June 21 Issue by Inweekly

“These kids are still waking up every morning and it’s looking like a concentration camp.”

"Drugs and alcohol are an undesirable rock tied to your balloon. "

"Food is the secret to keeping you comfortable in this sweltering summer."

Escambia’s Minority Hiring Stalls as Students Swell

Independent News | June 21, 2012 | Volume 13 | Number 25 | inweekly.net

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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

COOL RECIPES FOR THIS SWELTERING SUMMER | PAGE 24

inweekly.net

winners & losers Terence Milstead

Lela and Derek Foust

winners

losers

PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE Our

TERENCE MILSTEAD The Appalachian

LELA AND DEREK FOUST Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, honored Pensacola area entrepreneurs Lela and Derek Foust as the 2011 Baskin-Robbins Franchisees of the Year. The Fousts operate three Baskin-Robbins stores in the Pensacola area, and have been franchisees with the brand for more than 15 years. They are very active in their local community, organizing a “Junior Scoop School” where they partner with local schools, day cares, churches, and boy and girl scout troops to teach the history and science of ice cream.

SANDRA JOHNSON The former director of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been sentenced to five years of probation after she pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Johnson altered documents and signatures in order to help some questionable LIHEAP recipients, as well as herself, pay Gulf Power bills.

community college is one of the best values in public education, according to the most current U.S. Dept. of Education’s ranking. Pensacola State College ranks in the top one percent in the College Affordability and Transparency’s annual report. In the survey of over 5,000 colleges, Pensacola State College ranked 11th in lowest public tuition, $2,179, and 36th in lowest net cost, $5,024.

TIMES-PICAYUNE The New Orleans daily won the June Sidney award for “Louisiana INCarcerated,” an eight-part series that investigates how for-profit prisons, long sentences, and a broken pardon system have yielded the highest incarceration rate in the nation. Sadly, most of the team has been fired during recent cutbacks.

State University professor turned down the council executive job, the second person to reject the post that serves the Pensacola City Council. The city council had selected Milstead in late May after a six-month search. Mayor Hayward had approved the hire and his salary request. The rejection email came the day after the “Great Chicken” debate at the council’s Committee of the Whole meeting. Coincidence?

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outtakes

by Rick Outzen

LILY WHITE LEADERSHIP Ten years ago civil rights leaders protested the lack of African-American teachers in the Escambia County School District. Although one out of three of its students were black, most teachers—89 percent—were white. The 1969 federal desegregation lawsuit that led to integration of Escambia County schools mandated that 25 percent of the county's teaching and administrative staff should be black. The county had never met that requirement, and the African-American community was upset. In September 2002, over 50 protesters marched in front of the district’s Garden Street offices. Groups of concerned black educators and parents attended school board meetings and demanded the district do more to recruit minority teachers. They were tired of hearing excuses. They wanted to see action. At the time, the district had only 290 black teachers. Of its 59 schools, 43 had five or fewer black teachers and six had none. One black parent spoke out at a board meeting. His son had attended Escambia County public schools since kindergarten. The child was then in the eighth grade at Ferry Pass Middle and had never had a black teacher. Movement for Change criticized Woodham High principal Bill Slayton because he employed only one black classroom teacher, even though 42 percent of his enrollment was black. (Slayton has retired and now serves on the school board.)

The school district’s response was that the county paid far below the state average, and minorities went to other counties for higher pay. Slayton said that he had few openings and no qualified black candidates. Then-Superintendent Jim Paul personally took over minority teacher recruitment. He selected several leaders, including County Commissioner Marie Young and Ellison Bennett, president of the Pensacola chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to help him. What did these efforts get us? A onepercent increase. From 2002—2012, the district added only 38 black teachers. Today just 12 percent of the instructional staff in the Escambia County public schools is African-American. To meet the 25-percent criteria set by the 1969 federal integration case, current Superintendent Malcolm Thomas would need to hire 343 more black teachers. Instead he has gone in the opposite direction. Since Thomas replaced Paul in 2008, the district has lost 28 black teachers. Excuses are the same as they were 10 years. Many of the people in charge of recruiting black teachers back then are still failing at it today. What has changed is the public outcry for change. There is none. The African-American community is a sleeping lion. When will it awake? {in} rick@inweekly.net

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viewpoint

by Mary Jo Melone

What to Do With the Truth? Could the facts really be heeded for once? Or will they end up in the same bin as global warming, where all unpleasant facts go? The Tampa Bay Times just published a sweeping investigation of the crazy results of the application of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. People who shoot black people get off more often than those who shoot whites. Drug dealers have successfully hidden behind the law. Defendants who shoot people in the back escape prosecution. Some people who have legitimate defenses have been convicted. The hands of judges and prosecutors are tied. And vigilantes and bullies have more right to shoot than cops. On Tuesday, June 5, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll said the panel reviewing the law in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death would look closely to make sure it is applied

equally. The panel will use the Times’ data to do its evaluation. This is a testament to the power of good journalism, but the state’s ignorance of the law’s impact is also a sign of how blithely the Legislature

that Stand Your Ground will be seriously reformed. But Carroll co-sponsored the law when it was adopted in 2005, and she works for a man who has decided that it’s just fine if angry people among the demonstrators at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August are armed. Here’s a prediction: if anybody in the crowd shoots—heaven forbid—he’ll use a Stand Your Ground defense. The four legislators also on the review panel include Dennis Baxley, the Republican from Ocala who introduced the law, and Jason Brodeur of Sanford, where Trayvon Martin died. It was Brodeur who introduced the assault on the First Amendment that had a judge not intervened, would have banned pediatricians from asking parents if they have guns at home. Not a single legislator on the committee believes in gun control.

