Jan 8 2015 issue

"FINALLY WE CAN" Independent News | January 8, 2015 | Volume 16 | Number 2 | inweekly.net | Pictured: The Jan. 6 marriage of Serena Dunham and Michelle Caldwell

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winners & losers

outtakes

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5

news

buzz

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We need to make sure we don’t get too intoxicated with victory.

feature story 10

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a&e

publisher Rick Outzen

art director Samantha Crooke

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Jessica Forbes, Hana Frenette, Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Sarah

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McCartan, Chuck Shepherd contact us info@inweekly.net

calendar 16

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. Š 2014 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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January 8, 2015

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winners & losers

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Doug Underhill

winners DOUG UNDERHILL State Attorney Bill Eddins announced on New Year’s Eve that his office’s review of a complaint against Escambia County Commissioner Doug Underhill had determined that no violation occurred. The complaint, filed by Randy Cudd, alleged that Underhill had violated Florida Sunshine Law by asking commissioners to reverse a decision regarding discretionary TDC funds. The State Attorney's Office said those conversations took place prior to his election. Therefore, no violation occurred.

PENSACOLA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Locals donated approximately 270 new and gently used blankets to the Pensacola Police Department and they will be delivered to United Way of Escambia County to help people in need. The blanket drive began after a tragic event claimed the life of a four-year-old boy and two adults on Dec. 11. An improperly used propane heater used to keep them warm is believed to have caused the deaths.

JOHN MATTHEWS The Pensacola resident

is one of eight individuals honored statewide by the Florida Commodores Association with their highest recognition, the Four Star Commodores Award. Matthews was nominated by the Pensacola Yacht Club that cited among his contributions, his stint as interim general manager of the Pensacola Yacht Club, his involvement in the Wounded American Veterans, his leadership role in the biennial race to Mexico for several years and his consistency in “stepping up when no one else has.”

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losers BP Once again, the British oil giant is trying

to derail the claim settlement process. BP asked on Dec. 23 that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kick out Patrick Juneau, the administrator of damage settlement claims from its 2010 oil spill. Last November, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier rejected the oil giant’s arguments to get rid of Juneau. As with other decisions by Judge Barbier, BP wants it overturned.

SHARON HELMAN The director of the VA

medical center in Phoenix, Arizona, lost her job when the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board turned down her appeal. Helman wasn’t fired because she was allegedly connected to long patient wait-times and manipulated data at the hospital. No, she was terminated for accepting tickets for a Beyonce concert, Chang's Rock & Roll Arizona Marathon, the Mississippi Blues Marathon and an eight-night stay at Disney World from a consultant to a healthcare provider looking to do business with the VA facility, according to evidence.

STEVE SCALISE The Congressman from Louisiana and the No. 3 Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives admitted that he addressed a group of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in 2002. Scalise, a Louisiana state legislator at the time, made the remarks to the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, which was founded two years earlier by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

inweekly.net

outtakes

by Rick Outzen

COMPELLING NEWS The daily newspaper published on Sunday, Jan. 4 its editorial plan for 2015.

The News Journal will focus on education, storm water improvements and infrastructure side of public safety, such as better roads and sidewalks.

All are worthy topics that deserve the attention that the daily newspaper will place on them.

Inweekly will do what we’ve done from the very beginning. We will focus on people and how decisions and events impact them.

Our goal will be to write compelling articles that make you care about the struggles and triumphs of those who live in the community that we all call home.

We will continue to interview and profile the newsmakers so that you can hear their thoughts, ideas and plans in their words. This week, reporter Shelby Smithey interviewed the new president of the Pensacola branch of the NAACP, Charles Thornton, and we learned what his plans are for 2015.

Jennifer Leigh’s “Finally We Can” tells how locals in the LGBT community reacted to Florida finally joining the other 35 states that recognize same-sex marriages. The issue was one this newspaper has supported, and we believed it was important to hear

the impact on those who have waited for that moment for decades.

Our story “2015 To Do List” is part of our commitment to cover local government. Being a watchdog requires we understand what the local officials see as their issues and priorities. We took the time to listen to county, city, ECUA and school district officials and see what’s “on their plates” for 2015. The article will help all of us measure their performance in the coming months.

Yes, we will still have investigative reports. Our reputation was built on stories regarding jail deaths, human trafficking, murders of Bud and Melanie Billings, BP oil spill, civil rights and government corruption. Last year, we dug into the landfills, dumps and pits in the Wedgewood community and into the explosion at the county jail. Both stories are still on our radar.

In 2015, we will still push ideas, challenge the status quo, prick the comfortable and try to ask questions that some would rather not have to answer. We, too, will write about education, storm water and safe neighborhoods, and we will try to add perspective by “connecting the dots” on these stories better than anyone else.

We hope you will enjoy it. {in} rick@inweekly.net

We will still push ideas, challenge the status quo, prick the comfortable and try to ask questions that some would rather not have to answer.

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“FINALLY WE CAN” that only Washington County was named in the lawsuit. But on New Year’s Day, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that all Florida couples could receive a marriage license starting Jan. 6.

Florida is now the 36th state to recognize gay marriage. Since the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the fall of 2011, it seems the entire country has continued to increase its support of the LGBT community—one of the fastest growing civil rights campaigns ever.

“What really brings it home is when you hear the stories of people, like Arlene Goldberg,” said Sara Latshaw, regional director of the ACLU of Florida.

Goldberg, who lives in Fort Myers, was featured in a Freedom to Marry video holding a photo of her late wife, Carol Goldwasser. Together for 47 years, Goldberg and Goldwasser married in New York in 2011. When her wife died in 2014, Goldberg was unable to collect her social security payments because their marriage wasn’t recognized by the state.

For same-sex couples who sought federal rights by getting married out of their home state, they too will be able to obtain state marriage licenses.

“No matter if you’re gay or straight, marriage equality is important,” Latshaw said. “It could be your neighbor, a friend or one of your loved ones.”

As the Director of Operations of Planting Peace, Davis Hammet has been living in the Equality House—a viral project of the nonprofit’s—since its inception in the spring of 2013.

From inside the rainbow-colored house in Topeka, Kansas, which sits directly across the street from the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, Hammet has watched the rapid shift in gay rights support closely.

Hammet, who was born and raised in Destin, remembers feeling ashamed of his sexuality—he identifies himself as on the bisexual spectrum—growing up in the Bible Belt.

Seeing Florida become the latest state to recognize same-sex marriage is inevitable, he said, but still projects a positive message.

“It gives hope to people who really need hope,” he said.

At 24, Hammet isn’t looking to settle down yet, but says the right should always be there.

“I deserve to have access to any right that everyone in this country has access to,” he said.

GOING TO THE CHAPEL… OR COURTHOUSE

Around this time last year, Pensacola couple Timothy Stark and Joey McCoy got engaged before a concert in Birmingham, Alabama. They planned on saving for a destination wedding in Washington state.

“He’s the first person I’ve ever felt this strongly about,” McCoy said. “He’s my partner, my best friend. You want that validation with a legal wedding.”

Now they don’t have to fly across the country just to have a legallybinding marriage. In fact, they opted for a short and sweet ceremony at the clerk of courts office and plan to “do it right” later on.

With family in Fort Walton Beach, they had thought of venturing two counties over to get their marriage license, but Clerk of Courts in Okaloosa County (as well as Santa Rosa, Duval, Baker and Clay) have put an end to their courthouse wedding ceremonies after Florida’s same-sex marriage ruling.

The couple took the four-hour premarital online course, which discounts the marriage license. When McCoy called ahead to make sure that Escambia County courts would perform the wedding, he was told to get there early.

“They were expecting to be busy that day,” he said.

“No matter if you’re gay or straight, marriage equality is important. It could be your neighbor, a friend or one of your loved ones.”

Sarah Latshaw

Marriage Equality Finally Comes To Florida

By Jennifer Leigh

The first newsletter of the year for the Gay Grassroots of Northwest Florida was sent out over the weekend.

On the first page, in bold, black font read the headline “Finally we can.”

Since Jan. 6, same-sex couples in the state of Florida can now be legally married. That’s now 36 states in the U.S. that recognize same-sex marriage.

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THE RULING

Florida’s ruling wasn’t exactly cut and dry. In early December, news that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Florida’s stay to rule on same-sex marriage was released. Previously, a federal judge had already ruled the state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. When the stay expired on Jan. 5, the inequality spell would be broken and couples could obtain marriage licenses the next day.

“The judges were on the right side of the issue,” said Doug Landreth, president of Gay Grassroots of Northwest Florida.

“Although there are some leaders that are still behind the times.”

There was some confusion over whether the ruling had any power over the state. Lawyers for the Florida Association of Court Clerks Comptrollers had stated

Joey McCoy and Timothy Stark inweekly.net

RETIREMENT IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. AND IT’S REALLY HARD TO SEE AROUND CORNERS.

Almost foreshadowing recent events, Holy Cross Metropolitan Community Church sent out a press release to announce the church would perform free weddings for LGBT couples once Florida ruled them legal.

In the Oct. 20 release it stated, “Rev. Dr. Jim Merritt believes these are the final days of discrimination against Florida same-sex partners and their families.”

Just a few months later, his prediction came true. Before the holiday season, he already had several couples lined up for wedding ceremonies on Jan. 6.

“I firmly believe same-sex couples deserve the same package of federal rights as every other couple,” he said.

Merritt has lived in Florida his entire life and became the senior pastor at Holy Cross MCC four months ago.

Rev. Dr. Jim Merritt Growing up in a southern Baptist household as a young gay man had its share of contradictions, he was even sent to conversion therapy.

But Merritt refers to himself as one of the “lucky ones,” because he never felt that God didn’t love him. For the LGBT community that goes to Holy Cross MCC, he hopes to spread that message.

Before the holidays and weeks before the final ruling, Merritt said that he and his partner of 20 years will be joining in with those couples celebrating. But he’s taking care of everyone else first.

