“I can’t tell you I like this law— "Getting up and going just it’s tough.” makes you feel better and rock harder!"
"If that doesn’t sparkle for you, they have everything else and it is all to die for."
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Independent News | July 5, 2012 | Volume 13 | Number 27 | inweekly.net |
H A R
T M L
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D M X
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Y W D FREE ▶
publisher & editor Rick Outzen production manager Joani Delezen art director Samantha Crooke administration/ staff writer Jennie McKeon staff writer Jeremy Morrison contributing writers Bradley “B.J.� Davis, Jr., Joani Delezen, Hana Frenette, James Hagen, Ashley Hardaway, Brett Hutchins, Chelsa Jillard, Sarah McCartan, Kate Peterson, Chuck Shepherd intern Stephanie Sharp
page 26 Miranda Lambert / photo by Randee St. Nicholas
22
inweekly.net
winners & losers Malcolm Thomas
Meet
Robin Cru m
Certified nurse midwife. Contemporary women’s care. Robin Crum, C.N.M. Ladies First OB/GYN
President Barack Obama
winners
BARACK OBAMA The President scored
a major victory when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 5-4, that his Affordable Care Act was indeed constitutional. Many critics had predicted that the conservative court would dismantle the legislation by rejecting the individual mandate that required citizens to have health insurance or pay a fine on their federal tax returns. Now GOP is scrambling to repeal the law. Good luck.
JEFF MILLER The Congressman from
Chumuckla, Fla. also won a major victory when provisions of the RESTORE Act were included in the Transportation Reauthorization bill. The RESTORE Act language requires that 80 percent of civil fines from the 2010 BP oil spill go to the five coastal states directly impacted by the disaster. Early estimates are that Escambia County could receive $100 million from the fines BP pays for the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. Miller helped make it happen.
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA For
the second consecutive year, the Princeton Review has recognized UWF as a Green College. The report is published annually in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council and takes into account food origins, the presence of a sustainability committee, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified buildings and other criteria.
losers CNN AND FOX NEWS Both national
cable news channels incorrectly reported that the Supreme Court had struck down the individual mandate. In their defense, Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion was complicated and needed more than a cursory glance to understand. CNN later apologized. Fox News, of course, did not.
MALCOLM THOMAS The Escambia
County Superintendent of Schools recommended several principal and district administration appointees that the school board approved on June 26. None of them were black. Considering that only 12 percent of the teachers are African-American, civil rights leaders and black ministers were vocal at the meeting about their disappointment in Thomas. Next meeting, expect white hoods to no longer be banned.
If you’re considering starting a family, it’s time you meet certified nurse midwife Robin Crum, Baptist Medical Group’s newest OB/GYN provider. Ms. Crum has over 25 years of experience caring for women’s health and provides patients with options for a unique, personal childbirth experience within a hospital setting as well as traditional well-woman annual exams and birth control consultations.
Welcoming New Patients in Pensacola
Request an appointment at BaptistMedicalGroup.org
or call 432.7310.
ERIC HOLDER Republican lawmakers had
to take out their frustrations over the Supreme Court ruling on someone, and Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward’s chief of staff, John Asmar, wasn’t available. The GOP-led House voted, 255-67, to hold Attorney General Holder in contempt of Congress for failing to provide key information pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious, making him the first sitting Cabinet member to be held in contempt. Seventeen Democrats broke ranks to vote in favor of contempt, while two Republicans voted against the measure.
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For one more year, Escambia County, City of Pensacola, Emerald Coast Utility Authority and Escambia County School District dodged any meaningful discussion of functional consolidation. There have been some minor acts such as the garage at the Escambia County Sheriff ’s Office taking care of others’ vehicles. However, talks about dispatch, IT, purchasing, code enforcement, and fire and police consolidations have gotten nowhere. John Peacock, who served on the Escambia County Consolidation Commission, warned when Commissioner Wilson Robertson and others preached the virtues of functional consolidation over actual consolidation that the talk was only puffery. He was right. "Taxes are going higher, services are going down,” Peacock said in a 2010 consolidation forum sponsored by WSRE. “I haven't heard any elected officials offering up any other way to fix our government or our economy." Commissioner Robertson countered with the argument that the elected officials were the best ones to figure out how to consolidate and save money. However, little has happened. The 2010 consolidation plan was flawed. The public had no input in the final document, unlike the city of Pensacola’s new charter, and that doomed it. The consolidation commission was given an opportunity to stay in place, hammer out the details and possibly even recommend functions that could be merged, but hurt feelings prevailed and the body disband-
ed, leaving functional consolidation in the hands of the county commissioners, city council and other local elected officials. So what happened? Nothing. This budget cycle was the year to make functional consolidation a reality. Escambia County faced a $9.6 million deficit. The City of Pensacola’s General Fund revenue was projected to fall $2.3 million. The School District saw its Obama stimulus dollars dry up. Yet no one moved to consolidate like services in an effort to cut expenses. The irony is that the bureaucracies that fought the process to protect their fiefdoms and staffs are seeing their departments shrink as revenues decline. Instead of an orderly, purposeful reorganization that streamlines all our local governments and agencies, the cuts have been forced by circumstances beyond their control and have put services at risk. A new consolidation commission needs to be appointed, one without a pre-written plan, but one that focuses on functional consolidation. To simplify the process have the commission focus on one or two areas, like code enforcement and purchasing. Once those functions are consolidated then move on to the harder ones such as fire and police. The public needs to take control of the process because the elected officials simply don’t have the will to make it happen despite the lip service that they give it. Functional consolidation in 2013 should be part of every local budget workshop. Let’s hope we can reboot the process. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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5
A CHARTER’S COURSE “During the process of the afternoon,” Thomas said, “I became aware that the Florida Statute does not allow me to do what I was trying to do.” Throughout the day Tuesday, the school district posted a number of draft amendments for consideration. Though earlier drafts provided Dixon an out and another year to prove itself, the final draft—which some board members apparently had not yet seen— placed the charter at the state’s feet. The superintendent cited H.B. 7127. The state law requires charter schools that have earned two consecutive F grades to be shuttered, unless they meet one of three criteria. The charter may stay open if it was established in order to turnaround an existing public school, or if it serves students who are zoned for a poorly performing public school, or lastly, if the charter can convince the state of Florida to grant it a waiver. Thomas said the first two options do not apply to Dixon, but that the third might. He suggested amending the charter’s contract in order to allow the school to appeal to the state. “I can’t tell you I like this law—it’s tough,” Thomas told the board and audience. “I could not bring you a proposal that was not legal with the Florida Statute.” Following a school board workshop the week prior, there was some appetite to change the contract with Dixon. While the FCAT scores were not yet known, board members recognized the charter’s improved finances and its students’ learning gains. Board members Linda Moultrie and Patty Hightower appeared ready to offer
Dixon an out, while their cohorts remained fairly skeptical of that prospect. “They have made progress,” said Moultrie a day before the meeting. “And I suspect if they continue with the current core leadership they have now they’ll make even more progress.” While multiple amendment drafts were explored—with one draft appearing on line in the district’s agenda packet—the superintendent said that it was eventually realized that the state law negated those efforts. “This isn’t about me or you,” Thomas told the crowd. If Dixon chooses to accept the district’s proposed amendment, it would dodge a possible June 30 bullet, but then must build an extensive case to take to Tallahassee. If state education officials deny Dixon’s plea, then the charter must close immediately. “If they deny their waiver then it is terminated at that point,” Thomas explained. “You don’t finish anything. You just wrap it up.” Once FCAT scores are released—probably mid-July—Dixon has 30 days to appeal to the state. The charter would not find out what the state has decided until well into the fall semester. “ We’re probably talking September,” the superintendent said. “October is more realistic.” Members of the public—of which there were many in attendance—expressed both thankfulness and hesitation at the proposed amendment. While seemingly relieved that the June 30 date might be pulled off the table, people also seemed skeptical of the state option.
“I can’t tell you I like this law—it’s tough. I could not bring you a proposal that was not legal with the Florida Statute.”
Superintendent Malcolm Thomas listens to Rev. Lutimothy May / photo by Jeremy Morrison
A.A. Dixon’s Next Move By Jeremy Morrison The offer was bittersweet. While potentially sparing A.A. Dixon Charter School of Excellence from closure, the proposed amendment to the institution’s contract with the Escambia County School District would throw the charter into a do-or-die dance with the state of Florida. “It’s really not in our hands,” Superintendent Malcolm Thomas told a full gallery at the June 26 school board meeting. Unamended, the contract between the Escambia school district and the struggling charter stipulated that the school would be shut down if it received a second F grade on the FCAT. Thomas explained to the crowd that the district desired to amend Dixon’s contract in order to allow the charter to continue—due to noticeable student achievement and the fact the charter has cleaned up its finances—but that there had been an 11th-hour realization that state law prevented such action.
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Rev. LuTimothy May, who heads up Dixon’s board of directors, told the school board he would need to have the charter’s attorney look over the proposed amendment. “I think it would just be prudent,” May said. May, nor anyone else with the school, had reviewed the proposed amendment. The final proposal was not yet arrived at until hours before the meeting. Thomas told May that the charter needed to act quickly. If both parties did not agree to the proposed contract change by June 30, the charter’s fate rested in the current contract and the FCAT. “Because we all know the current contract has a sudden death clause,” he said. “When grades are released it is over.” The superintendent encouraged Dixon to accept the amendment. He noted that the charter was playing chicken with the calendar. “So, time is very much of the essence here—it does need to move quickly,” he said. “Because if Tallahassee suddenly gets the speed on and has the grade posted we could run out of time.” May said a few days later that the charter’s attorneys were reviewing the proposed amendment. He said that a final decision would not be reached until the charter’s full board of directors could meet—a couple of days after the existing June 30 deadline. While Dixon would be studying the amendment to the contract, the school board voted during its meeting to unanimously approve it. School board member Jeff Bergosh, who previously said he preferred to stay with the original contract, said the charter’s educational improve-
buzz
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all the political news and gossip fit to print
BILL OF HEALTH With Americans on the
tions in the Sunshine State were fairly indicative of the national response to the ruling. “A lot of us feel the health-care law wasn’t perfect. But it was needed,” U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) said in a statement. “Our system was broken and we had to do something. Insurance companies were refusing to cover people or dropping those who got sick. So, we passed legislation to prevent insurers from running roughshod over people. And today, the Supreme Court upheld most of these reforms.” Representative Jeff Miller (R-FL), had a different take: “The Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the individual mandate in Obamacare is a monumental obstruction of personal freedom and liberty. It is a tragedy for patients and health professionals across the nation and a major setback for our free-market system ... we will explore every legislative option to repeal and replace this flawed law.” Although the Supreme Court upheld the
ments sold him on the amendment. “I must admit, I did not look at the learning gains until yesterday in the evening,” Bergosh said, adding that he was willing to “take a leap of faith” and forgo the possible June 30 closure. One example of learning gains was relayed during the meeting by parent Kelly Brown.