The state’s taking notice of the inconvenient facts that the newspaper uncovered might be a reason for optimism that Stand Your Ground will be seriously reformed. and Jeb Bush decided to turn Florida into a real-life version of a John Wayne movie, complete with showdowns in the streets. In the real-life version, the Times established that the gunslinger left standing when the dust settles is often no hero. The state’s taking notice of the inconvenient facts that the newspaper uncovered might be a reason for optimism

Perhaps others on the panel—lawyers, judges, neighborhood watch volunteers among them—will be seized by thinking unfettered from the NRA and prevail. Please, please, may they not decide that the facts, as presented by the Times, are what Ronald Reagan once famously called “stupid things.” {in}

Mary Jo Melone, former columnist with the Tampa Bay Times, is a writer in Tampa and columnist for Florida Voices.

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3026_IN.indd 3

6/12/12 3:34 PM

NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION “It only takes that little bit of chemical to change you.” Jackson

Bath Salts and Zombies Make Headlines By Stephanie Sharp

On Saturday, May 26, a naked Rudy Eugene was shot and killed when he failed to obey police orders to stop chewing off another man’s face. That incident on the MacArthur Causeway in Miami was followed the next weekend by another bizarre face-eating attack in Lafayette, La. where a man tired to gnaw the face of his ex-wife’s boyfriend. The internet buzzed with rumors of a zombie apocalypse after the cannibalistic attacks hit the media. “The more we watch zombie movies, the more we think about zombies,” said Heath Jackson, a narcotics investigator with the Escambia County Sherriff ’s Office. Flesh eating suspects that aren’t fazed by gunfire may seem like something from a sci-fi flick, but the incidents did occur. Unlike the classic “Night of the Living Dead” scenario of graveyard residents walking again or modern adaptations of zombie lore like “28 Days Later” that center on fears of a viral infection, these attacks had a more real, pharmaceutical connection. The best

guess, by investigators and reporters alike, was an overdose of a synthetic version of the drug cathinone.

BAD SCIENCE

The synthetic cathinone is of ten labeled in misleading ways to avoid law enforcement seizure of inventor y. The product can be labeled as “bath salts” or “plant food” and may even have a “Not for Human Consumption” warning on the packaging. Similar to the synthetic marijuana Spice, bath salts are a commercially available drug that hides behind being a bath product in some stores and thrives in the legal grey area. These designer drugs—meaning they’re concocted in a lab—use different chemical combinations to give users a high similar to that of meth or cocaine. Bath salts can be purchased online, at head shops or even convenience stores. Robert Quinata, a sergeant with the sheriff ’s narcotics unit, stressed that the

“The more we watch zombie movies, the more we think about zombies.” Heath Jackson

danger with designer drugs lies in an unstable and unpredictable chemical breakdown. “You never know what you’re going to get.” Bath salts use variations of the chemicals MDPV and/or mephedrone which are synthetic versions of a cathinone, a Schedule 1 controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act that occurs naturally in the Khat plant from East Africa. Bath salts manufacturers circumvent current bans by slightly varying the chemical compounds in their products while still giving users a high. As with crystal meth, each batch of bath salts can contain any number of harmful chemicals and no two batches are exactly alike. Bath salts stimulate the central nervous system. Typically found in crystal or powder form, the drugs can cause increased heart rate, high body temperature, chest pain, psychosis and suicidal thoughts. The paranoia and panic that set in during the initial high have been reported to return even after the user is no longer taking the drug. “It only takes that little bit of chemical to change you,” said Jackson. Calls regarding bath salts have skyrocketed in the past three years, according to U.S. Poison Control Centers—from zero calls in 2009 to 2,237 calls in 2011 alone. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been advocating prohibitive legislation for synthetic drugs with earnest for the last year. Gov. Rick Scott signed House Bill 1175 in March, which greatly expanded the list of banned chemical compounds. Despite the new legislation, law enforcement and medical professionals are still concerned with the rate at which chemists can find new, still-legal chemical compounds to create bath salts with and avoid punishment. Since the drug is still in its infancy locally, the Escambia County Sheriff ’s Office hopes that education will deter it from becoming a trend. “We’re hoping to keep it from getting as bad as other areas,” said Quinata. The publicity surrounding the Miami attack has sparked local awareness about the drug. The sheriff ’s office has seen an uptick in calls about bath salts and a decrease in usage, according to Jackson. inweekly.net

ZOMBIE SURVIVAL

Much like prescription drug abuse, synthetic drug usage is propelled by ease of access and trends. The narcotics officers explain that even though shop owners treat the products like controlled substances by keeping them behind the counter, any suspected drugs must still be sent to the state before an investigation can occur. Because of the complications that come with tracking down designer drugs, the sheriff’s office has tried to educate shop owners about bath salts before they seize their inventory in hopes that the shops would stop selling them. Jackson and Quinata warn that teenagers and young adults are more likely to experiment with synthetic drugs like bath

salts than others. Designer drugs are commercially available and because they aren’t regulated by the FDA or DEA kids don’t have to be 18 to purchase them. Keeping kids off of these drugs is the number one priority for the narcotics unit when it comes to bath salts. “We will drop whatever it is that we’re doing,” said Jackson, “if we have a chance to save a kid.” Law enforcement is trained to respond to every call with the highest level of caution and the emergence of so-called zombie attacks requires the same level of response. Although the chemicals themselves may not push a user to cannibalism, an overdose of unstable stimulant drugs could create a dangerous situation for both the user and the law enforcement responding to a call.