“I hope to be so busy Jan. 6 that my partner and I will have to wait a few days to be married,” he said. “We have tons of

friends who are clergy who can help with our wedding.”

Ed and Sue Spencer of First Day Entertainment are also offering similar services.

Their company will be providing free officiant services to same-sex couples on a first-come, first-served basis for six weeks (through Feb. 17).

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LOOKING AHEAD

Generations who can recall seeing gay-rights opponent Anita Bryant on TV (Florida’s Attorney General Pam Bondi is often referred to as the modern day Bryant), will tell you that marriage wasn’t always on the gay rights to-do list.

“Years ago, you wouldn’t even dream of marriage,” Landreth said. “The first priority was avoiding being beaten or shot to death. Now there’s a whole new generation of youth who can have the landscape to dream.”

After Jan. 6 rolls around, after all of the wedding cakes and portraits, there’s still work to be done.

“We’re at a political crossroads now,” Landreth said. “What will we do once the marriage debate is final once and for all? High-five each other and head home?”

Beyond legal marriage, there are a lot of other issues that face the LGBT community including homelessness among youth, discrimination in the workplace and adoptive rights, Landreth said.

“We need to make sure we don’t get too intoxicated with victory,” he added.

“There’s more work that needs to be done.” {in}

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NAACP PRESIDENT CHARLES THORNTON: NEW LEADERSHIP, NEW VISION

Charles Thornton

By Shelby Smithey Charles D. Thornton Sr., new president of the Pensacola chapter of the NAACP, assumed leadership Jan. 1 and has a progressive vision for the future of the civil rights organization.

Thornton, 62, said that he hopes to rebrand the NAACP branch and change people’s perception of it. Inweekly sat down with Thornton to discuss his new leadership role and how he plans to increase the visibility of the Pensacola branch.

“My vision for the role of the NAACP is based in collaboration and partnership with Pensacola’s companies and organizations,” Thornton said.

“This is vastly different from the views of the past presidents.”

One of Thornton’s goals is to build a coalition of support from the business community and develop key strategic partnerships to highlight issues and successes.

“I recognize the challenges in this change and the need to ‘rebrand’ the NAACP and change the perception of the NAACP,” Thornton said.

“Accordingly, the rebranding of the NAACP will encompass changing an organization that has been primarily based in advocacy into an organization of action.”

NATIVE PENSACOLIAN

Thornton was born in Dothan, Alabama but has lived in Pensacola since he was a year old. He graduated from Washington High School in 1970 and joined the Marine Corps in 1974.

“I consider myself a native Pensacolian,” Thornton said.

“After two years, I came back from the Marine Corps and started going to Pensacola Junior College and then the University of West Florida and graduated in 1982 with a degree in management. I joined the Army National Guard in 1981 for three years, and after that, joined the Air Force Reserve.”

Thornton retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2003 for a total of 24 years combined military service. In 1978, Thornton began his 29-year career working at NAS Pensacola in Human Resources. In 2001 and 2002, he served as First Vice President for the NAACP local chapter.

“The rebranding of the NAACP will encompass changing an organization that has been primarily based in advocacy into an organization of action.” Charles Thornton

VISION FOR NAACP

Succeeding former president John Veasley, the retired Air Force Reserve master sergeant said his goal is to increase the branch’s responsibility and accountability within the community. The local chapter will join the NAACP National Headquarters and Florida State Conference in fighting on the front line for civil and voter rights and battle against harmful effects of voting suppression and civil rights violations.

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“I’ve always been an outspoken community activist,” Thornton said. “I started my blog, ‘The Thornton Review,’ in 2012 that is focused on political awareness and began to do live webcasts.”

Thornton said that in addition to the prevalence of youth violence in the city, the firing of Escambia High football coach Willie Spears served as a motivator to run for presidency.

SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE

“Pensacola has a problem with black-onblack crime among young people,” Thornton said. “I think a lot of that has to do with economic disparity and lack of job opportunities, which relates back to the school-toprison pipeline. Violence seems to be stemmed from individuals who have developed some type of criminal record.”

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the school-to-prison pipeline is a national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

“These kids are targeted from an early age and a lot of them go through life on that track,” Thornton said. “They become early felons and because here in the state of Florida we don’t have a system for restoration of rights, it’s harder for them to get out. I’m not making excuses, but we have to figure out a way to restore their rights.”

Thornton said that he believes economic disparities play a role as well. He noted that Escambia County had a ranking as the 17th poorest county in the U.S. in 2012 while simultaneously holding the title as the poorest county in Florida. The county had 29 schools with over 75 percent of its students on free or reduced lunches.

Thornton said the county’s lack of economic diversity hinders economic growth and has been repeatedly identified as having a negative implication on residents.

One of Thornton’s goals is to build a coalition of support from the business community and develop key strategic partnerships to highlight issues and successes.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Future occupational opportunities are what Thornton sees as the main solution to youth violence in Pensacola. He said that he hopes business partnerships will serve as a catalyst toward those opportunities.

“We know we have service jobs, but partnerships would provide opportunities to start preparing young folks for other types of jobs through vocational training,” Thornton said.

“Lobbying the governor and state legislators to come up with some kind of way to restore nonviolent criminals’ rights is also essential. After we do that, it will be a lot easier for these individuals to get back into the workforce, but it’s going to take cooperation in order to do that. It’s my perception that it’s going to take understanding that we do have a problem and that this would be the best solution.”

Thornton said he also wants to encourage black-owned and start-up businesses in the area to grow.

“We do need the capital,” Thornton said.

“The way the system is set up now, we don’t have access to the capital. We need to start generating enough income to invest in our own community.”

Regular NAACP meetings will be held at the office of the Home of Pensacola Caring Hearts at 1900 Pace Blvd. on the second Thursday of the month. The first meeting will be held Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. Executive Committee meetings will be held every fourth Thursday of each month, and the first meeting will be held Jan. 22 at 6 p.m.

Thornton will serve as president for the 2015-2017 term along with First Vice President Eladies Sampson, Second Vice President Eurydice Stanley, Assistant Secretary Kimberly Monique and Assistant Treasurer Diane T. Robinson. {in}

“They become early felons and because here in the state of Florida we don’t have a system for restoration of rights, it’s harder for them to get out. I’m not making excuses, but we have to figure out a way to restore their rights.” Thornton

inweekly.net

Ashton Hayward CITY LOBBYIST REGISTRY On Oct. 10,

2014, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced in his digital newsletter that he wanted the city to adopt a lobbyist registry that would require those paid to lobby the city staff and council to disclose the clients they represent, as well as the subject matters they seek to influence.

He said that registry would be another step in his effort to ensure greater transparency in city government, pointing out his other “Restoring Trust” initiatives—city financial reports posted monthly on its website, new public record tracking system and adoption of a code of ethics.

“I believe that citizens have the right to know who’s lobbying City officials,” Hayward said. “It’s time for Pensacola to create a lobbyist registry, as many other cities have already done. Anyone who is paid to speak at City Council meetings or who seeks a meeting with a City official to lobby on behalf of another individual, organization or interest group should be required to register as a lobbyist.”

Nearly three months later, Mayor Hayward and his staff are ready to submit the lobbyist ordinance to the Pensacola City Council for approval. The proposed registry is modeled after programs established by other Florida cities, according to Hayward’s Chief Operations Officer Tamara Fountain.

In a memorandum to the city council, Fountain pointed the key points of the proposed lobbyist registration program: •Lobbyists would be required annually to register with the city clerk and pay $25 for each client represented;

•Lobbyists must disclose any direct business associations or partnerships with any council member, board member or the mayor; •Prior to addressing the city council or other decision-making body, lobbyists must verbally disclose they are registered lobbyists and identify the principal on behalf of whom they are lobbying; and •Lobbyists are prohibiting from knowingly making false statements when lobbying.

Elected officials and government employees are not considered lobbyists if they are communicating with the mayor, council or board members in their official capacity.

Neither are attorneys or others under contract with the city regarding issues within the scope of their contract. Also designated representatives from neighborhood or homeowner associations and individuals

“Anyone who is paid to speak at City Council meetings or who seeks a meeting with a City official to lobby on behalf of another individual, organization or interest group should be required to register as a lobbyist.” Ashton Hayward

January 8, 2015

representing themselves are not considered lobbyists.

The penalties for violating the proposed ordinance are severe—a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 60 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment. Each day any violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.

TWO CHAMPIONS NAMED

Andrea Krieger, president and CEO of United Way of Escambia County, and Dede Flounlacker, Manna Food Pantries’ executive director, are recipients of the Volunteer Florida’s Champion of Service Award.

The Champion of Service Award was established in 2013 by Volunteer Florida to honor individuals and groups for their outstanding efforts in volunteerism and service.

Krieger and Flounlacker will be presented with their awards by Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman at a reception hosted by Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Hagler-Mason Conference Room in Pensacola City Hall.

Last year, Volunteer Florida recognized several Champions of Service, including Peacemakers Family Center in Miami; Ameri-

Corps members Debra Trent and Stefon Gavin, mentors of 50 Large in Leon County; the College of Central Florida’s Dental Assisting Program Outreach Dental Clinic; Michael D. Hicks, volunteer chaplain at Charlotte Correctional Institution; Charles “Skip” Cramer, a longtime volunteer with the American Red Cross of Northeast Florida; Michael “Mikey” Attardi, Jr., who volunteered to serve families and individuals impacted by Super Storm Sandy; and Victoria Bell, a Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida volunteer.

a Marketplace plan in 2015 and 49 percent signed up for the first time.

“We’re pleased that in Florida 673,255 people signed up for Marketplace coverage during the first month of open enrollment. The vast majority were able to lower their costs even further by getting tax credits, making a difference in the bottom lines of so many families,” HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said. “Interest in the Marketplace has been strong during the first month of open enrollment. We still have a ways to go and a lot of work to do before February 15, but this is an encouraging start.”