She told the board how her child was told they needed to be held back; the mother choked up when explaining how a teacher had told her the student would not pass the FCAT. “This was my child’s first year in the public school system,” Brown recalled. The mother said she decided to move her
edge of their seats, the U.S. Supreme Court finally broke the suspense in late June and upheld—kind of, sort of—President Barack Obama’s health care reform law. The Affordable Care Act has been bitterly contested by Republicans and is considered the primary piece of legislation of Obama’s presidency. The legislation was upheld by the court on a 5-4 vote, with Chief Justice John Roberts making an uncharacteristic leap to join the bench’s four more liberal justices. The court quasi-dodged the individual mandate aspect of the legislation—the most controversial aspect—by allowing that citizens could be required to purchase health insurance, or else pay a penalty, if such a purchase is framed as a tax. Obama had previously stated the individual mandate was not a tax. Reactions from the Right were predictably enraged, while the Left loudly celebrated the victory handed down by the court. Reac-
legislation, the justices ruled that the federal government could not force states to expand Medicaid programs. Critics immediately pounced on what is sure to become the new battleground in the country’s debate over reforming the current health care system. In Florida, where legal challenges to the legislation originated, state Attorney General Pam Bondi hinted at the possibility of scuttling the health care law if November elections realize a Republican victory. “The American people will have their say in November,” Bondi said in a statement. “And I am confident that they will join me in rejecting a law that is so harmful to individual liberty, to our economy, and to the welfare of our people." In the wake of the health care ruling, President Obama said the court’s decision is a victory for the ever-expanding number of uninsured Americans. “They've reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America—in the wealthiest nation on Earth—no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin,” Obama said. {in} For more buzz items, visit inweekly.net
child to Dixon in hopes the charter could better reach the student. Since then, the child has passed the FCAT and been a fixture on the A/B Honor Roll. “The teachers at A . A . Dixon helped to restore her confidence,” Brown told the board. {in}
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A
REDEFINE PENSACOLA
s the Greater Pensacola area continues to reach its potential, leaders have stepped forward to help. The list includes scientists, a pastor, a retired vice admiral, even a beer aficionado. All of whom are passionate about making this community a great place to live for residents and an attractive place for new businesses. What’s even more important about these game changers is that they’re never done improving this area. There’s always a new project, museum or restaurant in the works furthering Pensacola’s progression. Without these game changers thinking ahead and out of the box, Pensacola would just be another spot on a map. Because of this list of people (and plenty more) the Greater Pensacola area will continue to advance.
July 05, 2012
Interviews by Jennie McKeon and T.S. Strickland | Photos by Samantha Crooke
9
2012 Game Changers
Joe Abston J
Co-owner, Hopjacks, The Tin Cow & Hopjacks Filling Station
oe Abston likens his entrepreneur skills to those of an artist. “For some artists, there are things in their body they need to express,” Abston said. “I feel like I have to get this done.” What Abston has done since the opening of downtown’s Hopjacks in 2008 is open two more (one on Nine Mile Road and another in Mobile, Ala.), The Tin Cow on Palafox and Hopjacks Filling Station on Cervantes. Not only have the restaurants given locals more reasons to be downtown after hours, but the local job market has also been given a boost. Abston estimates, off the top of his head, that he has 155 employees under his belt, most of them in Pensacola. “My whole focus is jobs,” he said. “If I could add another 100 jobs by 2013 then I will.” Abston is looking to open more Hopjacks restaurants in 2013.
He said he’s always been an entrepreneur and a chef by trade. He worked alongside some of the best chefs in the culinary world before he began revitalizing Pensacola’s nightlife and adding to downtown’s food options.
“Four years ago we said, ‘If we could just become like Mobile’s downtown.’ Pensacola has surpassed that.” Joe Abston
Blaise Adams
W
ithout Blaise Adams, the 4-H/Navy Federal Credit Union Deal may not have been done. The regional president of PNC Bank worked hard negotiating between 4-H, Escambia County and Navy Federal Credit Union over the financial institution’s purchase of the 240-acre Langley Bell 4-H Center for $3.6 million. Adams, who notes the help of Debbie Calder, senior vice president of Greater 010 1
Pensacola Operations at Navy Federal Credit Union, spent almost two years working on the deal. “I had to act as a liaison with 4-H to interact with them, assist and inform their constituents and maneuver them through the process,” he said. The deal added hundreds of jobs to Pensacola. “In the short-term there was an addition of 700 jobs,” Adams said. “Above 2,300 have already been created. Employees have great benefits. It’s important for us to do what we can to continue to add jobs.” The impact of not just more jobs, but good jobs can be seen in the employee parking lot of the Navy Federal’s new campus. Adams said there are plenty of shiny, new cars. “You look at the parking lot and start to realize the impact this has on the community,” he said. “It’s a very significant impact.” Beyond the economy, Adams is proud
“I asked ‘What does this area need?’” he said of opening Hopjacks. “I’m not going to put a pizza place next to a pizza place.” Abston truly believes in the future of downtown, and makes sure to note the business owners who landed there first. “New York Nick's, Intermission, Jackson’s, Global Grill. They believed in downtown before there was a downtown,”
Abston said. “Nick Zangari came hell or high water—and he had high water during Hurricane Ivan.” In Abston’s vision of Pensacola’s future, Hopjacks and The Tin Cow will be just a pit stop for downtown goers. “I see turning Palafox corridor into a walking district from Friday to Sunday,” he said. “Make downtown not just a bar industry, but retail industry. Families can park the car and walk to Distinctive Kitchens, have lunch at The Tin Cow, go to The Spotted Dog. Really just change the nature of downtown.” Abston would also like to see more young people take up residence in the downtown district. “The city needs affordable housing for single individuals and couples of a combined income of $60,000,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be $3,000 for a 1,200 square foot apartment.” Although Abston is quick to note what he wants to add to downtown, he does give downtown credit for how far it has come. “Four years ago we said, ‘If we could just become like Mobile’s downtown,’” he said. “Pensacola has surpassed that.”
Behind the scenes negotiator of Navy Federal/4-H land deal that Navy Federal is a company that gives back. As part of the sale agreement between Navy Federal and 4-H, the company agreed to use the pond area as a memorial site to establish historical makers and maybe even picnic grounds to be open to the public.
“The future is very bright thanks to the change in the city’s charter, Ashton’s [Mayor Ashton Hayward] vision of the city and his plans to move the city forward and the renaissance of downtown,” Adams said. Adams sees the responsibility of moving forward in the hands of Pensacola residents. It’s up to them to make sure the city heads in the direction they want to go. “The city needs more demands of its citizens,” Adams said. “I think people need to stay focused on what they want. There needs to be more discussion of the future and not so much harping on the past.” With the opening of the Maritime Park and the city’s own Major League DoubleA baseball team, Adams believes the city is moving in the right direction. “It’s opened people’s eyes to the possibilities,” he said of the waterfront baseball park. “It’s a very exciting time to be in Pensacola right now.”
“The future is very bright thanks to the change in the city’s charter, Ashton’s [Mayor Ashton Hayward] vision of the city and his plans to move the city forward and the renaissance of downtown.” Blaise Adams “It’s a great corporation,” Adams said. “The company itself gives a lot to the community.” As Adams’ headline grabbing deal comes to an end, he is optimistic about the rest of Pensacola’s future.
inweekly.net
2012 Game Changers
Matthew Altier
M
atthew Altier has only lived in Pensacola for 11 months and is already a game changer. Altier is the vice president for Administrative Services for the University of West Florida, as well as the Chief Executive Office for UWF Business Enterprises, Inc. He
July 05, 2012
also heads up the university’s expansion into public and private partnerships. “By creating real-world work experiences while the students are in school, students can learn to run and manage businesses,” Altier said. “With all these different business opportunities, you can imagine the number of majors we can add.” Altier’s vision, along with the vision of UWF President Judy Bense, is producing plans for a conference center, hotel, Greek village and the much anticipated football stadium. This is Altier’s third university expansion program. Prior to moving to Pensacola, he was the CEO of University Enterprises in the California university system in Sacramento, Calif. After California, he started a company doing the same work in New Jersey. He was vice president for administration and finance at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. “Major universities are economy drivers and UWF is no exception,” Altier said. “They bring in more students, faculty and staff and create an educated workforce.” Altier also noted that statistics show students tend to stay in the area where they earned their degree.
CEO, UWF Business Enterprises
“ You can imagine how many educated employees we can pump into the area,” he said. Beyond his academic career, Altier served 10 years in the United States Air Force as an air traffic controller and Chief of Design and Construction Management. Altier sees many similarities in his previous projects and Pensacola. “Many of the kinds of projects I was able to put together in Sacramento and New Jersey, such as faculty and staff housing and hotel conference centers, are very similar to what we’re doing with Scenic Hills,” Altier said. “The only new thing is the historic village, which is exciting because of its potential.” When Altier decided to move south, it was Bense that sealed the deal.
“ When I met Judy Bense, we clicked immediately,” Altier said. “She has new visions for taking UWF to new levels.” And since Altier made the move, Pensacola has made an impression on him, too. He’s already begun to look toward the city’s future. “Everybody I have met has talked about Pensacola’s potential,” he said. “The timing is right to tap into that potential." And his wish-list of future projects looks much like a local’s. “I see over a million cultural and heritage tourists visiting downtown filled with people, hotels, bed and breakfasts built, a ferry system, and water taxies,” Altier said. “Everything you can imagine in a vibrant, historic town can take place in Pensacola.”
“By creating real-world work experiences while the students are in school, students can learn to run and manage businesses.” Matthew Altier
11
2012 Game Changers
David Bear D
Founder, Art, Culture and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE)
avid Bear comes from a long line of art supporters. It was only a matter of time before he would find a way to support the cause he is passionate about. “I wanted to fill the void created by the collapse of the Arts Council of Northwest Florida,” Bear said. And so, toward the end of 2008 he began ACE, Art Culture and Entertainment, Inc. The organization became a non-profit by 2010 and has been funding non-profit artistic efforts ever since. ACE supports all forms of art from the symphony to the opera house, Pensacola Museum of Art and Pensacola Little Theatre—all are important to the community, he said. “The arts are a real catalyst for tourism,” Bear said. “When the museum has a blockbuster exhibit, cultural tourists spend more money compared to those who come for the beach, which is a free, natural resource.”
Dana Bledsoe D
As local art endeavors continue to grow, so will ACE’s support. The non-profit is working with the University of West Florida to progress art and cultural growth in the city. “We will continue to get government support and organizing. Organizations are going to have to start working together more,” Bear said. Bear notes that Pensacola packs a lot of talented artists for its size. “We have an opera house, an accredited museum, a ballet and a local theatre, which isn’t common for our size of community,” he said. “And everyone is very talented.” Bear is also excited about the regeneration of Pensacola and the fact that younger groups are stepping up to the plate. “A lot of young people—and I consider myself a part of the younger group—has been very engaged,” he said. “Succession is there to continue the progress and there’s people that are really focused on the revitalization of downtown.”
“I wanted to fill the void created by the collapse of the Arts Council of Northwest Florida.” David Bear pay for parking and go out to dinner. The more people that come here, the larger the service industry needs to be, which creates more jobs.” And it’s not just the economy that improves. “It’s not just the economy, but the quality of life,” Bear said. “There’s a whole lot of benefits. Art is thought provoking, which could result in better teaching and it just brings a smile to your face.”
President, Sacred Heart Children's and Women's Hospital
ana Bledsoe’s entire career has been dedicated to children’s healthcare. She’s worked with several of the top 10 children’s hospitals including serving the Children’s Hospital of Orange County as the vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. She began her work at Sacred Heart as president of Sacred Heart Children’s and Women’s Hospital last May. “I started as a pediatric nurse,” said Bledsoe. “I was always passionate about the care of children. They are resilient, forgiving—they have a zest for life. There’s something special when your job is to play.” Bledsoe was recruited to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital to head the partnership of SHCH and Nemours, a children’s health system that provides physicians and outpatient clinic services. The two separate entities will work together to provide seamless services. “It will be able to bring a sub-specialty to the community,” said Bledsoe. “We provide the hospital services and families that we care for—whether they’re seen at Nemours or the hospital will see the same doctor and likely see
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When more money is spent by locals and tourists who buy tickets to an orchestra or opera performance, the effects on the local economy are positive. “It has a ripple effect,” he said. “If the symphony has a performance, people
some of the same staff. Information about patients’ care should be consistent, which will be a great benefit.” Bledsoe said she wants to focus on partnering with the community so that the Children’s Hospital and Nemours have a meaningful presence.