“We will drop whatever it is that we’re doing,” said Jackson, “if we have a chance to save a kid.” Jackson

from the blog

“Why would anyone be stupid enough to pay $10 for access to PNJ?”—John

the citizens in the area will be vigilant When responding to a bath salts call, about reporting any suspicions they have officers can’t make any assumptions as to about the usage or sale of bath salts dithe level of violence they may encounter. rectly to law enforcement or anonymously Erratic and violent behavior from citizens to Crimestoppers. Despite the attention is always a possibility and may be exacercreated by the zombie rumors, Sergeant bated by drug usage. Each case is apQuinata is glad that the public is hearing proached with extreme caution. about bath salts because fear leads to “We don’t know what ordinary is for education on this new drug abuse issue. them,” said Jackson. “I want them to be scared.” {in} Although the reports from Miami and Lafayette, La. are harrowing, that type of violent outburst is not about to become a pandemic. However, as the chemists who To report Zombie Attacks or other bath make synthetic cathinone cook salt crimes: up ways to slip around new legislation, the potential for more 436-9630 bath salt crimes remains a reality. escambiaso.com “You’re always going to get people who don’t heed the warnings,” said Quinata. 433-STOP (7867) Much to the Internet’s chagulfcoastcrimestoppers.org grin, the zombie apocalypse has not actually begun. However, the press surrounding bath salts has the sheriff ’s office hopeful that

“Black or white there are schools that need new leadership.”—Bob

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Crimestoppers

“You can’t make this stuff up!” —Jim

“What’s next, goats and pigs?” —Leroy

Rick’s Blog has been quoted in the New York Times, Newsweek and on dozens of websites, including The Daily Beast. Read it to find out the real story behind the news. Visit ricksblog.biz.

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all the political news and gossip fit to print

Pastor Willie Williams stands near Oakwood Terrace's razor-wired wall. / photo by Jeremy Morrison

RAZOR WIRE BLUES Where is Oakwood

Terrace Apartments? The girl walking down the street doesn’t know. She scrunches her face into a confused grimace. How about Truman Arms? There’s a spark of immediate recognition.

“Oh, Truman Arms? That way,” she said, pointing down the road. At the end of the road, Oakwood Terrace—formerly the Truman Arms project— sits behind a concrete wall topped with spiraling razor wire. Though the name changed to

something more palatable long ago, the razor wire remains. “They changed the name,” said a man named James, sitting near the entrance. “It’s still the same place.” By whatever name, the property sits just off W Street behind a tall concrete wall. There’s only one way in or out, past the security gate. Three men sit out front of the apartment complex. They refer to the walled-off, razorringed Oakwood Terrace as a “compound,” “prison” and “degrading.” Built decades ago. Like many area ‘projects,’ Truman Arms was privately developed and subsidized via Housing and Urban Development funds in order to offer lowincome housing. The properties usually had a disproportionate percentage of AfricanAmerican residents. “Back in that time period there were a number of complexes—Pensacola Village, College Trace,” explained Randy Wilkerson, with the Neighborhood Enterprise Foundation, a local non-profit housing and community development agency. “Then, of course, as time went on HUD moved away from that model.” Wilkerson doesn’t recall exactly when the razor wire went up. It was quite a while back.

“My recollection is—I know it’s been up there a good while—I know the current owners are not the ones who put it there,” he said. “Of course, they haven’t taken it down either.” At Oakwood Terrace, the men note that this property is the last of the projects that still has such a formidable parameter: “Even Pensacola Village took their’s down.” Pastor Willie Williams heads up the Top of the Bottom Ministry. He believes the razor wire outlining the apartment complex is dangerous and psychologically damaging to the community that lives on the other side of the wall. “These kids are still waking up every morning and it’s looking like a concentration camp,” Williams said. For years, the pastor has fought to have the razor wire removed. Recently, he received permission from the property’s owner—the complex has belonged to DM Oakwood Terrace LLC, based in Plano, Tex., since 2008—to remove the wall. “If we want to remove it,” he paraphrased a letter from the company, “we can remove it.” Although Williams is now faced with trying to come up with $5,000 to have the razor wire removed, he’s considering this a victory. At this point, he doesn’t feel like squabbling about who’s picking up the tab.

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buzz “I’ve been fighting five years to get it removed,” the pastor said. “It may take two or three more if we go to court.” Williams has not attempted to have the concrete wall itself removed. He thinks that might be too big of a hurdle; perhaps the cold, gray wall could be painted as a enormous mural. “We can’t try to tackle no wall—look at it like a gated community,” he said. “But the wire is an opportunity.” The men sitting out front of Oakwood Terrace would consider the removal of the razor wire as an unshackling or sorts. It would mean that children filing out from behind the prisonlike wall for the school bus in the mornings wouldn’t be teased by their peers for living in the compound. It would mean the fire department, or law enforcement, would have more than one access to the sprawling grounds. Removing the wire would probably also increase the number of visitors residents see. Currently, the men explained, family and friends prefer to stay away from the intimidating property. “The first thing they see—concrete and razor wire,” explained one of the men. “They don’t wanna go in.” If he’s successful in securing the needed funds, the pastor hopes to have the razor wire

June 21, 2012

all the political news and gossip fit to print down this summer. He’s estimating that the work itself will take about a week to complete. When—or, rather if—Truman Arms—or, rather Oakwoods Terrace—has its razor parameter removed, the pastor is planning a celebration at the apartment complex. He wants to have the razor itself cut into souvenirs for the property’s long-time residents. “We’ll give them a snippet of this wire,” Williams said.