Nationwide, more than 4 million people signed up for the first time or reenrolled in coverage for 2015 during the first month of open enrollment. That includes more than 3.4 million people who selected a plan in the 37 states that are using the HealthCare. gov platform for 2015 (including Florida), and more than 600,000 consumers who selected plans in the 14 states that are operating their own Marketplace platform for 2015.

Open Enrollment in the Marketplace runs from Nov. 15, 2014, through Feb. 15, 2015. Consumers should visit HealthCare. gov to review and compare health plan options. Consumers shopping for health insurance coverage should sign up by Jan. 15, 2015, in order to have coverage effective on Feb. 1, 2015. If consumers who were automatically reenrolled decide in the coming weeks that a better plan exists for their families, they can make that change at any time before the end of open enrollment on February 15. {in}

“We’re pleased that in Florida 673,255 people signed up for Marketplace coverage during the first month of open enrollment.”

Sylvia M. Burwell

NEW PIT RULES County staff has developed several amendments to the ordinances that regulate borrow pits and construction and debris landfills. Since August, the county has had a moratorium on issuing permits for pits and landfills when it was revealed the vast majority of the pits in Escambia County were operating illegally (Inweekly, “Pitiful Pressure: Above the Law,” Aug. 21, 2014).

Borrow pits are areas mined for their sand and dirt to be used for construction projects. The proposed ordinance requires owners to submit a written reclamation plan for their pits. The permit will be valid for five years. The owners must consent to random and periodic inspections of the site, such inspections by county staff must occur at least twice a year.

The draft ordinances were presented to the pit and landfill owners on Monday, Jan. 5 and to the residents of the Wedgewood, Rolling Hills and Olive Heights neighborhoods on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The meetings happened after Inweekly’s editorial deadline, but more can be found on ricksblog.biz.

OBAMACARE ENROLLMENT STARTS STRONG According to a report released by

the Department of Health and Human Services on December 30, 673,255 Floridians selected plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace leading up to the December 15 deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2015. About 94 percent of Floridians who selected health insurance plans in the first month of open enrollment were determined eligible for financial assistance to lower their monthly premiums, compared to 83 percent who selected plans over a similar period last year. Of the 673,255 Floridians who selected a plan, 51 percent reenrolled in 9

2015 s t s i L o D o T en and

By Rick Outz edo scob Duwayne E

We are coming upon the midpoint of the second decade of the 21st century. The past four years we’ve dealt with an environmental disaster and leadership changes at the county, city and chamber. We’ve also had significant economic development announcements and the promise of better paying jobs coming to our community.

This year will be an action year. The ribbon-cuttings, press releases and photo ops have generated a long list of work items that must be executed properly to make sure the promises of the past few years become realities.

Before the Christmas holidays, Inweekly sat down with officials from Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Escambia County Public School District and the Emerald Coast Utility Authority to learn what is on their “to-do” lists for 2015. The interviews gave us insight into what we can see happening with all those entities in the coming months.

Escambia County

Jack Brown

C

ounty Administrator Jack Brown has been on the job for six months. Right before the holidays, the Board of County Commissioners voted for its chairman, Commissioner Steven Barry, to negotiate with Brown a new three-year contract with two one-year extensions and a $170,000 salary—$20,000 more than his current pay.

The contract gives county government stability that has been lacking since October 2012 when the old commission terminated the employment of County Administrator Randy Oliver and replaced him, on an interim basis, with George Touart, who stubbornly held on to the position until late 2013.

Brown’s new contract is a clear signal to county staff, the community and prospective employees that he has the full support of the commission and will be here for the rest of this decade.

Inweekly sat down with Brown in his office on the top floor of the county administrative complex and discussed pits, jails, storm water and recycling. Brown is no stranger to strategic planning, negotiations and county government. While Chief of NATO War Plans for the U.S. Army, he conducted analysis and drafted the based document that was used to frame the Dayton 010 1

Peace Accord for Bosnia. He has over 14 years in county government serving as Taylor County commissioner, county manager and county administrator.

When asked if running Escambia County was more challenging than Taylor County, he said not really.

“It's not nearly as different as you think,” Brown said. “I think people are amazed when I tell them that, but it really isn't. I mean, it's a bigger population but same budgeting process. Same issues, just a little bit bigger scale.”

Escambia County is starting 2015 in high gear. The first full work week of the year has a RESTORE advisory meeting, two workshops on the proposed new ordinances on landfills and borrow pits, a Storm Water Advisory Team public forum and a county commission meeting.

Pit Ordinances

Escambia County has had a moratorium on permits for landfills and borrow pits since last summer. The residents of the Wedgewood community, an area off of Highway 29 near Marcus Pointe, complained of odors, dust and other health issues associated with the landfills and pits surrounding their homes. That moratorium is set to expire in February.

“Obviously the pits are a big issue for us,” Brown said. “We want to get the ordinances revised on that issue.”

The two hearings have been set for the county to hear from both the pit owners and the residents. The Monday, Jan. 5 meeting is for the landfill and pit owners to comment on the proposed changes. Two days later, Brown and his staff will meet with Wedgewood area residents at the Marie Young Community Center.

“We want to make sure that the public feels like we're acting in their best interest,” Brown said. “And also we want to make sure that we're not being unreasonable with the pit owners either.”

Storm Water Management

Sandwiched between those two meetings, the Escambia County and the City of Pensacola will hold a joint Storm Water Advisory Team meeting where engineering firms will give an overview presentation on storm water recovery and flood mitigation issues. These presentations will be followed by a discussion on the Pensacola Bay Basin report that includes the Aragon, Delano and Longhollow neighborhoods.

“We've been meeting regularly on drainage, storm water treatment and flood prevention,” the county administrator said.

“Our staff has been working on grants and on different projects.”

He said the county staff has been working with the storm water advisory team to set priorities.

Brown said, “We're looking at what's some of the low-hanging fruit, where we can do some projects to take before the board to demonstrate that not only are we fixing the damage, but we're looking at other initiatives that we can do in a timely manner.”

He added, “At the same time we're working on a long-term plan and grants that are going to take us a lot longer to bring about. What we're really looking at is creating a master list of things that need to be done.”

According to Brown, one item on the master list is adding to the rewrite of the comp plan replacement of the 25-year flood requirement for new projects with a 100-year building requirement.

“We're also looking at areas to retrofit, such as turning impervious pavement into pervious pavement,” he said. “We'll look at using those funds allocated for road projects and trying to leverage them through state and federal dollars.”

a new jail. The CBD blast has expedited the need to build a new facility to replace both the destroyedCBD and the main jail.

“At the last commission meeting we talked about going south of I-10, and so we're looking at that,” Brown said. “We're doing our due diligence on different pieces of property. We'll come back either at the end of January or first part of February with some recommendations to go from there.”

The county is still waiting to hear from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and its insurance carrier on how much each will contribute toward the replacement of the booking facility. Corrections director Michael Tidwell starts work at the end of the month.

“Tidwell starts Jan. 28,” Brown said.

“He will be in charge of not just the jail, but the whole corrections piece—pre-trial, educational programs, probation, alternative sentencing. He's got the background and experience, and he can help us quite a bit in that area.”

“We want to make sure that the public feels like we're acting in their best interest.” Jack Brown

Corrections

What else?

“Well, of course, corrections is a big issue with the site of the new jail,” he said.

“The site is going to drive what the jail design is going to be.”

Last April, the county’s Central Booking and Detention Center exploded. The county commission had already planned on building

County-ECUA Partnership

The last item Brown brought up was the ECUA. A year ago the county and the utility were battling over landfill tipping fees and consolidation. Today they are looking at the feasibility of building a multi-million dollar solid waste processing facility that will help the two entities meet the state recycling goal of 75 percent for trash collections.

Seven companies have submitted proposals to build the facility. “Those seven will be pretty easy to whittle down, but there are a lot of different ideas,” Brown said. “Steve Sorrell (ECUA executive director) and I have been working hard together and he's been good. We don't always agree, but we've agreed that we're going to keep working.”

Part of the decision will be whether the facility will be built at the Perdido Landfill, on ECUA property or another site. Brown said, “What I told Steve is that I've just got to make sure it works for both of us. If it works for you guys and it works for us, great. If it works for us and it doesn't work for us, that's a problem for me, too. At the same time if it works for you and it doesn't work for us, I think that's going to be a hard sell to my board.” inweekly.net

City of Pensacola

Eric Olsen

T

o gain perspective on the challenges facing the city of Pensacola in 2015, Inweekly sat down with Assistant City Administrator Eric Olsen and Chief of Operations Tamara Fountain in the seventh floor conference room at Pensacola City Hall.

Olsen said the city’s work plan for 2015 can be divided into six areas: •Lock in gains, •Improve infrastructure, •Optimize city services, •Emphasize customer services, •Prepare for what is on the horizon, and •Hold those receiving city funds for economic development accountable.

Lock In Gains

“We have several projects funded and committed, but we have not started them,” Olsen said. “We need to make sure we land all of them.”

The city agreed last year to construct an aircraft hangar complex at the Pensacola International Airport for VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering, formerly known as ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering. In mid2016, VT Mobile will begin providing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services for large aircraft. The city will work on the design, engineering and permitting over the first half of 2015.

Construction has begun at the Port of Pensacola on the warehouse for Offshore

Inland, who has partnered with forces with DeepFlex to establish an unbonded flexible pipe manufacturing and qualification testing facility. The facility is expected to be fully operational by the second half of the year.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is ready to begin work on the Gulf Coast Marine Fisheries Hatchery and Enhancement Center on Bruce Beach near city hall. “The planning committee should meet in mid-January,” Olsen said. “We should see dirt moving around on the property soon.”

The Government Street Regional Storm water Pond at Corrine Jones Park is set to begin construction in first quarter. Funded with a $2.1 million FDEP grant, the project will capture and treat storm water runoff from 40 acres in downtown Pensacola that currently discharges untreated runoff directly into Pensacola Bay. “We have also submitted five applications for FEMA mitigation grants,” Olsen said. “The biggest one is for flood prevention in the Gonzalez Court area near the intersection of Cross Street and 12th Avenue.”