“I was recruited here to expand our region and continue the great work that has been in place for the past 43 years,” she said. Bledsoe points out that Pensacola has one of the approximate 200 children’s hospitals in the country. The next closest children’s hospital is in Jacksonville, Fla. “Having a children’s hospital in this area is an amazing, precious gift,” she said. “The ability for children to receive the specialty care is a distinct advantage and with that is a great responsibility to this region.” Bledsoe wants to teach the community about the positive effects Sacred Heart Children’s Hospitals and Nemours will have. “One of our challenges is to really educate the community what a jewel the hospital and Nemours is,” she said. In the 14 months that Bledsoe has lived in Pensacola she has been enjoying the scenery as well as the community. “This city has the nicest people in the world, I can’t say enough about how warmly the community has welcomed me and my family,” she said. “And I love driving on the three-mile bridge.”
“Having a children’s hospital in this area is an amazing, precious gift.” Dana Bledsoe “And to design a system that allows us to meet the needs of the community in a way that makes sense to the community,” she said. With the partnership, more jobs will need to be filled. “We are looking to recruit for the next five years, more physicians, more jobs,” Bledsoe said. As Bledsoe leads the growth of Children’s Services at Sacred Heart, she also hopes to maintain the hospital’s reputation.
inweekly.net
2012 Game Changers
Michael Carro
A
battered timber leans against the wall of Michael Carro’s NAI Halford office, names and professions of love carved into the grain. This piece of wood is a piece of Pensacola history. It was plucked from Trader
John’s—the landmark bar that once drew droves of thirsty sailors to the block south of Government Street. The bar closed a decade ago, taking the thirsty sailors with it. Now, Carro, a commercial real estate broker, hopes to bring people back. He and his business partners purchased the building and lot adjacent to Trader John’s about a year ago. Now, they plan to develop the property into a dining destination like nothing Pensacola has seen before. They hope it will open by Nov. 1. For the lot, Carro envisions a sort of outdoor food court, which will be lushly landscaped and anchored by four converted Airstream trailers, which will be called "Alfresco." “I think it’s going to be reminiscent of an oasis in our downtown area,” he said. He said they plan to break ground on the project sometime in July. He got the idea from the Gulf Coast community of Seaside, Fla. While there for a charity event, he saw a collection of six Airstreams converted into restaurants. He said he hoped the project would encourage pedestrian traffic and draw people south of Government Street.
Co-owner, Alfresco “That’s really what we need in a downtown area,” he said. “Right now all the restaurants tend to be [north] … between Garden and Romana. There’s really nothing down here [except Jaco’s].”
“A vibrant downtown sets the pace for the community." Michael Carro Carro said he felt Pensacola was moving in the right direction. “A vibrant downtown sets the pace for the community,” he said. “Over the past eight years, it has been progressively building toward what we have today, and that is a lot of downtown development, of people that are taking chance and risk, and that is the key to bringing people to the area.” “Everything I would like to see happen appears to be happening,” he said.
He noted the proliferation of restaurants and shops downtown and the success of cultural events like Gallery Nights. He said he was also excited by the Blue Wahoos. “I could care less about sports,” he said, “but I’m becoming a baseball fan because I go to tons of Wahoos games.” He said he likes the energy and the environment. “Our stadium is so beautiful. It’s just a treasure.” He is also optimistic that the stadium will become an economic driver for the rest of downtown. “You’ve got 70 times a year that thousands of people who weren’t gonna be downtown are downtown,” he said. “All of these things drive people from the outer community to the core.” “We’ve got a champion in Mayor Hayward,” Carro said. “He’s really promoting the downtown area.” Carro called commercial real estate brokers an informal early economic indicator. “When our phones start ringing off the hook, it’s an exciting time,” he said. And the phones have been ringing. “This is the most exciting time,” Carro said. “Pensacola is at a tipping point.”
Vision. The University of West Florida congratulates Vice President of Administrative Services Matt Altier as an Independent News Game Changer. UWF is excited about the future of our campus and Altier's commitment to helping us achieve our vision.
uwf.edu July 05, 2012
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2012 Game Changers
Marianne Estess M arianne Estess wasn’t satisfied with just being a “room mom” and volunteering at schools her three children attended. Once she began devoting her free time to non-profits, she couldn’t stop. “It started with American Cancer Society and grew from there,” she said. After a health scare, Estess said she “got busy.” “God helped me live for some reason,” she said in an energetic tone. Estess then added PACE Center for Girls—“such a wonderful organization”—as well as ARC Gateway to her volunteer resume. “Once I toured the facility, I was just so anxious to get out there and help,” Estess said of ARC Gateway. “I’m blessed to be able to do the leg work people don’t have time for.” Estess also belongs to IMPACT 100 and has donated not only her time but home to Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council. “I’m the laziest member,” Estess joked about her IMPACT 100 mem-
Donna Fassett
D
onna Fassett has been changing the game for Pensacolians with developmental disabilities for 33 years. And she’s not slowing down, even as she defends her cause against the budget assaults of the State and fights a personal battle against lymphoma. Fassett is executive director of ARC Gateway—a non-profit that has been providing support and services to Pensacola’s disabled for nearly 60 years. 414 1
If you ask her what makes her so relentlessly committed, she will offer to show you. Fassett walks into the ARC Gateway office on Fairfield Avenue and slips through a side door. She signs her name on a clipboard and hangs a nametag around her neck. “This is a secure area,” she explains. Music pumps from a stereo in the back of the room as Fassett threads through the crowd, besieged by hugs and a choir of happy voices. The large room is filled with low desks. At them, a couple dozen people sit before stacks of paper, methodically removing staples and other foreign objects. They are preparing them to be shredded. This enterprise is one of the programs that ARC runs, and the workers are Fassett’s clients. Each of them faces some sort of disability. However, Fassett isn’t focused on that. “Our whole goal is to maximize their abilities,” she said. “We don’t see disabilities. We see abilities.” The workers earn a wage and a sense of self-esteem and purpose. The enterprise also creates revenue to support ARC’s other programs.
Community volunteer raising funds for local charities
bership. “I write my check, sit back and see what the organization does.” Hardly lazy, Estess diligently seeks donors for the organizations that she is passionate about. While volunteering allows her to meet new people, Estess isn’t shy about asking her friends and family to donate, too.
“Volunteering used to be a form of punishment,” she said. “Now, young people today volunteer because it’s part of school curriculum, which I think is wonderful. High school students have to do community service. It’s a great thing to teach young people.” Originally from Alabama, Estess immediately took to Pensacola. “It’s thriving,” she said of the city. “From the minute I got here I loved it.” She also took notice of the philanthropic nature of Pensacola citizens. “After a disaster, if a young girl is in trouble, people step up,” Estess said. “I see the same group of people at all these functions and fundraisers. This community always steps up to the plate.” Estess doesn’t just look for monetary donations. She can also help you make use of your free time. “Young people are stepping up,” she said. “But we’re always looking for new people to get involved.” Estess believes it’s essential to put into life what you get out of it. “I feel so blessed in my own life, I have to give back,” she said. “I receive so much more than I could give. I think it’s important to give back.”
“I receive so much more than I could give. I think it’s important to give back.” Marianne Estess “I joke that my friends start running when they see me coming,” Estess said. The idea of giving back and working to benefit others runs in the family. One of her daughters works for a non-profit in Washington D.C. and another is a registered nurse. Estess sees that more young people in the area are volunteering out of second nature, which makes her excited.
Executive Director, ARC Gateway These include early inter vention, workforce training , job placement, transpor tation, assisted living and group homes.
She said she is pleased with the ongoing revitalization of downtown and encouraged by the growing number of young people who have chosen to stay in Pensacola. Fassett is involved in a wide variety of causes outside the office, as well. Her past or present involvements include the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, Fiesta of Five Flags, the American Cancer Society, Appetite for Life, the Pensacola Museum of Art and Five Flags Rotary. Back at the Fairfield office, Fassett walks through a back door, into the plant nursery—another of ARC’s programs. She pauses to talk to some clients loading plants into a delivery truck. She walks on, past rows of potted crepe myrtles and shrubs. “When I get tired of fighting the budget wars, I come out here and walk around,” she said. “It reminds me what I’m fighting for.”
“Our whole goal is to maximize their abilities. We don’t see disabilities. We see abilities.” Donna Fassett The array of services is extensive, even after last year’s painful program cuts. However, Fassett wants to offer more. “Our folks are getting older,” she said. “We need to look more toward services for seniors. I would love to see that we had a college program. There’s no reason why some of them can’t go to college.” She said access to public transportation, which is essential for many of ARC’s clients, could also be improved. “I think Pensacola is moving in a really good direction,” she said. “I love seeing downtown be alive.”
inweekly.net
2012 Game Changers
Ken Ford
courtesy photo
P
ensacola is already known for its beaches and historic culture, but thanks to Dr. Ken Ford, science is a part of the city’s culture, too. Ford is the founder and CEO of the Florida Institute of Human & Machine Cognition, or IHMC. The not-for-profit research institute has grown to be one of the nation’s premier research organizations, bringing together world-class scientists and engineers to investigate various subjects.
Founder & CEO, IHMC
IHMC isn’t just for an elite clique of scientists. The institute hosts free lecture series and science programs to keep the city engaged in science. “We select exceptional speakers who can entertain an audience and educate at the same time on varying topics of interest to a community,” Ford said. “IHMC seeks to energize the adult mind and the spirit of inquiry in the community and we hope that this is the impact of these well-attended evening lectures.” Keeping children engaged is also important. Programs include: Science Saturdays, which are held once a month for third to fifth graders; I LOVE Science, a volunteer program which brings the science experiments into schools; and Tech Connect, an ongoing program expanding computer science knowledge in elementary and middle school students. “The primary goal is for young people to have a positive and fun experience with hands-on activities that increase knowledge of science, excitement regarding careers in science and confidence in their individual scientific abilities,” Ford said. “We are hopeful that this enthusiasm carries over into schools.” When making the decision to set up shop, Ford felt Pensacola was the perfect backdrop for the institution.
“Pensacola, especially downtown and some of the older neighborhoods, has an authenticity and that helps attract creative
“It’s all about innovation and innovation is all about people and people are all about place.” Ken Ford people,” Ford said. “The historic human-scale downtown, beautiful natural resources, quality local restaurants, interesting architecture and thriving arts community all led me to believe that this institute could be successful in downtown Pensacola.” As cities compete to attract a talented workforce, it’s important that Pensacola continues its progress. Ford said innovation is a key value, and scientists know plenty about innovation. “It’s all about innovation and innovation is all about people and people are all about
place,” he said. “A vibrant arts community, restaurant scene and affordable housing are clearly important components of a city that wants to continue to attract young and creative professionals.” Ford notes that arts and food are done well in Pensacola, housing, as other game changers have noted, will improve Pensacola, especially as IHMC and other businesses continue to attract talented and creative people from around the world. “IHMC researchers and staff, hailing from a wide variety of educational, professional and multicultural backgrounds, populating the downtown add to the blend of an interesting and diverse community,” he said. The community outside the institute is important as well. Ford is a part of Mayor Hayward’s Urban Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Just like the science programs for children and free lecture series, IHMC offers free meeting spaces for non-profit organizations. “Our interest is in helping in small ways to foster the success of all the organizations and developing a positive spirit of community in Pensacola,” Ford said. “Additionally, we hope to stimulate the ‘life of the mind’ for the community through education and outreach programs for people of all ages.”