THIRD-CENT QUESTION Fat on BP penance money last year, the Pensacola area saw great tourism numbers. With the extra funds inflating tourism-marketing coffers to a level toping $5 million, Visit Pensacola—the marketing arm of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce—was able to better advertise the area. Now, area hoteliers are wanting to keep the party rolling. To that end, Chamber officials visited the Escambia County Commission June 14 to request the board up its contribution so that marketing efforts may continue at the level the tourism community has grown accustomed to. “So, things are really continuing to look very good—everything is indicating that we’re going to have another really good year,” Terry Scruggs, who heads up Visit Pensacola,

told the board. “All that’s left is the last piece of the puzzle, it’s the money, and that’s in your hands.” What Scruggs was requesting was the entire first three cents of the 4-cent bed tax. Each cent generates more than $1.5 million annually. Although allocating the third cent to tourism marketing would keep those efforts at post-BP levels, it would also mean that the county would have to yank its funding from the Pensacola Civic Center (which currently gets that third cent). Commissioners decided to hold off on diving into the matter until their next meeting, or perhaps the one after that. The body will most likely decide in July whether or not to throw more money at tourism marketing. Escambia County Administrator Randy Oliver said Monday that it may not be as simple as robbing Peter to pay Paul. “Here’s gonna be the thing with the civic center,” Oliver explained, “they’ve made contractual commitments now for certain things.” In order to accommodate the tourism community, the administrator said the commissioners would either need to cut it out of the budget they’ve already trimmed more than $9 million from, or generate additional revenues. One way to accomplish the latter would be to ad a fifth cent to the 4-cent bed tax.

Although they did not delve very far into the bed-tax debate at the June 14 commission meeting, the board did briefly address service level employees—the backbone of the tourism industry. Commissioner Marie Young inquired of tourism officials if they had considered offering better wages to low level employees in light of the increased revenue the industry was seeing in the wake of the BP money. “What are we doing about the people who work in the hotels—to do away with poverty?” asked Commissioner Marie Young. “Has anyone ever taken a look at that?” The commissioner said that she knew people working in the service industry who pulled in low wages consistently for “10 or 15 years.” “They can just expect those salaries for ever and ever?” she asked. “I would have to defer to the hotel industry,” replied Scruggs. “They’re the ones that have to remain competitive and do the hiring.” Young told Scruggs that she considered the matter important and didn’t “know how we can get around not considering that.” The tourism chief nodded blankly until Commissioner Grover Robinson—a one-time busboy at the Holiday Inn on Pensacola Beach—came to the industry’s defense, calling Young’s line of questioning “somewhat unfair.” {in}

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Escambia’s Minority Hiring Stalls as Students Swell By Jeremy Morrison It’s a problem. One among many for the country’s public school system. And like most of the problems with the current state of education in America, this one doesn’t appear to have any easy answers. The nation’s schools are sorely lacking in the number of minority teachers in relation to the corresponding student populations. June 21, 2012

It’s a problem here. It’s a problem pretty much everywhere. The problem was sure to come up in conversation this month at the Tampa, Fla. Grand Hyatt. Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas recently joined other education officials from across the state there for a joint meeting of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents and Florida School Board Association. Bill Slayton, chairman of the Escambia County School Board, also made the Tampa, Fla. conference. He reported that

the problem was, indeed, on the collective brain. “Ever ybody ’s got the same problem,” Slayton said during the Tampa excursion. “In our case we’re looking for AfricanAmericans, down here they ’re looking for Hispanics.” Back in Escambia County, Assistant Superintendent Norm Ross said the school district is continually trying to increase its minority staffing numbers. “It’s something that we’re plugging at,” Ross said. “It’s not like we’re just sitting back on our thumbs.” 11

STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS - TOTAL ENROLLMENT Total

White

Black

Hispanic

Other

2007-2008

41,988

22,335

15,328

1,356

2,969

2011-2012

40,559

20,193

14,308

1,997

4,107

Difference

(1,429)

(2,142)

(1,020)

641

1,138

Student Demographics - Total Enrollment Percentages 2007-2008

Student Demographics - Total Enrollment Percentages 2011-2012

Difference from 2007-2008

White Black Hispanic Other

White 53.2% Black 36.5% Hispanic 3.2% Other 7.1%

49.8% 35.3% 4.9% 10.1%

-3.4% -1.2% 1.7% 3.1%

Source: Annual Equity Update, The School District of Escambia County

In Escambia County, the school district’s overall minority student population has jumped across the 50 percent mark. That’s according to a recent accountability report from the Florida Department of Education. Minority is a catchall term encompassing everyone that is not ‘white.’ Males are also considered a minority in the education field. African-Americans are, by far, Escambia’s largest minority group, comprising 35 percent of the student population. Hispanics make up just fewer than 5 percent, while the remaining percentage is lumped into a category listed as ‘other.’ While the minority student population has steadily increased, the amount of minority staff in Escambia has stagnated at just above 10 percent for the past decade. Each year in the accountability report, the district acknowledges the imbalance and notes that efforts are continually made to increase the number of minority employees filling teaching and administrative positions. “As far as great number? No,” said Ross. “Numbers—they are what they are.”