Improve Infrastructure

The city has a joint project with Escambia County to deal with the flooding and storm water issues in the eastern basin, which includes Delano, Long Hollow and Aragon areas that flooded badly in late April 2014. A possible funding source is the National Disaster Resilience Competition, which is administrated by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Olsen said, “We will also be focusing, as we always have, on streets, sidewalks, landscaping and parks.

We will assess needs, recognize the gaps, set priorities and find funding.”

“We will also be focusing, as we always have, on streets, sidewalks, landscaping and parks. We will assess needs, recognize the gaps, set priorities and find funding.”

Eric Olsen

January 8, 2015

Optimize City Services

Mayor Ashton Hayward commissioned last summer the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development to conduct a telephone survey of city residents to measure their satisfaction with city services, as well as their perceptions of safety, economic health, city appearance and city communication.

“There are certain basic services that cities provide, such as garbage collection, fix pot holes and street lights and public safety,” Olsen said. “The survey helped us see the areas we need to focus on.”

He said, “In 2015 we will look at everything, be sure we have the right processes in place and adopt best practices.”

Emphasize Customer Service

“We will maximize the services we deliver and delivery them with a smile,” Olsen said.

He said the city’s 311 system has been very successful. The system provides citizens with a single point of contact to report non-emergency issues and access City services. The city will be expanding how it utilizes the 311 phone system with the help of Latasha Buchanan, the city’s constituent services administrator.

“Latasha comes from a 311 service background,” said COO Fountain. “She will help us make it grow.”

Greater Pensacola Chamber's Board voted to establish a separate economic development organization that would focus on that task.

“We want whenever the city is contributing funds that we agree on the deliverables,” Olsen said.

Closing the Loops

Inweekly asked about the hiring for city administrator and airport director.

Fountain said there is no active search for an administrator to replace Colleen Castille, who left in August 2014. A national search is being conducting for airport director. The last director, Greg Donovan, resigned last summer to become the executive director at Melbourne International Airport.

In 2011, the Pensacola City Council approved a $250,000 budget request from Mayor Hayward for a disparity study of the city’s purchasing and procurement. Two years ago, the council accepted the final report. The city will begin to implement the study this year.

Fountain said, “We will bringing forward in January to the council an ordinance recommended by the study, and we have advertised for the position that will implement the program.”

She said that she is working on two other ordinances for the city council’s consideration. In October 2014, Mayor Hayward proposed a lobbyist registry for the city. Anyone who is paid to speak at council meetings or who seeks a meeting with a city official to lobby on behalf of another individual, organization or interest group should be required to register as a lobbyist.

“We have sent the final draft to Dick Barker (city’s chief financial officer),” Fountain said. “Tallahassee and cities in south Florida have a similar rules. Ours is modeled after theirs. Essentially if you are being paid to lobby on an issue, the council and public show know it.”

The other ordinance that Fountain plans to have ready in February for the council is on the city’s historical treasures.

“Nancy Fettermen brought this to our attention,” she said. “For us to qualify for grants for historical area, we need to have a historical ordinance on the books. We are drafting it now.”

“Essentially if you are being paid to lobby on an issue, the council and public show know it.” Tamara Fountain

On The Horizon

The city of Pensacola and Escambia County will see some of the first RESTORE dollars become available. The passage of the extension of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) means more funds will be available for capital improvements beginning in 2017.

“We want to plan for those funds,” Olsen said. “We need to figure out where the needs are, what projects address those needs, prioritize the projects and figure out the funding.”

He explained that the city has an opportunity to look ahead, lay out plans for the next five to 10 years and devise a strategy for those plans. The city can also leverage those funds with grants.

“There are state, federal and institutional grants available,” Olsen said. “We need to prioritize the grants, decide which ones we pursue and match our requests with their funding cycles.”

Accountability

The city also wants to measure the efforts of those groups that receive city funds for economic development. Last year, the

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Emerald Coast Utilities Authority

Escambia County School District clothing to ensuring high-speed access to the latest technology and aerospace training programs.

Recruiting Teachers

Thomas readily admitted this is easier said than done. He said that fewer and fewer teachers are graduating from universities across the country, while more and more baby boomers are retiring.

“This is a big issue for us,” Thomas said.

“Teacher recruitment continues to be a top priority, but few are attracted to the teaching profession at the University of West Florida and all across the country.”

Malcolm Thomas

High School Graduation

E

scambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas wasted few words talking about the school system’s priorities for 2015. Thomas got straight to the point with the Inweekly without any prodding.

His top five priorities are: •Improve student achievement •Recruit more teachers •Improve high school graduation rates by at least 14 percent to 80 percent overall •Build new public schools with the school district’s half-cent sales tax, and •Support VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering economic development

Another biggie for the school system is continuing to improve high school graduation rates. In the last five years, the number of students earning a diploma grew 10 percent, rising from 56 percent to 66 percent.

It’s double the improvement seen across Florida, but Thomas said the graduation remains too low. He pointed out Florida’s graduation rate hit an 11-year high at 76.1 percent.

“We need to be north of 75 percent and approaching 80 percent,” Thomas said.

“We need to find ways for students to stay in school. In particular, we need to eliminate low expectations and raise the bar. Malcolm Thomas

Student Achievement

After 30 years as a teacher, administrator and school district superintendent, Thomas is extremely familiar with the hurdles students must clear.

Put simply, Thomas said, “We need to find ways for students to stay in school. In particular, we need to eliminate low expectations and raise the bar. School is becoming increasingly complex.”

So complex that merely teaching the three R’s has become passé. Improving students’ performance now involves everything from making sure they have food and 212 1

New Public Schools

Thomas wants to build two new elementary schools and one middle school near the headquarters of Navy Federal Credit Union in the central part of the county.

That’s why November’s approval of the half-cent sales tax was so important.

For the fourth time since 1997, Escambia County voters went to the polls in November and overwhelmingly approved the half-cent sales tax that has become the primary funding source for

capital projects. Only one county precinct rejected the renewal of the surtax that passed with 69.5 percent of the vote. The tax has resulted in about 370 capital outlay projects totaling $301 million between 1997 and 2018.

Thomas cannot emphasize enough how important voters’ approval of the sales tax was, considering state provided Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funding was reduced to nothing in 2010.

He pointed out 450 homes have been built or permitted around Navy Federal.

“This way families who move in will have a school front and not a store front,” Thomas said about the 2,000 employees the credit union announced it would hire earlier this year.

Aerospace Program

VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering is one of many Pensacola Chamber of Commerce initiatives with full backing from the Escambia County School District.

VT MAE is expected to create at least 300 jobs when operations at the 18.68acre site begin in mid-2016 at facilities at the Pensacola Regional Airport capable of housing two wide-body aircraft at once.

To make sure the region can supply the employees VT MAE needs, George Stone Technical Center plans to begin providing Federal Aviation Administration certifications in aircraft maintenance beginning in August 2015.

“We support the Pensacola chamber and its economic development initiatives,” Thomas said. “This is big news for us, and we will continue to support the aerospace manufacturing sector as they bring some resurgence back to the area.”

Steve Sorrell

E

merald Coast Utilities Authority Executive Director Steve Sorrell and Public Information Officer Nathalie Bowers detailed the water, sewer and sanitation agency’s 2015 plans for Inweekly.

They include: •Make $7 million in improvements over 15 years to inflow and infiltration •Create a mixed materials recycling facility •Start a composting program •Continue to convert fleet to natural gas •Relocate utilities and make infrastructure improvements •Build reclaimed water program at Pensacola Beach, and •Sign up 25,000-plus new sanitation customers in Escambia’s north end

Inflow and Infiltration

One of ECUA’s biggest endeavors in the coming year will be its commitment to $7 million worth of improvements to the agency’s inflow and infiltration efforts during the next 15 years.

The problem is huge nationwide with groundwater and rainwater seeping into pipes and stormwater drains. For example, April’s flooding created nearly eight inweekly.net

Composting Program

The ECUA also plans to begin a composting program, which essentially turns yard waste into nutrients that helps vegetation grow. Some of that yard waste includes bio solids taken from wastewater.

Natural Gas Fleet

months of repairs at the ECUA’s lift station near Bayou Texar.

“This is a commitment that is very high on our list,” Bowers said.

Recycling Facility

Another top project is the agency’s creation of a new, mixed materials recycling facility (the board opened bids at 2 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18).

“This is a huge and very exciting project,” Bowers said. “It will allow us to recycle as much as 95 percent, which is awesome.”

January 8, 2015

Already ECUA has about 100 natural gas vehicles—the largest fleet in Florida. The agency, which began adding natural gas vehicles in 2012, plans to add 34 vehicles worth $2.1 million in 2015, including a utility service truck and sewer vacuum truck.

The agency, which partners with Pensacola Energy, received the NGV America Achievement Award for saving more than $1.3 million in fueling and operation costs. Pensacola Energy built the first refilling station at ECUA’s Pine Forest Road site in August 2012.

“It just saves us so much,” Bowers said.

“It’s just a positive environmental move. It just makes sense.”

Utility Relocation and Infrastructure Improvements

The words “utility” and “infrastructure” may not grab you, admitted Bowers. However, the two programs that total $1 million are a big part of ECUA’s ongoing business.

“It’s not glamorous,” Bowers said.

“But it is a part of our capital improvement investments.”

Utility relocation includes adding bigger lines, replacing lines or moving utilities, depending on the road project. Meanwhile, infrastructure improvements include repairs and replacements of lift stations or other operations.

funding to ECUA to build up to a 1 million gallon reclaimed water storage tank at Pensacola Beach.

The ground storage tank, pump station, and associated piping, valves and other system components will reduce reliance on potable groundwater for landscape irrigation and reduce wastewater discharges into the Santa Rosa Sound.

It is expected that beneficial reuse will increase from approximately 60,000 to more than 285,000 gallons per day.

One of ECUA’s biggest endeavors in the coming year will be its commitment to $7 million worth of improvements to the agency’s inflow and infiltration efforts during the next 15 years.