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2012 Game Changers
VADM Gerry Hoewing “This program has been the vision of very key people,” said Hoewing who is also president of the National Flight Academy. “I might be in the picture, but it’s far more than me.” Under the very large National Flight Academy umbrella are several programs such as Aviation Classroom Experiences (ACE), which are implemented in Escambia High School, Milton High School, Warrington Middle School and an advanced version at University of West Florida, Aviation Inspired Missions (AIM) to be located in science museums, Aviation Web Experience (AWE), and the grand finale, Aviation in Residence (AIR) also known as Ambition, located next to the National Naval Aviation Museum. “Ambition is the capstone program,” Hoewing said. “All of the senses give you the feeling of being in a real aircraft.” While the flight academy may inspire students to further their flying aspirations, the main goal of these programs is instilling STEM—science, technology, engineering and math principles.
“We don’t teach kids how to fly,” Hoewing said. “We teach them engineering, science, math, public speaking and leadership. Learning comes first.” It doesn’t hurt that students in grades 7 through 12 are learning these skills in a mod-
President, National Flight Academy simulators, a new exhibit in the hangar and two brand new IMAX movies, the National Flight Academy will be yet another fun attraction for kids. And the benefits will make their way to the rest of the community. “It will turn the National Aviation Museum into a destination. Families will bring their children, stay in our hotels and eat at our restaurants,” Hoewing said. “Where else can a student spend five and a half days at a day camp where they are the avatar? They live the story for five and half days.” Right now, eight schools around the country are equipped with ACE and about eight more will hopefully have the program by the end of the year. Although it’s only been open since May, Ambition has seen a continuous increase in students. After 25 years of planning, National Flight Academy has finally taken off. “Each class is growing,” Hoewing said. “First was 36, next was 45. We’re eventually going to grow to 108, which is 50 percent of capacity.”
“It’s about keeping kids engaged in an academic setting. Would you rather do something fun and engaging or would you rather listen to a lecture?” VADM Gerry Hoewing
V
ice Admiral Gerry Hoewing is finally realizing the dreams of retired Navy Rear Admiral Skip Furlong and retired Captain Robert Rasmussen by bringing the National Flight Academy to reality. Hoewing makes sure to mention the two men who started the program and refuses to take full credit.
Brian Hooper
B
rian Hooper is an attorney at Emmanuel, Sheppard & Condon practicing contract and commercial litigation, government and administrative law and trial law. He is also chairing the Urban Redevelopment Advisory Committee (UR AC) established by Mayor Ashton Hayward to help guide the growth and development of downtown. 616 1
“Over the past three years, I’ve had several conversations with people about how the development of downtown Pensacola was being planned or was not being planned, as the case might be,” Hooper said. “My interest was made known to Mayor Hayward and he asked me to chair this committee.” The committee was established in February to assist the Mayor in implementing the redevelopment of the CRA District, including downtown, the waterfront, and the surrounding neighborhoods. “I was honored that he asked me and I believe that Mayor Hayward is making good decisions about the future development of downtown,” Hooper said. As Hooper leads the URAC he will call upon the members—Dr. Ken Ford, Teresa Dos Santos, Christian Wagley, John Myslak, Stephanie Powell and Shana Neuhaus—for their own good decisions and truly collaborate. “As far as changes go, I am approaching this task with an open mind,” Hooper said. “There are other members of the committee with a wealth of experience in this arena, so I see myself as the chief organizer and information gatherer for the committee.” The future of Pensacola is still a bit fuzzy to Hooper, “The jury’s still out,” he said. But
ern way, using a program that seems more like a video game than actual work. “It’s about keeping kids engaged in an academic setting,” Hoewing said. “Would you rather do something fun and engaging or would you rather listen to a lecture?” As the museum continues to impress locals and tourists—Hoewing said attendance will reach 800,000 this year—with flight
Chairman, Pensacola Urban Redevelopment Advisory Committee he does believe public-private partnerships will be helpful in providing the city’s future. “Certain mechanisms such as public-private partnerships seem to work very well elsewhere,” he said. “I do think that if our elected
“We have some bright spots, like the Studers, Pen Air, First Navy, UWF and others who are investing in downtown Pensacola, but the committee’s job is to figure out the specific policy changes and particular project recommendations, that will get the ball rolling to attract new capital.” Even as an import to Pensacola, Hooper knows that Pensacola has a long list of game changers and wants URAC to add to that list. “Pensacola has a rich history of strong community leaders going back nearly a century,” he said. “I think that our committee’s efforts honor and build on all of the hard work and thoughtful planning that has come before.” Because Hooper plucked Pensacola as to the city to settle in, he takes extra pride in it. “I am not a Pensacola native, but my wife and I specifically chose to settle here and raise our family because Pensacola is one of the South’s most enjoyable coastal cities.”
“I think that our committee’s efforts honor and build on all of the hard work and thoughtful planning that has come before.” Brian Hooper leaders and business leaders can execute a smart plan, Pensacola’s future is limitless.” Hooper also believes outside investment will improve Pensacola. “Pensacola’s future success, especially downtown, lies in bringing outside investment to the community and encouraging local capital to invest in Pensacola,” he said. Hooper notes the Studers, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, First Navy Bank and UWF as assets.
inweekly.net
2012 Game Changers
Rev. LuTimothy May He has been called a glutton for punishment. May tried for more than a year to purchase abandoned Brownsville Middle School from the Escambia County School District. He and his church wanted to convert what had become a dilapidated crime-nest into a community center, something that would add value and provide services to a neighborhood badly in need. The vision found supporters in the non-profit world, business and local government. However, the one ally that mattered most—the District— wouldn’t believe and slammed the door in May’s face. After such a defeat, many would lower their sights. Not May. “We never let people stop the vision,” he said. “We just have to find other ways … so that, at the end of the day, we can say, ‘Mission Accomplished.’”
Pastor, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
And, so, May signed up to captain a sinking ship: A.A. Dixon Charter School of Excellence. May has spent the past year turning the ship around, improving students’ performance and excavating the school’s important mission from a heaping pile of debt.
The “collective” part is key. May said Pensacola needs to stand together more. He is troubled by the inequality that exists. “Even if I’m okay, if the majority of the city is not okay, that means it’s not okay,” he said. “It’s not enough for me to be a millionaire if someone else is only making $10,000 a year to feed their whole family.” May said progress depends on improving the education system. “If you want to know how many young people are incarcerated and on probation, go look at the suspension list of the School District,” he said. Improvement will take teamwork and strong leadership. May said the leaders of our past were too closeminded and wrapped up in ego, but he is optimistic that things will change. “I think the city is on a decent track of collaboration,” he said, encouraged by the rise of a new generation of leaders. However, he also advised caution. “ We have to start sounding the alarm, so that the mold we’re replacing we don’t become.”
“It’s not enough for me to be a millionaire if someone else is only making $10,000 a year to feed their whole family.” Rev. LuTimothy May
R
ev. LuTimothy May is the pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, a congregation of about 700 nestled among low-income housing developments in Pensacola’s inner city.
It remains to be seen whether this will be enough to save the school from closure. Either way, May said the past year had been one of his best. “It’s probably one of the hardest challenges that I’ve faced,” May said, “but, nevertheless, it has brought more value to my life, to my understanding of where our obligations need to be as a community and that we can collectively overcome what all odds said we can’t.”
The IHMC Board of Directors congratulates
Dr. Ken Ford, IHMC CEO for his extraordinary vision, leadership, and contributions to the Pensacola community.
July 05, 2012
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2012 Game Changers
Dr. Ed Meadows E d Meadows thinks Pensacolians sell themselves short. He became the president of Pensacola State College in 2008, after leaving the same post at a small college in Alabama. “For people who have lived here all their lives, they seem to think that we’re stagnant and non-progressive,” he said. “I think that’s the furthest thing from the truth.” “I think that Pensacola has a very large share of individuals and groups that want the same thing: They want life to be better.” For this to happen, Meadows said, Pensacola must grow its workforce. “The role of workforce development is very integral to us being competitive as a community when we’re looking to try to grow our economic base,” Meadows said. “You have to import talent, or you have to develop talent. The college is interested in de-
President, Pensacola State College
veloping the programs to generate people that are trained for the jobs that are here, or the jobs that are going to be here.”
“We’ve opened a center in Century and a new center in South Santa Rosa, so we’re working with those communities to see how to partner with them,” Meadows said. Meadows’ work takes him off campus, as well. He chairs the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee. The committee brings together community stakeholders to focus on building a strong workforce. He is involved with many other initiatives, so many that he has trouble recalling them all. One he could recall was a “virtual business incubator.” The project, which is a partnership between Gulf Power and the Chamber of Commerce, provides business support and office space to Internet startups. Meadows said the incubator is currently hosting four companies, one of which is about to graduate from the program. Though Meadows is enthusiastic about the project, he said his primary passion is still higher education. “My career is where my heart is,” he said, “and my heart is helping students.”
“My career is where my heart is, and my heart is helping students.” Dr. Ed Meadows When Meadows took office four years ago, he commissioned a study to identify gaps in the local workforce. This led to new programs in veterinary science, healthcare management, graphic design and cyber security. The college is preparing to undertake a similar study in the coming year. “That will give us a better idea of what kind of workforce programs we need to continue to add,” Meadows said. In the coming year, the school will also be looking to expand access to its programs through increasing distance learning and developing its satellite campuses.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos The Blue Wahoos aren’t just about hitting home runs. “It’s about the whole community, not just a baseball team,” Griffith said from the road as he traveled to Knoxville, Tenn. with the team to the All Stars Game against the Tennessee Smokies. Griffith Leroy Williams, Quint Studer, Denise Richardson, Bruce Baldwin proudly noted that the Maritime here’s no denying the change that Park employs 400 employees. the Blue Wahoos have brought and “It helps the economy, it helps everywill continue to bring to Pensacola. body,” Griffith said. Recruiters went out of After years of planning, the city has a Major their way to look for diverse and dedicated League Baseball Double-A team. employees, reaching out to local churches and “It’s something for Pensacola to be proud holding job fairs with the help of Lumon May, of,” said Executive Vice President of the Blue Rev. LuTimothy May, Rev. Lonnie Wesley and Wahoos, Jonathan Griffith. “We just ranked number nine in the ‘SportsCenter’ top 10. I got other ministers. “I learned early on during my years with calls from California to New York. And it’s a Baptist Hospital that we have a lot of talent in great community event.”
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the minority community,” said Quint Studer, co-owner of the Blue Wahoos. “We wanted to tap into that talent base. Other employers had told us that, at times, they had trouble attracting minority candidates. Prospective African-
“The top compliment we get in our fan surveys is that our workers are unbelievable.” Quint Studer American workers hesitated to apply because they had little chance of being hired.” The Mays and the African-American ministers were critical in breaking down barriers. “We couldn’t have done it without their help and guidance,” said Studer. “The top compliment we get in our fan surveys is that our workers are unbelievable.” “We really push for customer service,” Griffith said when asked about the surveys.