WHAT’S THE MATTER AND WHY IT MATTERS

In January 2011, African-American filmmaker Spike Lee and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan teamed up for an appearance at Morehouse College in Atlanta. Lee is a graduate of the historically black school. The Morehouse appearance was part of a national drive to encourage more minority participation in the education field. Duncan told the audience the nation’s minority students needed more teachers that looked like they did. The secretary ran down the nation’s dismal disparity stats. “Something is wrong with that picture,” Duncan said of the numbers. “We’ve got to fix it. We’ve got to fix it together.” Morehouse College—with a graduating class of nearly 500 in 2011—offers an educa-

tion degree. The school has reported that only six graduates chose the degree last year. “Everybody can’t be a business major,” Lee told the Morehouse audience. “We have to educate ourselves. We have to educate young black men.” One reason the federal government began pushing for more minority teachers—primarily through its TEACH campaign—was to narrow the statistical gap occurring nationwide between student and staff populations. The push was also centered on the idea that minority teachers could better communicate with minority students, and also be role models for those students. Byron Scott buys into that line of thought. The retired air traffic controller is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, where he is now a coach and substitute teacher.

“Something is wrong with that picture. We’ve got to fix it. We’ve got to fix it together.” Arne Duncan

“It matters, very much so,” Scott said. “My most respected teachers in high school were black teachers and black coaches.” Kicking back on the bleachers in a Pensacola gymnasium, the substitute teacher explained how some of his black students have issues in other teachers’ classrooms. He said the same students seemed to do better under his watch. “They know that I demand discipline from them, I demand order from them—I want them to be better, I want them to do better,” Scott said, adding that he also felt he related to the students better and served as an example of something to strive for. “When you see somebody in front of you and they see what they can be, they can go further.” A 2011 report from the Center for American Progress entitled Teacher Diversity Matters arrived at a similar conclusion. The think tank reports that within the next 10 to 12 years the nation’s public school system will have “no clear racial or ethic majority,” and its author, Ulrich Boser, concludes that the country’s education workforce should reflect that change. “Students should see people like them in the classroom,” Boser said recently, elaborating on his findings. “There’s strong evidence that teachers of color are more effective teaching students of color.” Stepping out of the choir loft at a local church, Dr. Sandra Winborne expressed the same. The former school counselor said she sees merit in the role-model concept. “A student needs to see excellence or see performance or see some element of themselves in adulthood,” she said. Slayton also said he felt the presence of minority teachers was important for such reasons. “I think minority teachers are a great role model for all students, especially minority students,” the school board chairman said. “I think it’s important to have those role models.” Ron Waters, a local black man with children in the Santa Rosa County school system, agreed. He also said he thought some students might take instruction better from someone they felt they could relate to. “A child wants to see what they can potentially be,” Waters said. “If all I see is white authoritarian figures, it’s going to make me feel like ‘this is just something I’m being told to do.’ If I see people that look like me conveying that knowledge, I’ll feel like those people have embraced it and it’s something that I can embrace.”

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CLASSROOM TEACHERS - TOTAL TEACHERS Total

White

Black

Hispanic

Other

2007-2008

2,903

2,486

355

2011-2012

2,684

2,276

328

Difference

(219)

(210)

(27)

Classroom Teachers - Total Teachers Percentages 2007-2008

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Classroom Teachers - Total Teachers Percentages 2011-2012

Difference from 2007-2008

White 84.8% -0.8% Black 12.2% 0.0% Hispanic 1.3% 0.3% Other 1.5% 0.4%

White 85.6% Black 12.2% Hispanic 1.0% Other 1.1%

Source: Annual Equity Update, The School District of Escambia County

“It matters, very much so. My most respected teachers in high school were black teachers and black coaches.”

Escambia County School Board member Jeff Bergosh disagrees. He calls the notion that minority teachers are better suited to educate minority students “nonsense” and “rubbish.” “I find that offensive,” Bergosh said. “I’m not buying it.” The school board member said he felt a well-qualified teacher could educate students regardless of either’s ethnicity. “I’ve had Asian professors. Are you saying that I can’t relate to them because I’m not Asian,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re black, white, polka dot or Martian.” Bergosh said that society has become too reliant on the education system to pick up the slack left by a lacking home life. He said both

Byron Scott

race-related issues and economic disadvantages are wrongly held up as reasons for students’ poor performance in school. “Look, man, you just can’t do it—the nanny state is wrecking education in America— the parents have to step up,” Bergosh explained, urging more participation in the home. “Even if you’re dirt poor, there are families that are making it happen.” With a daughter in the local system, Scott agrees with that notion. Although he views the minority staffing disparity as an issue that needs addressing, he doesn’t view it as an excuse. “I’ve thought about this a lot—success is not a class issue, it’s an individual issue,” Scott said. “You can’t sit back and say, ‘oh somebody did this to me.’”

In some instances, the father said, schools may actually be called on to take on certain parental responsibilities for some students. “A lot of the children in our schools, the only discipline—the only mother and father figure they have—is in the classroom,” Waters said.