Pensacola Beach Reclaimed Water Project

The Northwest Florida Water Management District has provided $425,000 in

Addition of North Escambia Sanitation Customers

Finally, one more top priority in 2015 is the addition of 25,000 to 30,000 sanitation customers in the north end of Escambia County. Customers in the area have until Jan. 2 to sign up for service. {in}

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doug bradley

RIKKI SIMONS

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jeremy bulloch

dana snyder

katrina law

Trace Beaulieu & Frank conniff

naomi grossman

daniel portman

jeremy and jason london

david warner

lita ford

tiny lister

lisa loring

tony todd

carel struycken

inweekly.net

WEEK OF JANUARY 8-15

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

RadioLive Returns

by Jennifer Leigh

Jim McCormick / press photo

Not all radio shows are exciting live onstage. But WUWF’s long-running music program, RadioLive is not like all radio shows.

Bringing singer-songwriters from all over to Pensacola’s Historic Village, RadioLive is bringing in the New Year with some new tunes.

The first show of the year will feature four New Orleans-based performing songwriters. Separately, each of the musicians have longstanding careers working with some of the most well-known performers in the country.

Together they call themselves the Write Brothers with their 2014 album “First Flight.”

“The Write Brothers are a great bunch of guys,” said Jim McCormick, one of the musicians that make up the Write Brothers. “They're pals whose work I love, and I wanted to hang out with them more, so we put this thing together.”

McCormick’s own musical resume includes recordings by country performers such as Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Trisha Yearwood. On top of performing and writing, he is an adjunct professor in music business for both Belmont University in Nashville and Loyola University in New Orleans. But when you ask him what profession he steers toward most, it is writing.

January 8, 2015

Spencer Bohren photo by Brenda Ladd

“I consider myself both [a performer and songwriter] of course, but the lion’s share of my focus is on writing for others these days,” he said.

Like others, McCormick began writing songs at an early age. Poetry was his form of writing before he started putting music to his words.

“I guess the first songs I wrote were really just me making things up as a child, not writing them down, but imagining them as my own creations,” he said. “I got into it in high school when I joined a band as the singer and we started wanting to play our own originals, alongside all the Cream and Steve Miller we were doing.

They'd be about almost anything—crushes on girls, a creek in Mississippi where we used to go camp and lots of nonsense stuff.

“But honestly, I just love a great song, and more often than not the greatest songs are the simplest.”

Another Write Brother, Spencer Bohren, has 50 years of songwriting under his belt.

He wrote his first song at the age of 15.

“I was raised in one of those gospel families,” he said. “It was like living in a musical, except the only subject was God.” As Bohren grew up, he looked for different music and came across some folk

“We gathered when we could around my kitchen table and would write a new song in an hour,” Bohren said. “It was like making a pot of stew or a special musical gumbo.

When we had enough, we went to the studio and made a record.”

Each of the four songwriters brought their unique perspective to “First Flight,” which yielded some interesting results.

“There’s a wide variety of subject matter—there’s enough to include just about everybody’s likes and influences,” Bohren said.

“It's really pretty amazing what happens when you try something you've never done before—all kinds of little joys and brilliant moments start cropping up in your writing and in your life,” McCormick said.

At this month’s RadioLive, you can see some of those songs come to life as the Write Brothers perform while each brother sprinkles in each of original songs through the set list.

But there is no telling exactly what you will get to listen to.

“I never really think about it,” Bohren said. “I walk on stage without a set list. I have thousands of songs in my head. I usually just take it easy and this kind of magic happens.”

Although songwriters usually exist behind the scenes of hit records, they do enjoy the limelight every once in a while, which is why Bohren and McCormick regularly tour.

“I love the fact that there’s this conduit that opens up between the audience and me,” he said. “I open my heart and they do the same thing. I love the audience—they give me what it takes, they make it happen.” {in}

“I love the fact that there’s this conduit that opens up between the audience and me. I open my heart and they do the same thing.”

Spencer Bohren

music on the radio. He began listening to artists such as Buell Kazee, Muddy Waters and Blind Willie McTell.

“There was an endless list of musicians,” Bohren said of discovering the folk scene. “When you start studying, you find they all meet somewhere.”

Although it wasn’t a stretch from his upbringing, Bohren started his musical career and doesn’t see an end in sight.

“I don’t think it is something you choose,” he said. “The trouble WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 starts when you try something else.

WHERE: Museum of Commerce, 205 E. ZarThere’s never been any question— ragossa St. I’m still fascinated with it.”

COST: Free with canned food donation to That fascination is what led Manna Food Pantries of NW Florida Bohren, McCormick and two other DETAILS: wuwf.org songwriters—Paul Sanchez and Alex McMurray—together.

RADIOLIVE

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music

by Hana Frenette

Mirah The “Snowbird” ally working on something. I’m not the kind of artist to put out solo album after solo album. I need to gather experiences, and I like to gather them by just living my life and doing these little projects.

corded myself for a play I was in and practicing for—“Bye, Bye Birdie.” I don’t really ever recall a disconnect between singing and then hearing the recording. I do sometimes hear my mom or my sister on a voicemail and think that it’s me, which is kind of a funny sound experience.

“I’m not young and just kind of tripping forward. I like knowing what I am and wanting to do it well.”

Mirah

Mirah / press photo Mirah has been writing and recording music since the rise and fall of the cassette tape in the late 90’s. She’s released over a dozen solo albums, worked closely with Phil Elverum of The Microphones and Mount Eerie, and recorded music on K records.

She is currently residing in Brooklyn, and is embarking on what she calls a “snowbird” tour for the month of January that consists mainly of shows in Florida, with the exception of two nights—one on the drive down, and one on the way back up- that are in Virginia and North Carolina.

Mirah caught up with Inweekly for a chat just as her and her partner, film-maker Todd Chandler, were driving between Baltimore and D.C. in the snow, toward the first show of the tour. She discussed the evolution of her recording process, the innocence of songwriting when you’re young, and starting her own record label.

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IN: You are going on a tour that consists of mainly just Florida dates. Why? Mirah: There are obvious reasons why I might like to leave the Northeast in January and head to Florida for a month, but really, all these years of touring, maybe 18 years or so, and I feel like I’ve only played Florida a few times and it was always Tallahassee. I felt like I was missing some people.

IN: You put out a new album in the middle of 2014 called “Changing Light.”

Do you feel like you are always evolving in between albums, as far as your recording processes go, or do you think you stay fairly consistent?

Mirah:There has definitely been a long flow of evolution over the course of time. I try to hold an ear to my own recording history.

I also tend to do projects in between solo albums, so it might look like it has been quite a few years in between, but I am usu-

IN: You started making music at a time when someone might have still popped a cassette tape in the car. What do you think about the changes that the music industry has gone through and the relationship it has formed with the internet in recent years?

Mirah: It’s been a bit of a roller coaster.

Initially I just used a boom box to record, and then I eventually got a 4-track.In terms of the advent of digital media, I feel like I entered into the record making business at a really interesting time. It wasn’t like I had been in the business for so long before digital media became more popular, but it was sort of like approaching the edge of a cliff. I was on a small label, and because we seemed to be self-sustaining, I wasn’t sure if the digital media thing was going to affect us the way it might a larger label. I didn’t really think it was going to trickle down to our little economy we had, but it actually did. I remember when I first started making music, licensing your music was kind of frowned upon a little, and now it’s one of the ways that bands are even able to be a band at all. I’m not talking about “making it” but just sustaining themselves.

That’s definitely a shift. I’ve always released my albums on vinyl as well, and with the past one I’ve actually had to have more shipped to me when I’m on the road because I seem to always underestimate how much vinyl will actually sell.

IN: What did you think the first time you heard a recording of yourself? Did it sound true to your ears or was it more like when you hear yourself on a voicemail message?

Mirah: I think the first recording might have been on a cassette when I was little, of my sister and I, of how loud I could scream! Then after that, I re-

IN: You’ve been making records for almost 20 years. Do you find yourself wanting to take more or less of a risk with your music at this point? Are you questioning yourself more now than you did early on?

Mirah: When I first started I wasn’t considering anything a risk. I had such freedom and innocence. I didn’t have a judgmental eye on myself or my work. I stumbled upon this thing that I thought I was kind of good at and really enjoyed doing. I did eventually become more self-conscious—or maybe just more concerned—like “Oh, I’m actually doing something.” It took me 10 years to finally say this is what I do—this is my life’s passion. When I was younger, I didn’t have to ever explain myself.

It allowed me a lot of freedom—creative freedom and freedom of my time. Now it’s like, am I songwriter or not? I think it’s been positive to have that shift. I’m not young and just kind of tripping forward. I like knowing what I am and wanting to do it well.

IN: Tell me about your label—Absolute Magnitude Records.

Mirah: I had moved a number of times since leaving Olympia, Washington in 2001. I had a desire to move to another label. I had just recorded a record with Thao Nguyen called “Thao + Mirah” and I came to New York. I was kind of shopping my record around to some places, and I was like, wait. I just made this. It’s totally my thing that I’ve spent so much time on, why don’t I just do it myself? I just realized that it actually was an option to release it myself— which allowed me to retain my autonomy, which I really like. So I decided to name the label after a celestial body of stars. {in}

MIRAH

WHAT: Mirah with Todd Chandler (short films and live music) and Holopaw, Dull Actors, Precubed and Jaclyn Kerry WHEN: 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10 WHERE: Sluggo’s, 101 S. Jefferson St. COST: $5 DETAILS: mirhamusic.com inweekly.net

calendar

Beethoven and Blue Jeans featuring Joseph Alessi

Lost Dog Street Band / press photo

THURSDAY 1.8

TRAIL WORK ON THE FLORIDA TRAIL 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Western Gate Chapter of the Florida Trail Association regularly schedules trail work on the Florida National Scenic Trail and Florida Trail in Escambia and Santa Rosa County, each Thursday. Meet at the Harold Store 10535 U.S. Hwy 90, in Harold, 10 miles east of Milton. Visit the meetup site at meetup.com/ftawesterngate for details and to sign up. For more information call 474-5359.