More than a baseball team
“Employees feel a sense of ownership of the team.” And the players must enjoy playing in a waterfront stadium. “I’ve heard nothing but great things from the players,” Griffith said. “We have players from everywhere and they all love Pensacola. They of course love going to the beach and McGuire’s, but also just the city itself.” Without too much of recent baseball history to look to, Griffith and the rest of the Blue Wahoos crew were left to their own devices when deciding what kind of impact they wanted to make in the community. “We can help make a difference,” Griffith said. The Blue Wahoos stadium has seen many nights dedicated to worthy causes— United Way, autism, wounded soldiers and flood victims—and thousands of dollars have been raised. Maybe baseball fans were so giving because they didn’t have to spend so much to go out. With tickets as low as $5, free movie nights and frequent promotions, families don’t have to pinch pennies to enjoy time together. “We’re a very affordable family outing and always will be,” Griffith said. “Folks enjoy being out there.” inweekly.net
2012 Game Changers
Justin Pierce
A
s a young, black male growing up in Pensacola, Justin Pierce looked up to Lumon May. May, who coached Pierce’s youth basketball league, told him, “Whenever you go to school and make something of yourself, never forget where you came from.” Pierce remembered those words.
Supervisor, City of Pensacola Inner-city Athletics
He studied sports administration and business at Belhaven University after high school—his tuition covered by his basketball skills. In other words, he went to school and made something of himself. However, upon graduation, he was reluctant to return home. He saw more opportunity in Jackson, Miss. than he did in Pensacola. “As funny as it sounds, that was the first time I saw African Americans in business suits,” Pierce said. “The mayor was an African American. The chief of police was an African American.” However, May’s words echoed in Pierce’s mind. “It kind of hit me,” he said. “Too many of us were leaving.” “What happens to the children [if we don’t return]? Who do they get to look up to?” So, Pierce came back. He taught at a small, Christian school on the Westside, before taking a position with the Southern Youth Sports Association—the organization that sponsored the youth league he played in. In 2009, he began working at the Fricker Center, which offers after school programs to inner-city kids in Pensacola. He ran the center for three years.
This summer, Pierce became the supervisor of inner-city athletics for the City of Pensacola—after May stepped down from the position to run for political office.
“What happens to the children [if we don’t return]? Who do they get to look up to?” Justin Pierce Pierce is optimistic about Pensacola’s future. “As a native of Pensacola, I’ve never been more passionate about my city,” he said. “I love this place. I never wanna leave. I’m looking at getting a boat, so I can sit on the water and watch the fireworks.” He said he is pleased by Mayor Ashton Hay ward’s ef forts to promote the city and excited about the revitalization of downtown.
Though optimistic, he also sees challenges. He worries about increasing crime and high dropout rates in the inner city. He said there needs to be more of a “village mentality” in offering support to inner-city youth. “If they look out their windows and see negativity 24/7, how long is it before that negativity controls them and they get a sense of learned helplessness? We always got to stay positive and motivate these kids and tell them ‘you can be anything you wanna be.’” “If we tell a kid ‘we can’t help you,’ guess who will say they can: the drug dealer, the person who will put a girl on the corner and those people won’t sleep, so we can’t either.” He also said he worries that Pensacola’s best and brightest are leaving for opportunities elsewhere. “It’s time [for our elected officials] to stop fighting and come together,” he said, “because if we’re losing our young talent, who’s gonna take your spot in the next 10 years? Who’s gonna be the next Ashton Hayward? Who’s gonna be the next Brian Spencer? Who’s gonna be the next Lumon May? ”
In-The-Game Changer for Educational Opportunity!
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Associate degrees I Bachelor’s degrees I Career and technical programs I Continuing education I Adult education and GED prep July 05, 2012
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2012 Game Changers
Megan Pratt
Founder, The MESS Hall
Then, she ran for and won a seat on City Council. All while riding a unicycle on a tightrope and juggling two children above her head. That’s a lot—even if you take away the unicycle and tight rope—but it wasn’t enough for Pratt. “Three months ago, when people asked me what I did for a living, I would tell them, ‘I’m a stay at-home mom with two jobs,” she said. “Now, I’m a stayat-home mom with two jobs and a full-time volunteer position.” As she spoke, Pratt sat at a low plastic table in the back room of The MESS Hall, the children’s science museum she helped start this summer. “MESS” is an acronym for “Math, Engineering, Science, and Stuff.” It also reflects Pratt’s belief that the best way to teach kids about science is to encourage them to just “mess around.” This was the model for “Science Saturdays,” the monthly, hands-on science program she started in 2003. “It’s ‘Here’s some stuff. Here’s sort of your goal. Get there,’” Pratt said.
“Science Saturdays” has been successful. So successful that the Institute can no longer meet demand for the program. Pratt said she routinely has twice as many children sign up as she can accommodate. This is one reason Pratt and others began thinking about a museum.
museums of old. Nor was it going to be like Mobile’s Exploreum. Instead, Pratt wanted to build something that would teach children to think scientifically by giving them the freedom to, well, mess around. She found this concept hard to explain to donors. “I figured, instead of telling them, why don’t I figure out a way to show them,” she said. This summer’s pop-up science museum is “one big science experiment” designed to do just this. The group’s lease on the building is up at the end of July, with the option to renew. At that time, Pratt said, they will evaluate. “So far it seems that the experiment has been a success, in terms of the interest in the community,” she said “We are positive about the potential for making this a permanent asset in the community. Whatever happens at the end of July people should know that this will be a permanent part of the landscape of Pensacola in some form or another.”
“We are positive about the potential for making this a permanent asset in the community." Megan Pratt
M
egan Pratt has always been industrious. After earning advanced degrees from MIT and Harvard, she signed up to be a science writer and educational outreach coordinator for the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.
“They [the researchers] can’t give as much as the community is asking,” she said. “The demand was clearly there, and the community interest was clearly there.” However, she needed money. Fundraising presented a particular challenge, given the nontraditional nature of what was planned. The museum wasn’t going to be a “dead animal” museum, like the natural history
Andrew Rothfeder platform of opportunity. People are willing to work extremely hard to realize their dreams.” Encouraging people to invest in Pensacola by opening their business here is one of the points Rothfeder made when mapping his plans for the city’s future. He explained that by creating and modifying processes and incentives to ease the path to business—existing, entrepreneurial and relocation—the waterfall effect would be significant. “This needs to continue to happen at both public and private levels,” he said. “The Pensacola Business Challenge is a great example of the private sector making a real change. In addition to the obvious benefits, Carmen’s Lunch Bar, the contest has inspired several other contestants to move forward with their new businesses including Sabor Tamales and Emerald Coast Tours. How cool is that?” Rothfeder is a real estate investor/developer and partner at Levin & Rinke Resort Reality. Redeveloping downtown waterfront and creating downtown housing are also part of his plans for Pensacola’s future. He and the Studers recently purchased the former “Penko” building on the corner of Main and Palafox streets.
Executive Director, Pensacola Business Challenge
“We are in the redevelopment design phase now,” he said. “The general idea is true urban mixed use, lofts over retail. Between this project, The Bodacious Olive, Carmen’s Lunch Bar and the development
Frozen Yogurt, which brings the frozen yogurt craze closer to downtown. Even with several projects underway, Rothfeder is proud to note the progress of Pensacola. “I love the fact that my current conversations in the community are less about Pensacola’s potential and more about what we are doing right now,” he said. “Our leaders are creating a culture of action and teamwork, and it is going viral.” Rothfeder looks to cities like Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga., and St. Petersburg, Fla. when thinking of Pensacola in the next few years. “My vision for the future is a city that is mentioned right alongside those places, a tier-1 choice for a business, entrepreneur or family.” And if redeveloping downtown and mentoring local entrepreneurs aren’t enough, he also is on the boards of Temple Beth-El and Tri Gulf Coast. “It may sound cliché, but this stuff is incredibly rewarding and fun,” Rothfeder said. “My parents were very involved in their community and it taught me the importance of giving back.”
“I love the fact that my current conversations in the community are less about Pensacola’s potential and more about what we are doing right now.”
A
ndrew Rothfeder took the time to help the Studers with their popular Pensacola Business Challenge, and with 112 initial applicants the help was certainly needed. “It was an eye-opener as to the depth and spirit of entrepreneurship we have locally,” Rothfeder said. “It really showed us that often it is as simple as creating the 020 2
Andrew Rothfeder plans on the two south corners, I believe this intersection will be the hot new corner of downtown, providing a gateway to the Maritime Park.” Keeping up with the momentum created at the Community Maritime Park is also important. Businesses are opening at the base of the stadium, including Beach Berry
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Rishy Studer
W
hen Tristan De Luna came to Pensacola in the 16th century, he lugged along several olive trees. Those poor seafaring shrubs were the first to be planted in American soil. They have vanished in the mists of time—and the gale force winds of countless hurricanes. But Rishy Studer is conjuring their ghosts.
Developer, owner of Bodacious Olive
The Bodacious Olive, which Studer opened this summer, is one of the newest additions to downtown Pensacola. The shop sells a tantalizing variety of artisanal oils and vinegars, as well as freshly baked bread, homemade pastas, and wine. The venture is one more feather in the cap of a couple who need no introduction. Rishy and her husband, Quint, have supported too many causes to list. Recently, the couple donated $1 million to create a scholarship fund at the University of West Florida. They also contributed more than $2 million to the construction of the Community Maritime Park and are co-owners of the Blue Wahoos franchise. The Olive is part of their campaign to kick-start business development downtown. “We saw a need after the storm, when things were so devastated,” Rishy Studer said. “I guess it was just a way of branching out— trying to do our share.” One day, Studer overheard some tourists ask a shop proprietor, “Where’s the shopping downtown?” The proprietor’s response made her realize that something was missing. “We thought things really needed a jumpstart,” she said.
So, they purchased the vacant building at Palafox and Government.
In addition to the Olive, the Studers own the two adjacent spaces and the old Penko’s building across Palafox. Studer said they plan to put a coffee shop in the space next to The Olive. The third space will be home to Carmen’s Lunch Counter, the winner of the Pensacola Business Challenge. The Challenge, which was the Studers’ brainchild, was meant to encourage entrepreneurs to open their doors downtown. Carmen’s will not have to pay rent for the first year, and will pay subsidized rent for several years thereafter. The Penko’s building is being renovated now, but when complete, Studer said it should house five or six retail businesses and accommodate three loft apartments or condominiums on the upper floor. Studer said she hopes their entrepreneurship will pay dividends for Pensacola. She envisions a walking district that extends all the way to the Plaza de Luna. She even has a name for the soon-tobe-lively region south of Government Street. (She credits Brian Spencer with the idea). The name? SoGo.
“We saw a need after the storm, when things were so devastated. I guess it was just a way of branching out—trying to do our share.” Rishy Studer “Once we bought the building, we had to come up with an idea of what to do with it,” she said. The couple was vacationing in North Carolina when the lights came on. It was there that they stumbled upon an olive oil shop. “We had so much fun,” she said. “Over an hour we spent, just trying things. It was an experience, and I wanted to make this an experience, too.”
Climb 177 steps to the top of the historic tower for the most beautiful view of the bay and the gulf or stroll down our nature walk to the sound-side beach. Visit the museum and gift shop housed inside the 1869 Keepers’ Quarters.