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THE BOTTOM LINE IN AN EMPTY POOL

The Escambia County School District is not alone in its failure to adequately increase minority staffing numbers. Across the state, and across the country it’s a problem. The situation is generally worse where minority populations are increasing at a quick pace. “Florida is not doing well,” said Boser. “It’s not the bottom of the barrel, there are some states doing worse.” Within the state of Florida, Escambia’s numbers hover somewhere in the middle of the field. There are districts doing worse, but there are others doing better. Dade County, for example, has an over 90 percent minority student population. The South Florida district’s minority staffing numbers are about 73 percent. In the Panhandle, Gadsden County is also succeeding in more closely matching the populations. The heavily black district has an overall minority student population of 96 percent, and a minority staffing rate of 78 percent. “I don’t think it was too hard to do,” said Dr. Pink Hightower, head of Human Resources and Staff Development for the Gadsden district. The HR official attributed the district’s success to being near Tallahassee, Fla. The proximity to the state capitol and multiple colleges has provided the district with a sizable candidate pool. “There’s an abundance of teachers in the area,” he explained.

“I’ve had Asian professors. Are you saying that I can’t relate to them because I’m not Asian? It doesn’t matter if they’re black, white, polka dot or Martian.” Jeff Bergosh Jeff Bergosh / courtesy photo June 21, 2012

While also identifying family as the ultimate key, Waters said he does feel educators have some amount of responsibility to society.

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS - TOTALS Total

White

Black

Hispanic

Other

2007-2008

2011-2012

Difference

(15)

(10)

(5)

District Administrators - Totals Percentages 2007-2008

District Administrators - Totals Percentages 2011-2012

Difference from 2007-2008

White Black Hispanic Other

86.5% 13.5% 0.0% 0.0%

White 94.6% Black 5.4% Hispanic 0.0% Other 0.0%

8.1% -8.1% 0.0% 0.0%

Source: Annual Equity Update, The School District of Escambia County

Hightower has also worked in Leon and Jackson counties. In his experience, minority teachers don’t tend to venture too far beyond Tallahassee into the Panhandle. “Just a lot of people don’t go west as far as Florida is concerned,” he said. “Maybe

Escambia County School District Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Services Alan Scott said those efforts are being made. He recalled a recent trip to the University of West Florida to meet with graduating education majors.

it’s just their comfort zone, what they’re used to.” Hightower suggested Escambia officials make some trips to job fairs and traditionally minority campuses to recruit candidates.

“I don’t think there was a single male in there,” Scott said. “I don’t think there was a single black individual in there either.” The HR official described a discouraging scene at a hiring fair the district sent representatives to. Escambia’s table was not the most popular among attendees. “Our starting salaries are not great when compared to other school districts,” Alan said. “They ask one question: ‘What’s your starting salary?’ They just move on to the next table.” But the area has other selling points. Plenty of positives to accentuate. “We try to sell them on our weather, the beaches, the environment, but a lot of these individuals look at the bottom line,” Scott said. “We’re trying to convince young people, ‘Hey, come work for us, we’ll pay you $32,000-andchange.’ It’s a difficult sell.” And then, of course, there’s the competition. “There are some school districts in this country that pay unbelievably well,” Scott explained. “For a while, we were competing with Las Vegas. They would fly people out, put’em up in one of those fancy resorts, pay all their moving expenses.” The Escambia official said he wished the district could afford to be more generous. “It would be nice to have a budget to put’em out at the beach for a few days,” Scott said. “Give’em some tickets to a Blue Wahoos game or a movie.” When the economy was better, the district held local hiring fairs where applicants could be offered jobs on the spot. The effort was somewhat successful in attracting minority candidates.

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“It’s a shrinking pool and there’s just not enough good, qualified candidates out there to throw in the pool to hire.” Malcolm Thomas

Malcolm Thomas / courtesy photo “That was when the economy was booming and there were a lot of jobs out there,” Scott said. This year, approximately 275 new teachers will be hired in Escambia County. Scott expects between 1,500 and 2,000 applicants for those positions. This past year, the district brought aboard 280 new hires. Fifty-four of those were minority, with 37 of them being African-American. Chairman Slayton said he’s not sure what can be done to up that number. “I don’t know what else to do, to be honest,” he said. The chairman recalled that the district had once partnered with a bank in order to offer candidates low-interest loans to cover initial moving costs. He said the effort was “minorly” successful. He also mentioned a teaching academy the district once ran. Participants in the program were encouraged to apply for jobs locally. “Unfortunately,” Slayton said, “that academy has played itself out.” Bergosh complained that there are not enough qualified minority applicants to create a large enough pool from which the district may draw. He said some applicants are woefully inadequate, and that quality was a higher priority than hitting better diversity numbers. “There’s qualifications, we don’t just put anybody in the pool,” the school board member said, adding that he’d encountered applicants that “can’t even put a paragraph together—these are college graduates, these are people who have taught for five years.” Dr. Winborne suggested that perhaps the district offer a higher salary to teachers willing to teach in poorer performing schools. She said this might help attract more highly qualified candidates, preferably minority candidates, where they are most needed. Bergosh mentioned that concept as well. “I’m sure there probably are things we could do—one of the things I’d say right off the bat, we could pay teachers to take on the tougher schools,” he said, adding that the teachers’ union wouldn’t allow for such. “In real life, if you want the best teachers you’ve got to pay them more.” While a higher salary might help, more money won’t solve the problem entirely. The pool of minority educators is not as deep as it could be. June 21, 2012

“They’re graduating from high school at lower rates, they’re graduating from college at lower rates,” explained Boser. “That gives you somewhat of a less robust pool to choose from.” Slayton hit on the same point that Spike Lee had hammered back at Moorehouse College. “I don’t know if we have as many going into education as we used to,” he said. “They’re in management and sales and they’re making very nice salaries.” Boser maintained that closing the disparity gap was an attainable goal. He said the matter needed to be made an “explicit goal.” “Saying, ‘this is something that is important to our county,’” he said. “The bottom line is that some school districts have not made this a priority.”

