding of another rule that had previously been barely comprehensible. Be alert for more breakthroughs.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19):

"If you're not lost, you're not much of an explorer," said rambunctious activist and author John Perry Barlow. Adding to his formulation, I'll say that if you want to be a successful explorer, it's crucial to get lost on some occasions. And according to my analysis, now is just such a time for you Capricorns. The new territory you have been brave enough to reconnoiter should be richly unfamiliar. The possibilities you have been daring enough to consider should be provocatively unpredictable.

Keep going, my dear! That's the best way to become un-lost.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): "Dreams really tell you about yourself more than anything else in this world could ever tell you," said psychic Sylvia Browne. She was referring to the mysterious stories that unfold in our minds as we sleep. I agree with her assessment of dreams' power to show us who we really are all the way down to the core of our souls. What Browne didn't mention, however, is that it takes knowledge and training to become proficient in deciphering dreams' revelations.

Their mode of communication is unique— and unlike every other source of teaching.

I bring this up, Aquarius, because the coming months will be a favorable time for you to become more skilled in understanding your dreams.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): In June

1876, warriors from three Indian tribes defeated U.S. troops led by General George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. It was an iconic victory in what was ultimately a losing battle to prevent conquest by the ever-expanding American empire. One of the tribes that fought that day was the Northern Cheyenne. Out of fear of punishment by the U.S. government, its leaders waited 130 years to tell its side of the story about what happened. New evidence emerged then, such as the fact that the only woman warrior in the fight, Buffalo Calf Road Woman, killed Custer himself. I offer this tale as an inspiration for you Pisceans to tell your story about events that you've kept silent about for too long.

THIS WEEK'S HOMEWORK: Maybe sometimes it's OK to hide and be secretive and use silence as a superpower. Example from your life?

freewillastrology.com

freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com Rob Brezsny © Copyright 2020

inweekly.net

news of the weird GOOD TIMING The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Alleghany County, North Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 8:07 a.m., about the same time parishioners at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Charlotte, 100 miles to the south, gathered at Mass and heard this among the morning's Bible readings: "After the wind there was an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake." Father Richard Sutter, pastor at St. Gabriel, later told The Charlotte Observer he didn't feel the rumble himself, but several worshippers approached him after the outdoor service to share the "God-incidence."

Father Cory Catron, closer to the epicenter near Sparta, also felt the quake and said it made for "good homily material." As his services ended later that morning, an aftershock rattled his church.

THE MOTHER OF INVENTION As wildfires tore through parts of California on Aug. 19, Chad Little of Vacaville and his family prepared to evacuate, but Little changed his mind and decided to stay, he told KCRA. The family is in the process of rebuilding the home they lost five years ago in an attic fire, and "I can't let it go," he said. Little had hoses ready, but when the electricity went out, the water was cut off, so he grabbed a rake to clear away dry grass. As his cars and then his shop began to catch fire, he reached for the only liquid he had—cans of Bud Light, shaking and spraying them at the fire, dousing the flames just before firefighters arrived. "My buddies all tease me about drinking waterbeer," he said. "I say, 'Hey, it saved my shop.'"

He also managed to save his home.

RUDE Sonja Lee has been struggling to make rent on her Houston apartment since losing her job in March, and has talked with her landlord about payment arrangements, but on Aug. 17, she received an eviction notice in the form of a piece of paper taped to her door that read, "Guess who's moving? You!!!" accompanied by a smiley face emoji and a demand to turn in her keys by 6 o'clock that night. "So y'all think it's funny," Lee told ABC 13 News. "There was nothing funny about that." The apartment complex owner said the manager has been disciplined and has apologized.

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENT Balladeer James Blunt recently revealed that early in his college years at the University of Bristol, he adopted a completely carnivorous diet in order to prove his manliness, according to Men's Health. "I just lived on mince, some chicken, maybe with some mayonnaise, and it took me about six to eight weeks to get very, very unhealthy and see a doctor, who said, 'I think you've got the symptoms of scurvy,'" he confessed in a podcast. In response, Blunt tried to reverse the vitamin C deficiency that causes scurvy by drinking a liter of orange

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

juice every night, which caused him to develop acid reflux. "So as you can see, yeah, food is not necessarily my forte."

GOVERNMENT IN ACTION Kelly Eroglu in Cwmbran, Wales, was disappointed when her petition to open a coffee shop catering to bicyclists, and including parking spaces for bikes, was turned down by the local planning board because it lacked sufficient parking for cars. "It's crazy," Eroglu told The Guardian in mid-August, "because the Welsh government have prioritized (about $450 million) to improve walking and cycling within Wales." Eroglu is planning to appeal. "No way am I giving up," she said.

NEWS YOU CAN USE Police in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, say a homeowner ignored a warning from his pet parrot on Aug. 17 because the bird "isn't always a reliable source of information," CTV reported.

As a thief entered the home through an unlocked door, authorities said, the parrot issued a friendly "hello," which didn't alert the homeowner or deter the man from taking a credit card from a wallet. A neighbor photographed the suspect leaving the scene and security cameras later caught a 33-year-old man using the stolen card at a store, said police, who arrested him.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Herbert McClellan, 27, took advantage of a distracted clerk at a Speedway gas station in Clearwater, Florida, on Aug. 18 to snatch about $100 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets, according to police, who were alerted by store employees a few hours later when McClellan returned to the store to claim the $30 prize offered by one of the tickets. Fox13 reported McClellan was charged with petit theft and dealing in stolen property.

•Police in Hollywood, Florida, had little trouble tracking down a trio of thieves who broke into nearly 30 homes, stealing more than $150,000 in cash, weapons, mobile phones, electronics, jewelry, a vehicle and more, because all three were "already on pretrial release for previous crimes and ... wearing court-ordered GPS ankle bracelet monitors," Officer Christian Lata said. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Zion Odain Denvor Hall, 21; Tyrek Davontae Williams, 19; and Tremaine Raekwon Hill, 18, were arrested on Aug. 14 and charged with charged with burglary, grand theft and racketeering. Police believe they're part of a larger organization committing criminal acts throughout South Florida. Additional charges are to come. {in}

A SLEEPING COUNTRY is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS

A SLEEPINGMELANIE COUNTRY MARNICH a dreamy comedy by

directed by KYLE GOLDEN 8/28/2020 - 9/5/2020 PENSACOLALITTLETHEATRE.COM

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

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com September 3, 2020

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