July Events Light of the Moon: July 13,20,27, Aug.3 Ghost Hunt: July 14,21,28, Aug.4 Blue Angels Practice: July 17,18 “Amazing!” Special event pricing & reservations:
www.LighthouseReservations.org
Hours: Mon-Sat.10:00am-5:30pm • Sun.12noon-5:30 Tickets: Adults:$5 • Children, Seniors & Active Military:$3 Location: On Pensacola NAS across from the Naval Museum
For more information or to schedule a tour: 850.393.1561
July 05, 2012
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2012 Game Changers
Think Beyond Pensacola ence room of idgroup, the branding agency of which she is president. The other officers of Think Beyond sat nearby. The officers are an eclectic group, which includes lawyer and former president of IMPACT 100 Julie Sheppard; architect Kelly Wieczorek, who specializes in sustainable design; scientist Mary Gutierrez, who heads the local environmental group Earth Ethics; and designer Teresa Dos Santos. What unites them is the desire to move Pensacola forward. “There’s a whole lot of people out there like us,” Amodeo said. “As we started talking, it was like finding our tribe.” “We don’t have just one goal or one vision that we’re pushing toward,” Wieczorek said. Instead, the group intends to be a catalyst and a connector. They want to “create a space” for like-minded people and groups to unite and turn ideas into action.
Innovative Connectors
“What we’re really looking for is people to innovate,” Amodeo said. “If you look at our meetings,” Wieczorek said, “we’ve got people that have always been at the table, people that are heads of the table and people that have never been invited to the table.” “My philosophy about economic development and branding and all that is that you have to have something,” Amodeo said. “If you build the core of ‘real’ and ‘meaningful,’ you’re not going to have to worry about attracting people here; and you’re not going to have to worry about building an economy; and you’re certainly not going to have to worry about the brand, because the brand will be what is.” Think Beyond recently had their second public meeting. Meetings are to be held quarterly, with the next meeting tentatively falling in early September. “We really want to put Pensacola on the map,” Wieczorek said.
“If you build the core of ‘real’ and ‘meaningful,’ you’re not going to have to worry about attracting people here."
T
Mona Amodeo
he summer of 2010 was bleak. No Pensacolian needs to ask why. However, in the midst of that tar pit of disaster and despair, Mona Amodeo and a few friends saw opportunity. “We kept hearing, ‘We’ve got to restore. We’ve got to get things back to the way it was,’” Amodeo said. “We kept thinking, ‘It’s not about getting things back to the way it was. We’ve got to think beyond.’”
They saw it as an opportunity to take stock and build a stronger, more sustainable community. That’s the idea behind the non-profit the group started recently, fittingly dubbed “Think Beyond.” “Generally, what I’m passionate about is engaging people to move things toward a sustainable future,” Amodeo said. She sat at a table in the elegantly appointed confer-
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Mike and Bill Wein
F
ather and son team, Mike and Bill Wein could work in any city of their choosing. Yet they chose Pensacola to be the hub of IMS ExpertServices, a company that provides experts and consultants for top law firms and Fortune 1000 companies. “We’re here because we want to be here,” said CEO Mike Wein. After splitting time between Denver and Pensacola, it became obvious to them where they wanted to reside full-time and it wasn’t just the beaches drawing them back.
“It’s a good place to raise a family,” said President Bill Wein. “My children went from kindergarten to twelfth grade on one campus. They’ve made lifelong friends, built houses for Habitat for Humanity and been a part of Pensacola Young Professionals.” Even though they’ve had tempting offers, Mike and Bill are happy to call Pensacola home, and certainly wouldn’t leave during Pensacola’s revival. “There have been companies dangling big dollars, but we made the choice to be a part of the Renaissance that’s taking place here,” Bill said. Mike quickly pointed out that the people in Pensacola made an impact in the decision to keep IMS here. And while experts are called upon from around the world, many IMS employees are culled from Pensacola. “The vast majority of our employees are local,” Mike said. “These young people graduating with honors from UWF—we want them to stay in the area.”
Leaders, IMS Expert Services
As a national firm with satellite offices in New York City, Atlanta and Denver, IMS ExpertServices is often importing money from various parts of the world.
either,” Mike said with a laugh. Employees are also encouraged to network and engage with the community. “Our business is built upon relationships,” Bill said. IMS has continued to grow each year, but not by taking any and every job that presents itself. “We work for only the best and the brightest,” Mike said. “We still turn down more business than we accept.” The key to success, Mike said, is to do what you say you’re going to do. “If you listen to your clients, they’ll lead you to your next opportunity,” Bill said. The IMS footprint in Cordova Square continues to grow as well with the recent purchase of about 4,800 square feet, which leaves room for more employees. And for those looking to work with game changers, IMS is always recruiting. “We are hiring across all departments— across the board,” Bill said.
“It’s not just taking, but giving back. We’re making a big impact on the community not just by writing a check.” Bill Wein “What we earn as a firm comes to Pensacola and largely stays here,” Mike said. One of the seven core values of IMS is to give back to the community “through time and treasure.” Mike and Bill Wein and IMS employees contribute to various organizations such as United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pensacola Young Professionals, Chain Reaction and Ronald McDonald House, to name a few. “It’s not just taking, but giving back,” said Bill. “We’re making a big impact on the community not just by writing a check.” “Although writing a check doesn’t hurt
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July 05, 2012
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WEEK OF JULY 5 - 12
July 05, 2012
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Arts & Entertainment a r t , f i l m , m u s i c , s ta g e , b o o k s a n d o t h e r s i g n s o f c i v i l i z a t i o n . . .
JULY 10
Calling All “Ruff Ryders”
First Lil Kim, now multi-platinum rapper DMX is bringing his raspy swagger to Vinyl Music Hall. Classic hip-hop fans can never complain about there being “nothing to do in Pensacola” ever again. vinylmusichall.com
Drink the World
World of Beer is FINALLY open on Palafox, so you can start your summer goal of expanding your beer horizons now. facebook.com/wobpalafox
Film Fans Rejoice
The little cinema that could—Gulf Breeze Cinema 4—finally has Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom.” movies4gulfbreeze.com
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music
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by Whitney Vaughan Fike
Country Cool Girl Heats Up Orange Beach
photo by James Minchin III One of country music’s most popular female artists, Miranda Lambert, will grace the Gulf Coast on Thursday, July 12. She’s girlie with her pink microphone and guitar but don’t let her fool you, she’s about as feisty as they get. Lambert’s tour is edgy and full of intensity. She brings it on stage by interacting with her fans and talking about her also famous husband Blake Shelton and her many rescue dogs. The CMA female vocalist of the year with four No. 1 albums (in a row) is doing all the right things with her music and for her fans. Joining Lambert are special guests Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett as well as the newest addition on the lineup, the Pistol Annies (Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley). Don’t miss Lambert’s On Fire Tour at The Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Ala. in support of her fourth album, “Four the Record.” The IN was able to ask some questions about country music and Lambert’s lifestyle in between her busy tour schedule.
IN: Recently, you have been featured on the covers of many magazines. Do you ever feel pressure being a role model to so many female fans? LAMBERT: I’m a real girl, and I enjoy a good meal with friends. I am not built to ever be a size zero or two. I won’t let the pressure get to me. I try to embrace my curves and encourage my fans to be happy with who they are. I want to be healthy; I watch what I eat, but like everyone should, I splurge on occasion. I also try to work out regularly and have an active lifestyle. Getting up and going just makes you feel better and rock harder! I’ve had girls come up and thank me for being normal and that makes it all worth it. IN: Some of your songs are very emotional and have deep meaning. When you perform, you show that emotion on stage. Do you feel it’s important that fans know you have just as much of a connection with a song so they can relate to your songs? LAMBERT: Music is my life and it is such a powerfully healing experience. Songs have helped me through a lot and I hope my songs can do that for my fans. IN: You’ve recently been quoted saying that Taylor Swift has really helped country music and if her fans are watching for her, they might like you as well. What do you think makes country music today? LAMBERT: I think people are finally starting to see that country music is about much more than just cowboy boots and rhinestone shirts. We’ve been pigeonholed for a long time, but now it is becoming a more popular format thanks to such varied and talented
artists in our format being showcased on all kinds of new media. IN: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill had a very successful tour together as a married country couple. Do you feel you and Blake Shelton could take on the same challenge if your labels ever allowed it? LAMBERT: Blake and I are focusing on our own careers and celebrating each other’s individual successes. It is pretty awesome to be part of the reigning ACM and CMA couple though! We do enjoy working together when the right opportunity comes along, such as co-writing my last single, “Over You,” and singing the duet, “Better in the Long Run,” on my new album, “Four the Record.” IN: How do you prepare for each performance? Do you have any fun traditions or superstitions? LAMBERT: Not really—I like hanging out with my band, friends, and dogs before my shows. I just try to get in a fun, party mood and extend that to my audience!
my songs because I try to keep them truly authentic to who I am as an artist and a person. Specifically, I am so honored that I recently got to cut “Over You” that Blake and I wrote about his late brother, Richie. I am even more honored that it went to No. 1 and just won a CMT Female Video of the Year award. It means so much to me and Blake that we were able to celebrate his brother’s memory with this song. IN: You’ve been down to the Gulf Coast a few times recently. Do you ever get a chance to enjoy the beaches and water when you are here on tour? LAMBERT: If I don’t have a lot of other responsibilities during the day like interviews and other business items, I usually try to get out and enjoy the towns I visit. Sometimes it’s just going to a local store or taking my dogs for a walk. I do love going to the beach and getting a tan whenever I can, so I’m crossing my fingers for Orange Beach! IN: What have you enjoyed most so far during the “On Fire” tour? LAMBERT: The great fans and hearing them sing along with my new songs! It’s so much fun having new material to play. I am also enjoying being out with my friends, Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann, and occasionally the Pistol Annies, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe. I think I have an “On Fire” combination with all these artists! {in}
IN: Obviously it’s known you’re an animal lover. Do you think if you weren’t a performer you would have a job working with animals? LAMBERT: Since music is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do, it’s hard to say what I’d be doing right now if I weren’t an artist. But I do think it would include animals. They’re really my next favorite thing in the world and it’s a great feeling helping them. I love the work I do with MuttNation Foundation. Don’t WHAT: Miranda Lambert with Lee Brice, forget—love a shelter pet! Thomas Rhett and Pistol Annies WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 12 IN: Your songs are full of empowWHERE: The Amphitheater at the Wharf, ering messages. What song have Orange Beach, Ala. you released that means the most COST: $27.60-$62.05 (fees included) to you as an artist? Is there someDETAILS: amphitheateratthewharf.com; thing you’re most proud of? ticketmaster.com LAMBERT: I am really proud of all
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July 05, 2012
happenings
THURSDAY 7.5
‘A ROADTRIP THROUGH FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY’ 10 a.m. DARC, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050, ext. 107 or flpublicarchaeology.org/darc.php. ‘SURFING FLORIDA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY’ 10 a.m. through Sep 2. Pensacola Museum
of Art. 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 10 a.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 10 a.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 4299100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘WOMAN’: A JURIED EXHIBIT 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘QUIET LIGHT’ 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘TOUCH THE PAST’ ARCHAEOLOGY LAB VOLUNTEER PROGRAM 10 a.m. FPAN Coordinating Center, 207 E. Main St. 5950050 ext. 103 or flpublicarchaeology.org. ‘IT’S 5 O’ CLOCK SOMEWHERE’ MARGARITA TASTING 2 p.m. Margaritaville Beach Hotel, 165 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9755 or margaritavillehotel.com. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. Ninth Ave. 433-9463 or aragonwinemarket.com. HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 6 p.m. $2 for non-members. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org. VEGAN DINNER AT EOTL 6 p.m. End of the Line Café, 610 E. Wright St. 429-0336 or eotlcafe.com. BLUE WAHOOS VS. BIRMINGHAM BARONS 7 p.m. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com.