“KNIFE SKILLS” HANDS ON DEMONSTRATION CLASS 2-3 p.m. Learn how to select knives for

various purposes and how to correctly use different types. Hands on chopping involved.

SoGourmet above Bodacious Olive, 407 S. Palafox. $10. sogourmetpensacola.com WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Try something new every week at Aragon Wine Market’s regular wine tasting, only a few blocks from downtown. 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com LOST DOG STREET BAND 9 p.m. Lost Dog Street Band of Chapel Hill perform with Company of Ghosts. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. $5. sluggospensacola.com

January 8, 2015

FRIDAY 1.9

WINE WITH HILARY: “THE GRAPES” 3-4 p.m.

“The Grapes” is the first class in Hilary’s wine education series. Participants learn how the type and color of grapes affect the wine’s characteristics. Four white and red varietals will be tasted. SoGourmet above Bodacious Olive, 407 S. Palafox. $15. sogourmetpensacola.com PENSACOLA 12TH NIGHT MARDI GRAS KICKOFF 5 p.m. The streets of downtown

will host Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick Off Celebration. Free to everyone. The public is invited to celebrate the 2015 Mardi Gras Season along with the Krewes; their King and Queens for the upcoming season, King Cake, and the town crier. pensacolamardigras.com WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5-7 p.m.

Out and about in East Hill on Friday night?

Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the night. 2050 N. 12th Ave. BIG DEAL BURLESQUE 8 p.m. The Best of the Big Easy. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $10-40. vinylmusichall.com

SATURDAY 1.10

PENSACOLA BEACH RUN: 5K/10K AND HALF MARATHON 7:30 a.m. Run through

the beautiful, undeveloped sand dunes of Gulf Islands National Seashore .The Half Marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. and is a run only event. The 5K/10K starts at 8 a.m., has a walkers division, and as always is a “pick your distance” event. This means you don’t have to pick which race to run until out on the course. Start and finish at Casino Beach Parking Lot. For more information and to register visit pensacolarunners.com, or register on imathlete.com.

PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered at the weekly Palafox Market in Downtown Pensacola. Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com UKULELE CLASS 9:30 a.m. The Pensacola Ukulele Players Society (PUPS) meets every Saturday morning at Blues Angel Music, offering free ukulele lessons for both

beginners and seasoned musicians. Loaner ukuleles are available for the sessions, which usually last an hour. Blues Angel Music, 657 N. Pace Blvd. bluesangelmusic.com PETCO ADOPTION EVENT 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Pensacola Humane Society will be onsite at Petco with adoptable dogs and cats, along with free goodies, and information on getting involved. Stop by and meet your new forever friend. Petco, 1670 Airport Blvd. pensacolahumane.org ACTING UP: PLT OPEN HOUSE 2 - 4 pm. All ages four and up are welcome to attend this fun, educational afternoon to learn all about PLT’s acting classes, workshops, summer camps, and audition opportunities. Have a chance to meet the instructors and learn about fun activities like improv games, costume and make-up design, stage direction and more. Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson. pensacolalittletheatre.com HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND 8 p.m. Honey Island Swamp Band with Edward David Anderson. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $10. vinylmusichall.com PSO PRESENTS “BEETHOVEN AND BLUE JEANS” 8 p.m. Pensacola Symphony

17

calendar

Ears & Fingers

by Jason Leger

not know yet is how perfect “No Cities to Love” is. The New York Times are calling it 2015’s first great album. Every music blogger across Well, the sad news is that if you haven’t the country is leaping at the chance heard Pop Zeus, the power pop brain child to hear it. Not that I think my opinof Mikey Hodges, there will be no new ion should weigh with or against any music to report on the horizon. Hodges of those sources, but I will throw in was the victim of a motorcycle accident at that this is an album that will firmly the end of December and passed away in plant and solidify Sleater-Kinney’s the hospital. The good news is he lives on legacy. Not that the legacy wasn’t already firm, but knowing that a band can take eight years off and spring right back with an LP this cogent and solid is impressive.

Musically, the upbeat, chaotic pop-rock is on point with thundering drums and blazing riffs perfectly opposing Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein’s reaching vocals. Ten songs that account for about 33 minutes altogether make up “No Cities to Love,” and I would be lying if I said that I could easily pinpoint a ‘weak link’ track. The absolute highlight for me is actually the lead single that we got to hear a few months ago, ‘Bury Our Friends.’ It’s raging enough for a rock show, completely danceable and has a chorus that will stick with you. Hopefully, this album is an indication that these ladies will stick to doing one of the things they do best, and that’s writing SleaterKinney albums. “No Cities to Love” is out Jan. 20 via Sub Pop Records.

Pop Zeus

IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD:

Pop Zeus

Sleater-Kinney “No Cities to Love”

There are few stories as illustrious in the indie rock world as that of darlings Sleater-Kinney. They made a name forging their own brand of alt-rock, while emerging from the “riot grrrl” scene of the early ’90s. Critics have called them one of the most important and influential bands to come from the ’90s, which is saying a considerable amount when understanding the peers they were surrounded by at the time. The trio was undoubtedly at the top of their game. Then in 2006, they went on an indefinite hiatus.

However, Sleater-Kinney reunited and recorded a new album—“No Cities to Love.” But that’s old news. Last year’s news, if you will. What you might

Orchestra presents Beethoven and Blue Jeans. $19-85. Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox, pensacolasaenger.com MIRAH 9 p.m. Mirah, Holopaw, Jaclyn Kerry, Dull Actors, Precubed, and short

films with live music by Todd Chandler (ex Dark Dark Dark). Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. $5. sluggospensacola.com

SUNDAY 1.11

SUNDAY WAKE-UP HIKE 7 a.m. Get the

day started with a brisk walk, followed by breakfast. The walk will range from 1 to 3

through the tasteful pop he left behind.

Very ’80s and very smooth, Hodges blended styles to put his own spin on the music he made and left an impression on many of the artists lucky enough to share air time or a stage with him. Check out his legacy at popzeus.bandcamp.com, which also includes his first posthumous release, the mega jam and ironically titled ‘I’ve Never Been More Alive.’ You can also purchase his “Tell Me So” EP, which was released back in April. All funds from purchased music will help offset his funeral expenses.

TRACK OF THE WEEK:

Broken Social Scene ‘Golden Facelift’

Canada’s indie rock superpower Broken Social Scene have released ‘Golden Facelift,’ a track that never saw the light of day following their “Forgiveness Rock Record” sessions. The track was offered as part of a compilation collaborating between BSS’s record label, Arts & Crafts, The Globe & Mail and the Canadian Opera Company. The compiled album is inspired by 2014’s biggest news stories and also includes tracks from Jason Collett & Zeus and Reuben and the Dark, as well as a 17-minute opera from the apparently increasingly versatile Fucked Up. The 6-song album is available for a free download over at The Globe & Mail’s website, and if any other Broken Social Scene news floats to the surface, I’ll be sure to let you know. {in}

miles and take place at different locations each Sunday morning. Meet at Milton, Russell Landing Park, Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Plaza. Willing Street, Milton. For more details call Peggy at

FOREVER DIETING? TIME TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD. A LUMINOUS LIFE HYPNOTHERAPY

SUSAN DUNLOP, MA, CHT

INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED HYPNOTHERAPIST

850-346-7865 EAST HILL

www.luminouslifehypnotherapy.com 818 1

inweekly.net

calendar

Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes / photo by Chad Kamenshine 982-9490. Sign up at the meetup site at meetup.com/ftawesterngate.

BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS BRIDAL EXPO 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Coastal Weddings Magazine and the Knot present the 12th Annual Beautiful Beginnings Bridal Expo. Over 100 vendors will be on display with everything you need for the perfect wedding. A runway show will be held at 3 p.m. Advanced tickets for $10 are available at Apple Market, The Bridal Loft, The Bridal Suite, Oh Snap Cupcakes and Pure Pilates. Day of tickets $12, Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory. coastalweddingsinc.com

MONDAY 1.12

JAZZ SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA’S BLUE MONDAY 6:30 p.m. Blue Monday is "Blues" night,

featuring a top area blues/jazz band. This event has been drawing a large, enthusiastic crowd of jazz and blues lovers. V Paul’s Ristorante offers a special menu of fine Italian style cuisine. Admission: $10 each for JSOP members and guests; $15 for nonmembers; $5 for students with ID. V Paul’s Ristorante, 29 Palafox. jazzpensacola.com SISTER ACT 7:30 p.m. Sister Act is Broadway’s feel-amazing musical comedy smash. $58 and up. Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox. pensacolasaenger.com

TUESDAY 1.13

STRUT YOUR MUTT 6:45 p.m. Join fellow dog owners for a 45-minute leisurely stroll in East Hill. Dogs must be leashed and well behaved. Owners should be prepared to pick up after the pets. Meet at the entrance of Bayview Park, 20th Ave. and E. Mallory St. TUESDAY NIGHT POETRY NIGHT AT SLUGGO’S 7 p.m. Free open mic poetry

event every Tuesday. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. facebook. com/TNPNS January 8, 2015

DANCECRAFT SWING CLASS 7:30-9 p.m.

This class teaches the skills necessary to become a practitioner of West Coast Swing, a popular partner dance that can be enjoyed with virtually any kind of music.