HUDDLE UP FOR THE ‘DAUNTING TASK’

The Escambia school district’s minority staffing issue came up recently during the school board’s May 11 workshop. Bergosh began the conversation as he thumbed through a copy of this year’s accountability report. “Interesting,” Bergosh said. “Interesting report.” The school board member had questions about minority recruiting efforts. The school district’s affirmative action director, Horace Jones, made his way to the lectern with a copy of the report to offer some answers. In 1971, Jones was a 12th round NFL draft pick. The hometown boy spent the seventies playing for the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. Afterward, he headed back and started working in the school system. These days he heads up the Escambia school district’s minority recruitment efforts. “I went to FAMU, in Tallahassee, here, last week,” Jones told school board members. “They had 30 graduates in their College of Education. We spoke to about 15. We gave them the instructions on how to do the online application and when I got back the next week and looked, no one had done it.” Bergosh was specifically concerned with the lack of representation of Hispanics among district administration. He told Jones the district would not be able to improve its minority staffing numbers until there were more minority applicants to choose from. “I think in order to get a higher percentage of minority employees we’ve got to get more applicants and, I don’t know, it sounds like it’s a daunting task,” Bergosh said. Jones replied that one primary obstacle in attracting minority applicants has been the district’s pay range.

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ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS Escambia School District is Failing to Reach African-American Students Reading Below Grade Level

Math Below Grade Level

White

Black

Hispanic

White

Black

Hispanic

2008

32%

64%

42%

2008

28%

62%

40%

2009

30%

61%

35%

2009

26%

59%

37%

2010

31%

61%

38%

2010

26%

59%

35%

2011

28%

61%

37%

2011

26%

57%

33%

Source: Florida Department of Education

“We’re trying to convince young people, ‘Hey, come work for us, we’ll pay you $32,000-and-change.’ It’s a difficult sell.” Alan Scott “That’s what they told us in Tallahassee,” he said. “Well, we’re trying,” Bergosh said. “They don’t give us a lot of money these days.” The school board member again told Jones that the pool of minority applicants needed to increase. Superintendent Thomas then jumped into the conversation. “Here’s the problem there, Mr. Bergosh,” the superintendent said. “Even at FAMU, the

number of students that will go into education compared to other fields has been declining. These students have other opportunities and they’re not choosing education.” Despite districts like Gadsden County being able to attract a sufficient number of minority candidates with a starting salary of $31,000, Escambia officials are committed to this refrain: there are simply not enough qualified people in the pool willing to take what they’re being offered. “You went to FAMU and what was the population that you had to pull from?” the superintendent asked Jones. “I think somebody was giving me a report on that.” “There were 30,” the former defensive end repeated. “Thirty students, and in the whole university, for the whole state to pick and choose from and that’s what we’re competing against,” Thomas said. “It’s a shrinking pool and there’s just not enough good, qualified candidates out there to throw in the pool to hire.”

School board member Linda Moultrie said she found the same problem to exist outside of education as well. She said many fields—specifically law enforcement—had disparity issues relating to the populations they serve. “What do you do?” she asked. “Well, you got to keep trying, I guess— right?” Bergosh said.

HIDE OR SEEK

minority teachers shouldn’t be laid at Jones’ feet. The affirmative action director does not work alone. “He can only offer so much,” Scott said. “It has to be a top down process.” Higher-ups at the Escambia school district seem to have thrown their hands up in frustration. They point to mildly successful recruitment efforts and paint portraits of brick walls that block any real progress. “That’s all you can do, man,” concluded Assistant Superintendent Ross. “There’s no magic pills out there.” Over in the HR department, Alan Scott is slightly more optimistic. He points out slim victories, like the fact the district has increased its number of black administrators by 50 percent—the district now boasts a total of nine black administrators. “We’re not where we need to be,” the district official conceded. “So, we continue to develop strategies. We continue to recruit.” African-American students in Escambia County graduate at a rate barely over 60 percent. For their sake, the local black community is hoping the school district becomes more successful in its efforts to bring minority teachers to the area. “We have to go out and seek,” said Byron Scott. “You’ll find the answer if you go out and seek.” {in}

“The bottom line is that some school districts have not made this a priority.”

Back in Byron Scott’s high school days at Booker T., Jones was larger than life. The former NFL player made a big impression on the student. “He was one of my coaches,” Scott remembered. “He was one of my mentors.” When discussing the school district’s staffing disparities, he said the lack of

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THE ANSWERS: 2007-2012 Each year, the Escambia County School District completes the Annual Equity Update. Within the Update, the state inquires about what measures are being pursued to bridge the disparity gap between minority representation in the student body and staff populations. The following are excerpts from the school district’s responses.