EVENINGS IN OLDE SEVILLE SQUARE 7 p.m. Seville Square, between Alcaniz and Adams streets. 438-6505 or pensacolaheritage.org.
live music
THE DAVENPORTS 6 p.m. The Leisure Club, 126 S. Palafox. 912-4229 or tlcdowntown.com. LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com. KARAOKE WITH BECKY 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 934-3141 or dalesbigdeck.com. SUPERMASSIVE 8 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. TIM SPENCER 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. DUELING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. DJ MR LAO 8 p.m. Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. BAD HABITS 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. COLLEGE DANCE NIGHT 9 p.m. Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.
FRIDAY 7.6
‘A ROADTRIP THROUGH FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY’ 10 a.m. DARC, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050, ext. 107 or flpublicarchaeology.org/darc.php. ‘SURFING FLORIDA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY’ 10 a.m. through Sep 2. Pensacola Museum
of Art. 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 10 a.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 10 a.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘WOMAN’: A JURIED EXHIBIT 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘QUIET LIGHT’ 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. WINE TASTING AT DK 4:30 p.m. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com. WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5 p.m. Palace Café at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. WINE TASTING AT CITY GROCERY 5:15 p.m. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave. 469-8100. WINE TASTING AT EAST HILL MARKET 5:30 p.m. 1216 N. Ninth Ave. BLUE WAHOOS VS. BIRMINGHAM BARONS 7 p.m. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com. ‘INVASION FROM PLANET X’ UFP TROLLEY TOUR 7:30 p.m. $5-$20. Visitors information Center, 1401 E. Gregory St. 417-7321 or ufotrolley.com. ‘SUNSET TOAST AT THE TOP’ 7:30 p.m. Couples only tour, reservations required. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or lighthousereservations.org. ‘LIGHT OF THE MOON TOUR’ 8 p.m. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org.
NAI Halford congratulates our 2009, 2010, 2011 Top Producer and “Game Changer”
Michael Carro
The Pensacola / Santa Rosa MSA’s Commercial Market Leader: •First in commercial sales and pending sales ; •First in commercial leases Through May 2012. Source : PAR CMLS
naihalford.com | 433-0577 | 24 N. Tarragona St.
NPR’s Morning Edition, The World, Fresh Air & BBC programming bring authors, scientists, musicians and leaders of thought right to me at home, at work, or in the car. WUWF Public Radio keeps me aware of the cutting edge. It’s my source for innovative ideas.
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happenings
Boukou Groove / courtesy photo CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HISTORIC FORT PICKENS 8:30 p.m. $8 per vehicle. Fort Pickens, 1400 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 934-2600 or nps.gov/guis.
live music
MAINSTREAM 3 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. TIM SPENCER 6 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com. SUN DOGS 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebargrill.com. SAWMILL & GUESTS 7 p.m. Chumuckla’s Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Rd., Pace. 994-9219 or farmersopry.com.
Rescued, Recycled, Refinished & Previously Loved Furniture and Goods of All Kinds
HOLLY SHELTON AND DAVID SHELANDER 8 p.m. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 4299655 or ragtyme.net. MO JILES 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 40 0 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9 8 8 8 or bamboowillies.com. BUZZ CUTT 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. BAD HABITS 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. MASON JAR 9 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. JAMES ADKINS 9:30 p.m. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.
SATURDAY 7.7
SANTA ROSA COUNTY DEMOCRATS YARD SALE 8 a.m. Santa Rosa County Democrats, 5746 Stewart St. 623-2345 or santarosademocrats.com. PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m. Martin Luther King Plaza on North Palafox Street between Chase and Garden streets. palafoxmarket.com.
‘A ROADTRIP THROUGH FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY’ 10 a.m. DARC, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050, ext. 107 or flpublicarchaeology.org/darc.php. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 10 a.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 10 a.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST’S ROW’ 10 a.m. Historic Belmont DeVilliers, 314 N. DeVilliers St. 912-6806 or devilliersmuseum.com. ‘WOMAN’: A JURIED EXHIBIT 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘QUIET LIGHT’ 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘DINE OUT FOR DOGS’ 11 a.m. Rag Tyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 932-6769 or humanesocietyofpensacola.org. ‘SURFING FLORIDA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY’ 12 p.m. through Sep 2. Pensacola Museum of Art. 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org. FAMILY FUN DAY 12 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. BLUE WAHOOS VS. MOBILE BAYBEARS 6:30 p.m. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com. LIGHTHOUSE GHOST HUNT 8 p.m. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org.
live music
SHAWNA P. & ADAM 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com.
DAVE MEADOWS 6 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com. PAUL KILLOUGH 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com. WAGON 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com. SAWMILL BAND & GUESTS 7 p.m. Chumuckla’s Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Rd., Pace. 994-9219 or farmersopry.com. KRAZY GEORGE KARAOKE 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com. KARAOKE WITH MARK ESKEW 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s at the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com. DUELING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. MO JILES 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. BUZZ CUTT 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. BAD HABITS 9 p.m. Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. BOUKOU GROOVE 9 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. KNEE DEEP BAND 9:30 p.m. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com.
SUNDAY 7.8
WORSHIP ON THE WATER 11 a.m. Tent Stage, Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com.
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A SALUTE TO DIFFERENCE MAKERS 2012 Independent News Game Changers Pensacola is evolving everyday into the kind of town we all want it be. It wouldn’t be possible without these “game changers.”
Joe Abston Blaise Adams Matthew Altier David Bear Dana Bledsoe Michael Carro Marianne Estess Donna Fassett Dr. Ken Ford VADM Gerald Hoewing Brian Hooper Rev. LuTimothy May Dr. Ed Meadows Pensacola Blue Wahoos Justin Pierce Megan Pratt Andrew Rothfeder Rishy Studer Think Beyond Pensacola Bill and Mike Wein Sponsored by Quint and Rishy Studer
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happenings ‘SUMMERFEST’ 12:30 p.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 12:30 p.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. BLUE WAHOOS VS. MOBILE BAYBEARS 2 p.m. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com.
live music
BA’NANA REPUBLIC 1 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. HERITAGE 3 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. TOMATO 4 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com. REED LIGHTFOOT 6 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. 30 X 90 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com.
MONDAY 7.9
‘A ROADTRIP THROUGH FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY’ 10 a.m. DARC, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050, ext. 107 or flpublicarchaeology.org/darc.php. ‘TOUCH THE PAST’ ARCHAEOLOGY LAB VOLUNTEER PROGRAM 10 a.m. FPAN Coordinating Center, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050 ext. 103 or flpublicarchaeology.org. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 10 a.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or
bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 10 a.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. TEA PARTY ‘STRAIGHT TALK’ FORUM 6 p.m. Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom St., Milton. 994-7548 or theteapartynetwork.org. BURGERS & BEER NIGHT AT SURF BURGER 6 p.m. Surf Burger, 500 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-1417 or thesurfburger.com. ‘WINE PAIRING CLASS: SUMMER REDS & ROSE WINE’ 6 p.m. $55, registration required. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com. BLUE WAHOOS VS. MOBILE BAYBEARS 7 p.m. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com. TEXAS HOLD’EM 4 FUN 7 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. GAMER’S NIGHT 8 p.m. Fast Eddie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. EXTREME TRIVIA 10:30 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com.
live music
OPEN MIC WITH CATHY PACE 6 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. PAUL KILLOUGH 6 p.m. Crabs We Got ‘Em, 6 Casino Beach. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com. CORNBREAD 6 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. 30 X 90 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com TIM MORGAN 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 934-3141
or dalesbigdeck.com. MUSICIANS ALLIANCE 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. LIVIN’ THE DREAM 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.
TUESDAY 7.10
BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE 8:30 a.m. Museum of Naval Aviation viewing area, 1750 Radford Blvd. 452-3604 or blueangels.navy.mil. ‘A ROADTRIP THROUGH FLORIDA ARCHAEOLOGY’ 10 a.m. DARC, 207 E. Main St. 595-0050, ext. 107 or flpublicarchaeology.org/darc.php. ‘SURFING FLORIDA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY’ 10 a.m. through Sep 2. Pensacola Museum of Art. 407 S. Jefferson St. 432-6247 or pensacolamuseumofart.org. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 10 a.m. through Jul 21. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘ARTIST EXCHANGE’ 10 a.m. through Jul 31. Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.com. ‘WOMAN’: A JURIED EXHIBIT 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. ‘QUIET LIGHT’ 10 a.m. through Jul 14. Artel Gallery, 223 S. Palafox. 432-3080 or artelgallery.org. PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. YOGA WITH BECKIE SATHRE 6 p.m. $2 for nonmembers. Ever’man Natural Foods, 315 W. Garden St. 438-0402 or everman.org. ANCHOR STEPS SWING NIGHT 7 p.m. $3-$5.
Phineas Phogg’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. TOSH TUESDAY 8 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.
live music
LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com. ELYSE THEROSE 7 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. BANDS ON THE BEACH FEATURING THE MODERN CROSS TOWN 7 p.m. The Gulfside Pavillion, 1 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 932-1500 or visitpensacolabeach.com. NACE BROTHERS 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com. DMX 7:30 p.m. $25-$30. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. 607-6758 or vinylmusichall.com. KARAOKE WITH BECKY 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. TUESDAY JAM NIGHT 8 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. MIKE QUINN 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. KARAOKE WITH GEORGE 9 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com.