Additional classes and a social dance are held each Wednesday for a chance to put your skills to use. Tuesday class fee is $10 per person or free for people 30 years of age and younger. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com RUBY BLUFF 9 p.m. Ruby Bluff, Kid Eternity and 10th Inning. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. $5.sluggospensacola.com

WEDNESDAY 1.14

WINTER COMFORT FOODS WITH OIL AND VINEGARS 12-1:30 p.m. Learn how to incor-

porate Bodacious Oil oil and vinegars into your meals. Menu includes: Bartlett Pear Salad, Maple Balsamic Pork Loin, White Truffle Mac & Cheese, Apple Compote, and a complementary glass of wine chosen by wine director. SoGourmet above Bodacious Olive, 407 S. Palafox. $35. sogourmetpensacola.com WEST COAST WEDNESDAYS 6:30 p.m. Learn the West Coast Swing at this weekly class, which is followed by a social dance at 8:30 p.m. DanceCraft instructors are among the foremost experts in West Coast Swing in the Pensacola area. Wednesday classes are $10 per person and the social dance is $5 per. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. dancecraftfl.com OF MONTREAL 7:30 p.m. Of Montreal with Nedelle Torrisi. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $17-20. vinylmusichall.com FREDDIE BUNZ 9 p.m. Freddie Bunz, John Stamps, Ace One, Blu Bambu, Dee Villain, Delicate Chaos. The Handlebar, 319 Tarragona St. $8. pensacolahandlebar.com 19

calendar The Cabaret, 9 p.m.

101 S. Jefferson St. 607-2020 or cabaretpensacola.com Tuesdays

The Sandshaker Lounge, 8 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker. com Play, 9 p.m. 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. iplaypensacola.com

≥live music

THURSDAY 1.8

Post Pluto / photo by Michelle Carroll Stancil

bars & nightlife

≥bar games Thursdays

POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com

POOL TOURNAMENT

8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. 9 Mile Rd., ticketsportsbar.com Fridays

DRAG BINGO 6-8 p.m. Ages 21 and over. Emerald City’s The Other Side, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola. com POOL TOURNAMENT

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com Mondays

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM FOR FUN AND TRIVIA 7

p.m. The Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9

p.m. World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. wobusa.com/locations/ Palafox BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA 9:30-10:30

p.m. Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/ MugsJugs Tuesdays

TUESDAY TRIVIA 8

p.m. The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, 33 Gulf Breeze Parkway. facebook.com/ thebridgebargb

TICKET TEAM TRIVIA

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. 9 Mile Rd., ticketsportsbar.com DRAG BINGO 10

p.m.-Midnight. Ages 18 and over. Emerald City’s The Other Side, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com

Wednesdays

PUB TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9:30 p.m. Goat Lips Beer Garden, 2811 Copter Road. facebook.com/ goatlipsdeli

WEDNESDAY QUIZ TRIVIA 8 p.m. The

Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpensacola.com

TICKET BAR BINGO

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com TEAM TRIVIA 8 p.m. Hopjacks. 10 S. Palafox. hopjacks. com BAR BINGO 10 p.m.

Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. iplaypensacola.com

≥karaoke Thursdays

VFW Post 706, 6 p.m. 5000 Lillian Highway. vfw706.org Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 8 p.m.

130 E. Government St. sevillequarter. com The Cabaret, 9 p.m.

101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpensacola. com Hub Stacey’s At the Point, 9 p.m. 5851 Galvez Road. hubstaceys.com Saturdays

Sundays

Mondays

p.m. Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

4 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m.

Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com

THE BLENDERS 8:30

DJ ORLANDO RICARDO 9 p.m. Emerald

City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com WHISKEY DOWN

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

SATURDAY 1.10

6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse.goodgrits.com POST PLUTO 9 p.m.

Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys. com

Grass Kick off Party at Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Dr. paradisebar-grill. com AL MARTIN 6 p.m.

The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook. com/QualityInnScenicHwy

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

DJ LAO COLLEGE NIGHT 9 p.m.

Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 8 p.m.

130 E. Government St. sevillequarter. com The Sandshaker Lounge, 9 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

Grill, 21 Via De Luna Dr. paradisebar-grill. com

AL MARTIN 6 p.m.

The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook. com/QualityInnScenicHwy

FRIDAY 1.9

Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 9 p.m. 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

5 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse.goodgrits.com AL MARTIN 6 p.m.

The Piano Bar, Quality Inn, 7601 Scenic Highway. facebook. com/QualityInnScenicHwy DUELING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O’ Grady’s at Seville

30 x 90 WITH AL CARNIVAL TIME JOHNSON 3 p.m. Mardi

DUELING PIANO SHOW 8 p.m. Rosie

O’ Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m.

Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com WHISKEY DOWN

9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker.com

SUNDAY 1.11

30 x 90 WITH AL CARNIVAL TIME JOHNSON 3 p.m.

Paradise Bar and

Social Security

SOUTHERN BREEZE

MONDAY 1.12

BLUES SOCIETY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA’S MONDAY NIGHT BLUES 8 p.m.

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

OPEN MIC AT BIG EASY TAVERN 9 p.m.

Bands, individual musicians, comedians, poets, and other artists are invited to participate in weekly open mic sessions known as "Monday Night Jams." Admission is free. 710 N. Palafox. bigeasytavern.com

TUESDAY 1.13

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse.goodgrits.com POPA CHUBBY 6 p.m. Paradise Bar and Grill, 21 Via De Luna Dr. paradisebar-grill. com TUESDAY JAZZ JAM: THE GINO ROSARIA QUARTET 6:30 p.m.

Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com

(800) 438-3606 020 2

Pensacola | Fort Walton Beach | Crestview

ForTheVictims.com

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

5 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhouse.goodgrits.com JORDAN RICHARDS

6 p.m. Hub Stacey's Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

FOLK MUSIC NIGHT 7

p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. eotlcafe.com DJ JAY-R 9 p.m.

Emerald City, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola.com

arts & culture

≥exhibits

MAINLINE ART HOUSE PRESENTS: “LARRY MARCHANT: FROM MISSISSIPPI TO VOGUE” Larry has

been shooting advertising and editorial photography for over twenty years. His Fine Art background combined with his years in Photojournalism and Advertising weave a unique depth into his work.

Exhibit on display through Jan. 9. “Tim Hubbard: A Walk Through the Wild” is also currently on display through Jan. 16. Museum hours and location: Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m.

- 6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mainline Art House, 442 S. Palafox. mainlinearthouse.com

Medical Doctor on Staff

“Don’t Be A Victim Twice!”

BENEFITS DENIED? Accident & Injury Lawyers

WEDNESDAY 1.14

TM

Michles & Booth Workers’ Comp Team

BENEFIT S inweekly.net

calendar

Preschool Art and Storytime at Pensacola Museum of Art PMA PRESENTS: “THE ALICE IN WONDERLAND SERIES”

The Pensacola Museum of Art presents a whimsical journey into Wonderland through the oil on canvas paintings of Stefani Joseph.

Joseph is a British figurative painter and professor at the Savannah College of Art & Design. On display through Jan. 31. Museum hours, admission fees and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $8 for members, children 17 and under, seniors and active duty military. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org T.T. WENTWORTH PRESENTS: “BEACHES, CREATURES AND COWBOYS: FLORIDA MOVIE POSTERS”

The exhibit explores Florida as the backdrop of major motion pictures. On display through Feb. Museum hours and location: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. historicpensacola.org QUAYSIDE ART GALLERY PRESENTS: “NEW Qs ON THE BLOCK” New Qs on

the Block showcases the talents of eight artist spanning the mediums of photography, acrylic, pencil, watercolor, mixed media, stained glass and fiber. Feature Artists: Gail BaJanuary 8, 2015

chorik, Billie Bailey, Edward Cooper, Paul Crawford, Sandy Ford, Anna Kern, Jane Morton, Nancy Schrock.

On display through Feb 9. Museum hours and location: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

Quayside Art Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. quaysidegallery.com BLUE MORNING GALLERY PRESENTS: “THE NEW BLUES EXHIBITION” This spotlight

show features the works of the gallery’s newest members.

Featured artists include: Suzette Brooks, glass; Tim Brooks, photography; Frank Brueske, photography; Maria Hoch, ceramic; Bernd Owsnicki, photography; Rafi Perez, oil.

On display through Jan. 31. Museum hours and location: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30-4 p.m. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. bluemorninggallery. com

≥classes & workshops “COLOR YOUR ART” WITH MELINDA GIRON 5:30-8:30

p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8. For those with some painting experience Melinda Giron facilitates this refresher class to introduce new ideas/ techniques, open to watercolor, oils and acrylics. Students are invited to bring their own clear

image for reference or a piece currently in progress. $100 per student for 4 class sessions. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. For more information call 686-5151. To register for class, visit: bluemorninggallery. com/classes.

PRESCHOOL ART AND STORYTIME 10

- 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 9. Start 2015 with a fun activity for your little one. During this class, participants will learn all about Henri Matisse, the master of collage, and follow along his artistic journey from his life in Paris to his life by the sea.

After the story, participants will head to the classroom and learn the correct way to use scissors to make a special Matisse collage.

Class open to ages 3-5. $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org “MAKE-YOUR-OWNGLASS” CLASS 10

a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 and Saturday, Jan 10. Held weekly on Friday and Saturdays, First City Art Center offers weekly “Make-Your-OwnGlass” classes, no previous glassblowing skills necessary.

The classes are open to anyone age 8 and older and range in price from $25-$45.

Pre-registration and pre-payment is required and can be made by calling 429-1222. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 12.

During this weekly

workshop held on Monday evenings at First City Art Center, instructor Pearl VanHoove works individually with students to develop consistency in throwing on the wheel. Participants receive and introduction to materials, equipment and throwing techniques.

Each session begins with a brief demonstrations followed by hands-on time at the wheel. The class is $40 and open to individuals age 14 and up. Pre-registration and pre-payment is required and can be made by calling 4291222. Class is limited to two participants.

First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

E r i c D. Ste v e n s on Personal Injur y | Criminal Justice 919 N. 12th Avenue Pensacola, Florida 32501

O: (850) 434-3111 F: (850) 434-1188

mypensacolaattorney.com • email: eric@mypensacolaattorney.com

≥call to artists

ARTEL CALLING: “VIEW FROM ABOVE” Artel invites

artists to submit their works to the upcoming juried show, “View From Above.” Your possessions, ideas and life—how would they appear when looking down? Use this rarely seen vantage point to create intriguing and curious works. The scale can range from the vast, such as high altitude lands or cityscapes, to the macro and microscopic. Use your imagination and Artel-perspective to explore this point of view. Open to all media. Entry fee: $25 for members; $35 for non-members.