for more listings visit inweekly.net
NATIONAL FLIGHT ACADEMY ➤
The National Flight Academy is authorized, but not endorsed, by the U.S. Navy
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July 05, 2012
• A delicious array of tapas, salads, main plates and desserts • Nightly Chef's Specials • Fresh, seasonal produce and seafood arriving daily • Full bar and extensive wine list
Tues - Thurs - 5pm thru 9pm • Fri & Sat - 5pm thru 10pm
27 South Palafox Place 850.469.9966
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news of the weird Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Prevention Summit
Bridging the Gap A day-long conference designed to bring together crime prevention experts, community leaders and area youth in an effort to reduce crime. Attendance is free but seating is limited. Register online at escambiaso.com. For sponsorship information, contact Delarian Wiggins at (850) 436-9496
August 2, 2012 Crown Plaza Hotel Brought to you by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
CHINESE HIGH-TECH ANSWER TO RED BULL Chinese media reported that on May 4th, at the Xiaogan Middle School in Hubei province, high school students studying for the all-important national college entrance exam worked through the evening while hooked up to intravenous drips of amino acids to fight fatigue. A director of the school’s Office of Academic Affairs reasoned that before the IVs were hung, weary students complained of losing too much time running back and forth to the school’s infirmary for energy injections. After the media reports, there was a public backlash, but less against the notion that China was placing too much importance on the exams than against reports that the government was subsidizing the cost of the injections. CAN’T POSSIBLY BE TRUE Desmond Hatchett, 33, was summoned to court in Knoxville, Tenn., in May so that a judge could chastise him for again failing to make child-support payments. Official records show that Hatchett has at least 30 children (ages 14 down to “toddler”) by at least 11 women. He said at a 2009 court appearance that he was “through” siring children and apparently has taken proper precautions since then. (In Milwaukee, Wis., in April, Sean Patrick was sentenced to 30 years in prison for owing more than $146,000 for 12 children by 10 mothers, and the city’s Journal Sentinel newspaper reported that, before being locked up, two convicted pimps, Derrick Avery and Todd Carter, had fathered, respectively, 15 kids by seven women and 16 children with “several” mothers.) • The Associated Press reported in May that Kentucky prison officials were working behind the scenes to resolve the thorny question of whether inmate Robert Foley deserves a hip replacement. Normally, a prisoner in such extreme pain would qualify. However, Foley, 55, is on death row for killing six people in 1989 and 1991, and since he has exhausted his appeals, he is still alive only because a court has halted all executions while the state reconsiders its lethal-injection procedure. Furthermore, all local hospitals queried by the prison to perform the procedure have declined to take Foley because the prison considers him dangerous. • Chilean artist Sebastian Errazuriz recently created “Christian popsicles” made from wine that Errazuriz obtained by trickery after a priest consecrated it into “the blood of Christ.” The popsicle’s stick is actually a figure of Jesus on the cross, as sort of a reward for finishing the treat. (Also, The Icecreamists shop in London, England, recently began offering a popsicle made with absinthe—and holy water from a spring in Lourdes, France, which many Catholics revere for its healing powers. The “Vice Lolly” sells for the equivalent of about $29.) • The official class photo of Eileen Diaz’s second-grade kids at Sawgrass Elementary School in Sunrise, Fla., was distributed this
inweekly.net
by Chuck Shepherd
spring with the face of the front-and-center child replaced by a dark-on-white smiley face. Apparently there was miscommunication between the school and the photographer about redoing the photo without the child, whose parents had not given permission for the shot. (Another child without parental authorization was easily edited out of the photo, but the front-and-center student could not be.) FINE POINTS OF THE LAW In May, the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled, 3-0, that it is not necessarily improper under federal law for Minute Maid to name a beverage “Pomegranate Blueberry” even though those two ingredients constitute only 0.5 percent of the contents. A competing seller of pomegranate juices had sued in 2008, pointing out that 99.4 percent of the Minute Maid beverage was merely apple and grape juices. Minute Maid’s owner, Coca-Cola, called the competitor’s complaint “baseless.” • Almost all companies that collect customer data publish their policies on how they keep the data “private” (even though those “privacy” policies almost always explain just precisely the ways they intend not to keep the data “private”—and are not required to by law). Researchers writing in the journal I/S: A Journal of Law and Policy for the Information Society (summarized in an April post on the blog TechDirt.com) found that if typical consumers bothered to read all of the detailed privacy policies they encountered, it would take from 181 to 304 hours per year (22-38 workdays), depending on shopping habits. (If every consumer in America did it, it would take from 40 billion to 67 billion hours a year, or 5 billion to 8.3 billion workdays a year.) UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT In April, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it was fining Google for deliberately impeding the agency’s investigation into the company’s collection of wireless data by its roaming Street View vehicles and that the agency had decided, based on Google’s “ability to pay,” that it needed to double its staff-proposed fine in order to “deter future misconduct.” Hence, it raised Google’s fine from $12,000 to $25,000. (As pointed out by ProPublica.org, during the previous quarter year, Google made profits of $2.89 billion, or $25,000 every 68 seconds.) • In April, police in Newtown Township, Pa., searched (unsuccessfully, it turns out) for a “skinny” black male, between ages 35 and 45, wearing a black tracksuit. He had indecently exposed himself at a place of business—the offices of the Bucks County Association for the Blind (although, obviously, at least one sighted person reported his description). {in}
From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2012 Chuck Shepherd
Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com.
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PYP CANDIDATE FORUM The disinterested youth vote is a thing of the past. In an effort to encourage a younger voice in the shaping of our community; the Pensacola Young Professionals is pleased to announce its inaugural Candidate Forum. In partnership with the Seville Rotary and Leadership Pensacola Alumni, PYP will be hosting candidates from four hotly contested races in Pensacola Bay area. The races and candidates slated to attend are: Escambia County Sheriff candidates David Morgan and John Russell Powell; Escambia County Clerk of Court candidates Ernie Lee Magaha and Pam Childers; FL State Representative District 1 candidate Doug Broxon; Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections candidates Buck Lee and Tappie Villane. The forum will begin with a social hour at 5:00 pm on July 17th at Apple Annies in Seville Square. Following the social hour each race will receive half an hour to share their platforms with the attendees from 6:00-8:00pm. All young professionals in the Pensacola Bay area eager to learn about the issues concerning each race are heartily encouraged to attend. Equally, PYP would like to extend an invitation to any other area candidates to join us for our social hour. We anticipate the Candidate Forum to be a resounding success and the first step toward creating an assembly of informed young professional voters in our community.
pensacolayp.com for more information.
A NOTE FROM PYP PRESIDENT CHAD STACY Hello, I’d like to just say I’m excited about some awesome events PYP’s involved with this summer! Recently, I was asked to be a local dancer for the Life’s a Dance event that Covenant Hospice holds every year. I’d like to thank everyone that was a part of that event, it was a blast! Covenant raised an gracious amount for their cause. They do such good work and do such a great job with the event (Leah and Angie!!).. Also, Vic and Dawn at Fred Astair studio did an amazing job with the show, along with Margaret and Caleb. Y’all know I’m an Auburn boy and can’t dance like these stars that came from the show, but Margaret is awesome, dancing with her just makes you look better! So thanks to all of you that were able to enjoy that event. We’ve got some good stuff coming up, this is my favorite time of year. Snapper Season, 4th of July, Blue Angel, I love living here....
For more contact Sean Mccort at smm62@students.uwf.edu
Then on July 17th we’ll hold a Political Forum with Seville Rotary and Leap Alumni, for local candidates running for Escambia and Santa Rosa offices.
ANNOUNCING THE 3RD ANNUAL PYP CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
And to wrap up the summer we hold our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament at Marcus Point, on September 7th.
The celebrated tournament will be held on September 7th at newly renovated Marcus Pointe Golf Course in Pensacola, Florida. Proceeds will benefit local philanthropic organization, Gulf Coast Kid’s House. Sponsorships are still available, contact Rachael Gillette at rachael@
CRAM THE VAN
PYP is helping to Cram the Van this summer! You can help us help the students of Escambia County in two ways: 1. Donate to help us raise $300 to purchase 60 backpacks 2. Volunteer at the Cram-a-thon on Friday, July 27 You can mail a check made payable to PYP with Cram the Van in the memo line or you can donate at any PYP event between now and July 31st. Then, we will write one BIG check from PYP to United Way who is ordering the backpacks.
For more information on Pensacola Young Professionals or to join please see our website Pensacolayp.com or contact Director Rachael Gillette Pensacola Young Professionals 41 N. Jefferson St. Ste 108 Pensacola FL 32502 (850) 332-7820
CONTACT US AT
WWW.PENSACOLAYP.COM
EVENT CALENDAR July 14 Blue Angels Air Show Pensacola Beach July 17 2012 Political Forum Apple Annie’s Social Hour 5:00 p.m. Forum Begins 6:00 p.m. July 27 Cram-a-thon July 31 Deadline for Cram-theVan Donations
So stayed involved and have fun with all of these summer events! Thanks for all that you do. War Eagle, Chad Stacy President- PYP
SCAN TO SIGN-UP FOR PYP MEETING REMINDERS
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July 05, 2012
my pensacola Joseph Vincenza
Day Job: Station Manager/Program Director WUWF Public Media Pensacola Resident Since: June 2000
Good Eats: Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy things combined in ways that one might not normally think of. So, that’s why Founaris Bros. Greek Restaurant is my chow of choice. Greek gyro meat, served on a pizza with excellent Italian sauce, feta cheese, pepperoni and onion—OMG your life will never be the same. If that doesn’t sparkle for you, they have everything else and it is all to die for. I’d eat there every day if I could. That’s dinner. For breakfast, my go to place is Bagelheads on Nine Mile. Just walking in and smelling all the baked yummies and coffees, makes it worth getting out of bed. The sausage and pepper jack sticks are completely awesome. Add a Mocha Blast and you are ready to get the day going. For something slightly more filling, Village Inn is just down the road. The chicken fried breakfast skillet will make you happy. And if you eat all of it, you will most likely be sedentary for a fashion—lotta, lotta food on that plate.
ask for? But, hey, The Dock, Crabs, Flounders, Peg Leg Pete’s—they all rock.
Retail Therapy: If I ever have free time on
the water and the beach, but to be fair, it is a big reason why we like it here, right? With all that shoreline, I have discovered that Langdon Beach at Gulf Island National is my spot of choice. The beach is always clean, the people are always nice, the crowd is not drunk or obnoxious, and it’s just a pleasure to sit and stare at the waves and listen to the wind, birds and surf. I like the party atmosphere of Casino, but this is where I go to chill. Speaking of chilling, if it’s not the beach, it is riding an inner tube on The Blackwater River. I only get to do this once a year or so, and that makes it all that more special, just floating, talking and being away from the cell phone and pager for a few precious hours—ahh. {in}
the weekend—I typically don’t—I try to get to the T & W Flea Market. It is such a conglomeration of truly unique items and sellers that it’s good for hours of entertainment—you may even find something you didn’t know you needed. The flea market and the Farmers Market on Palafox, which is unfortunately a Saturday only event, round out the weekend.
Watering Holes: Just about anything at our beach, but in particular there is a certain vibe at Bamboo Willies that just feels really right. The breeze and view are perfect, the music is usually great, and the drinks are cold and served with a smile. What more can you
Activities: I’ve already gone on about gyro meat, so you know I like Greek chow. I never miss the Pensacola Greek Festival every October at the Greek Orthodox Church downtown. It’s got food, music, dancing, food, costumes, food—well, you get the idea. It’s so much fun. The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival is one of the best events of its kind, and keeps getting better every year. It’s so relaxing to walk about, listening to music, looking at art, sipping champagne. If it weren’t so pleasant it would seem decadent! Also, Festival on the Green, not just because it happens right here where I work at UWF, but because it’s just a great couple of days. Crafts, talented performers, a lovely place to stroll about—and it is free! It is kind of a “Welcome Spring” celebration that pulls together a lot of grand stuff. Outdoors: It may be a cop out to say I enjoy
Do you want to tell us how you see our city? Email Joani at joani@inweekly.net for all of the details.
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BP Oil Spill
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Settlement Announced THE PLAINTIFFS’ STEERING COMMITTEE (PSC) SPEARHEADING THE LITIGATION SURROUNDING THE 2010 BP GULF OIL SPILL ANNOUNCED THAT A SETTLEMENT IN PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN REACHED WITH BP THAT WILL FULLY COMPENSATE HUNDREDS OFTHOUSANDS OF VICTIMS OF THE TRAGEDY. THE SETTLEMENT IS TO BE FULLY FUNDED BY BP, WITH NO CAP ON THE AMOUNT BP WILL PAY. BP IS OBLIGATED TO FULLY SATISFY ALL ELIGIBLE CLAIMS UNDER THE TERMS OF THE COURT SUPERVISED SETTLEMENT, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY SET ASIDE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH OUR FIRM ABOUT POSSIBLE CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION.
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Budweiser Salutes the 2012 Game Changers Ambition. A bold vision. American ingenuity. That’s what made Budweiser the King of Beers, and that’s what these community leaders are using to transform the Greater Pensacola Area into the King of Communities.
Congratulations, Game Changers! Making a Difference in a Growing Community. Joe Abston
Dr. Ken Ford
Megan Pratt
Blaise Adams
VADM Gerald Hoewing
Andrew Rothfeder
Matthew Altier
Brian Hooper
Rishy Studer
David Bear
Rev. LuTimothy May
Think Beyond Pensacola
Dana Bledsoe
Dr. Ed Meadows
Bill and Mike Wein
Michael Carro
Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Marianne Estess
Justin Pierce
Donna Fassett
LB0130 Game Changers.indd 1
Independent News | July 05, 2012 | inweekly.net
7/2/12 10:08 AM