Drop off takes place Jan. 10 and 11. Exhibit opens Jan. 13.

Museum hours and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox, Old County Courthouse. artelgallery.org

for more listings visit inweekly.net

unique & affordable

Join us for Wine Tastings Thursdays 5-7 p.m. a neighborhood bar & restaurant

facebook.com/themagnoliaeph

27 S. 9th Ave.

433-WINE or 433-9463

www.aragonwinemarket.com 21

PYPERS MEET AND GREET THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS PYP, Seville Rotary, and the Greater Pensacola Chamber are co-hosting an event at The Deck at Fish House on January 27. This meet-and-greet with the elected officials of Escambia County and the City of Pensacola will allow members of each organization to personally meet the mayor, councilpersons, commissioners, legislators, and other public servants in a friendly, business-casual setting. The event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be provided. PYP is committed to giving its members chances like these to interact with local leaders and community stakeholders. PYP members are eager to be catalysts for positive change in our community, and sharing our voices with our elected leaders is a crucial step in making Pensacola a better place to live, work, and play for young professionals.

VOICE ARTISTS NEEDED FOR L3 CHILDREN’S PROGRAM L3 (Look, Listen, Learn) is a local childhood education program that is partnering with PYP as part of our cur-

222 2

rent “Education Initiative.” L3 is seeking community members who have done some voice-over work in the past, or maybe just have a dramatic gene or two. They need pleasantsounding and animated “storytellers” who can narrate children’s tales that will be recorded and then played at various community centers in town. If you are interested, just contact Dick Rizzo at dickrizzo@ nowakent.com.

Be sure to mention that you heard about the opportunity

PYP MEMBER OF THE MONTH: KRISTY MCDANIEL Kristy, a learning content specialist at AppRiver, has been handling PYP’s weekly e-blasts and monthly Highlights newsletters for several months now.

She is diligent, proactive, and shows excellent attention to detail. She is an incredible asset to the Marketing Team!

Kristy also volunteered with PYP for the recent School Choice Expo, and is very active with the Quality of Life Team. We thank Kristy for her hard work on behalf of PYP!

Trip, a lawyer with Shell Fleming Davis & Menge, has served for nearly two years on the board of directors as PYP’s legal counsel. He has proven diligent and reliable, always willing to make time to advise PYP’s leaders on any issues that come up. His sharp mind and refreshing candor are great assets to the PYP board. Our organization is truly indebted to him for the time and thought that he gives on behalf of PYP.

January 19 PYP’s No Obligation Happy Hour Book Club The East Hill Yard 6:00-7:00 pm January 20 PPDI Team Meeting The East Hill Yard 5:30-6:30 pm January 22 Networking Night The Tin Cow 5:30-7:30 pm January 26 John Maxwell Live! Leading into 2015!

Pensacola Bay Center 10:00 am-4:30 pm January 27 Meet and Greet with Elected Officials Fish House 5:30-7:30 pm

through PYP.

PYP LEADER OF THE MONTH: TRIP MAYGARDEN

Headstart-Gibson Headquarters 10:00 am-3:00 pm

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

January 28 Quality of Life Team Meeting Fish House 5:30-6:30 pm

January 8 Membership and Networking Teams Meetings Newk’s Eatery 5:30-6:30 pm January 10 PYP Presents a Night at the Symphony: Beethoven and Blue Jeans Saenger Theatre 8:00-10:00 pm January 12 Board of Directors Meeting IMS Expert Services 5:30-7:00 pm

WWW.PENSACOLAYP.COM

January 13 Economic Development and Government Affairs Teams Meeting Crowne Plaza Hotel (in the Library) 5:30-7:00 pm January 17 PYP Volunteering: Little Free Library and Beautification Head Start

inweekly.net

news of the weird

QUESTIONABLE JUDGMENTS Pastor Walter Houston of the Fourth Missionary Church in Houston repeatedly refused in November to conduct a funeral for longtime member Olivia Blair, who died recently at age 93—because she had come upon hard times in the last 10 years and had not paid her tithe.

Ms. Blair's family had supported the church for 50 years, but Pastor Houston was defiant, explaining, "Membership has its privileges."

(The family finally found another church for the funeral.)

• A U.S. Appeals Court once again in September instructed government agencies that it is unconstitutional to make routine business-inspection raids without a judicial warrant. "We hope that the third time will be the charm," wrote Judge Robin Rosenbaum.

In the present case, the court denounced the full-dress SWAT raid in 2010 of the Strictly Skillz barbershop in Orange County, Florida, for "barbering" without a license. (All certificates were found to be up-to-date, and in fact, the raiding agency had verified the licenses in a walk-through two days before.)

THE CONTINUING CRISIS Disappointed: (1) Cornelius Jefferson, 33, was arrested for assaulting a woman in Laurel County, Kentucky, in October after he had moved there from Georgia to be with her following an online relationship. Jefferson explained that he was frustrated that the woman was not "like she was on the Internet." (2) In November, an unnamed groom in Medina, Saudi Arabia, leaped to his feet at the close of the wedding, shocked at his first glimpse of his new bride with her veil pulled back. Said he (according to the daily Okaz), "You are not the girl I had imagined. I am sorry, but I divorce you."

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED Even though one state requires 400 hours' training just to become a professional manicurist, for instance, most states do not demand nearly such effort to become armed security guards, according to a CNN/Center for Investigative

Reporting analysis released in December. Fifteen states require no firearms training at all; 46 ignore mental health status; nine do not check the FBI's criminal background database; and 27 states fail to ascertain whether an applicant is banned by federal law from even carrying a gun. (After an ugly incident in Arizona in which a juvenile gun offender was hired as a guard, the state added a box on its form for applicants to "self-report" the federal ban—but still refuses to use the FBI database.)

• Two high-ranking Hollywood, Florida, police officers were absolved of criminal wrongdoing recently even though they had intentionally deleted their colleagues' names from Internal Affairs investigative records.

Assistant Chief Ken Haberland and Maj. Norris Redding somehow convinced prosecutors that they were unaware the files were "public records" that should not be altered.

The two are still subject to fines and restitution, but have been returned to administrative duty.

PEOPLE DIFFERENT FROM US Cry for Help: Calvin Nicol, 31, complained that he was obviously the victim of a "hate crime" when thugs beat him up in Ottawa, Ontario, on Nov. 1—just because he is intensely tattooed and pierced, with black-inked eyes, a split tongue and implanted silicone horns on his forehead. (Though "hate" may have been involved, so far "body modification" is not usually covered in anti-discrimination laws.

However, Nicol suggested one legal angle when he explained that "piercing myself and changing my appearance, and making me look like the person I want to look like is almost a religious experience to me.")

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS (1) Three women, whose ages ranged from 24 to 41, were charged with larceny on Black Friday in Hadley, Massachusetts, when they were caught in the Wal-Mart parking lot loaded down with about $2,700 worth of allegedly shoplifted goods. The women had moments earlier begged a Wal-Mart employee for help getting into their car—because they had locked themselves out. (2) Michael Rochefort, 38, and Daniel Gargiulo, 39, were merely burglary suspects in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sept. 25, but sheriff's deputies' case against them soon strengthened. While being detained in the back seat of a patrol car (and despite a video camera pointed at them), they conversed uninhibitedly about getting their alibis straight. {in}

From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2015 Chuck Shepherd

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ANNALS OF INJUSTICE Richard Rosario is in year 18 of a 25-to-life sentence for murder, even though 13 alibi witnesses have tried to tell authorities that he was with them—1,000 miles away—at the time of the crime. (Among the 13 are a sheriff's deputy, a pastor and a federal corrections officer.)

The "evidence" against him: Two "eyewitnesses" in New York City had picked him out of a mugshot book. Rosario had given police names, addresses and phone numbers of the 13 people in Florida, but so far, everyone (except NBC's "Dateline") has ignored the list, including Rosario's court-appointed lawyers. As is often the case, appeals court judges (state and federal) have trusted the eyewitnesses and the "process." (In November, "Dateline" located nine of the 13, who are still positive Rosario was in Deltona, Florida, on the day of the murder.)

by Chuck Shepherd

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Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com January 8, 2015

23

The Bear Family Foundation, Inc.

announced its 2014 financial contributions to Northwest Florida, totaling $1,482,727.00.

The funds have been distributed to more than 20 local non-profits and organizations who work tirelessly to help those in need in our community. The YMCA received a $1 million donation which will be used to help fund the new facility in downtown Pensacola.

Thank you to all of the local organizations who are helping make this community a better place for everyone to live, work, and play!

Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Taylor Bear, Chad Bonner, Cindi Bear Bonner, David M. Bear, Belle Yates Bear, Lewis Bear, Jr. and Cindi Bear.

Recognizing these organizations which have made our communities a better place to live: • Alzheimer’s Family Services • Ballet Pensacola • Pensacola Children’s Chorus • Episcopal Day School • Gulf Coast Kids House, Inc. • Southern Youth Sports Association • PACE Center for Girls • Pensacola Symphony Orchestra • Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Guild • Pathways for Change • Take Stock in Children • Epilepsy Society of Northwest Florida • Creative Learning Academy • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida • ARC Gateway Foundation • Autism Pensacola • Chain Reaction • Cordova Park Elementary • Favor House of Northwest Florida • The Pensacola MESS Hall, Inc. • UWF Foundation • The Salvation Army • Temple Beth El • YMCA of Northwest Florida

The Bear Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 2002, made up of eight family members from the Lewis Bear, Jr. family. It’s the mission of The Bear Family Foundation to continue a tradition of philanthropic giving through financial donations and volunteerism to our communities from generation to generation. They also help support quality non-profit organizations which better the lives of those with needs living in Northwest Florida.

LB0175 Foundation Donation ad.indd 1

Independent News | January 8, 2015 | inweekly.net

1/5/15 9:43 AM