▶2007-2008: Ensuring greater diver-

sity among all school-based positions will increase the number of underrepresented groups district-wide. With encouragement from site based administrators, underrepresented groups of individuals are encouraged to pursue additional credentials, placed in various leadership roles at schools, and encouraged to apply for administrative positions. These endeavors will increase our pool of qualified underrepresented groups as administrative positions become available. The District facilitated an eight percent raise during the 2007-2008 academic year, moving our salaries near the state average for teachers. This will allow us to better recruit underrepresented individuals into the teaching profession as we become more competitive with our salaries.

▶2008-2009: The District will imple-

ment a new procedure for the 20092010 academic year concerning annual contract non-renewal of un-represented classifications (minority) of instructional personnel. Principals will contact the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resource Services and the EEOC Coordinator to review all request when minority instructional personnel are recommended for non-renewal. The review process is an effort to continue the District’s initiative to recruit and retain certified/highly qualified minority instructors. The District is also under new leadership with the election of Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. Mr. Thomas will consider the District’s diversity plan objectives when reviewing selections for administrative and professional appointments. During the 2009-2010 academic year we will utilize stimulus dollars allocated to Title 1 to secure the services of a diversity trainer(s) to facilitate workshops on an as needed basis to ensure the diversity goals of the District are clearly communicated and understood.

▶2009-2010: Despite the difficult

economic situation in the State of Florida, the District gave a three percent pay raise during the 2009-2010 academic year which assisted in boosting our starting teacher salaries closer to the state average allowing the District to become more competitive in our effort to recruit minority instructors into the District. The data reflected a one percent decrease in black instructional hires from the 2008-09 year to the 2009-10 year and a one percent

June 7, 2012

increase in Hispanic hires during the same time frame. In administrative appointments for the 2009-10 year the District decreased by one percent in black appointments to principal, increased by five percent in black appointments to assistant principal, and increased by 10 percent in black appointments to dean/behavioral specialist. During the 2009-2010 academic year, the District developed a diversity staff development component that will be used on an as needed basis to ensure the diversity goals of the District are clearly communicated and understood.

▶2010-2011: Despite the difficult economic situation in the State of Florida, the District gave instructional personnel a one percent pay raise during the 2010-2011 academic year and bargained an additional two percent increase effective July 1, 2011, for a three percent total increase. This increase assisted in boosting our starting teacher salaries closer to the state average, allowing the District to become more competitive in our efforts to recruit minority instructors. The data reflects a one percent decrease in black instructional hires from the 2009-2010 year to the 2010-2011 year and a one percent increase in Hispanic instructional during the same periods. The data further reflects an increase of seven percent in Black guidance counselor hires, a 10 percent increase in Black dean and behavioral specialist hires, and a two percent increase in Black assistant principals hires. For the 2011-2012 academic year, the District budgeted funds (despite hard economic conditions) to again send a recruiting team to minority institutions in the spring term, to recruit minority graduates into our teaching positions. This team will provide teaching contracts to the new graduates and place them into teaching positions within the District.

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▶2011-2012: ... the District refined

and further developed a diversity staff development component which be used at District wide trainings and on an as needed basis to ensure the diversity goals of the District wide trainings and on an as needed basis to ensure the diversity goals of the District are clearly communicated and understood. To further build on this initiative we are bringing in Dr. Monica Hayes for a two-day diversity workshop May 21 and 22, 2012 to be attended by the District leadership and representative from all workgroups in the District. This group will replicate this training for District wide implementation through staff development. In the spring of 2012, we are sending (despite hard economic conditions) a recruiting team to a minority institution to recruit minority graduates into our teaching positions. The team will provide teaching contracts to the new graduates and place them into teaching positions within the District.

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June 21, 2012

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JUNE 22

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

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by Kate Peterson

Guitar Monster Takes Pensacola IN: You are from Austin, Texas right? JOHNSON: I was born in Austin, Texas, lived in New York and Los Angeles, but I always return to Austin. I have deep roots there. There is so much talent in this part of the country. Guitar is a big deal here, and there are some real greats. I would go to clubs as a kid and listen to some of the legends of the business. So many bluesrock people came through here. IN: “Up Close” is your first album in quite a number of years, why so long? JOHNSON: I have been touring and playing on other artists’ albums. When you are off doing other things, you don’t get to your own work

Eric Johnson / photo via zzsounds.com Guitar World magazine ranks Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover” as number 17 out of the 100 all-time greatest guitar solos. The same song is the winning song for the game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, and it won a Grammy. You can listen to him play it live, among many other hits, at Vinyl Music Hall. Johnson is on tour right now promoting his album, “Up Close.” The new album has an impressive list of guitar greats such as Sonny Landreth, Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan and Johnny Lang as special guests. Joining Johnson on stage for this tour will be Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Wayne Salzmann on drums. After playing the dates stateside the band will be venturing off on a European tour. Upon their return to the U.S., Johnson and company are planning to play the highly esteemed Guitar Town Festival in Colorado and the Los Angeles Guitar Festival on a tour of the Western U.S.

He has won seven Grammys and produced nine solo albums. On top of writing and performing for over 30 years, he has done session work for some of the greatest musical artists like Cat Stevens, Christopher Cross, Rodney Crowell and Carole King. As a busy guitar aficionado, he is helping others in the business by creating items like his signature Fender Stratocaster. Johnson also recently developed a Fuzz Face Pedal and an Eminence speaker. All three are designed to specifically capture the ‘60s sound of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and others. “I first heard the Fuzz Face when I was about 12 and loved playing through it,” Johnson said. “It’s the classic tone used by Jimi Hendrix, one of my greatest influences. No other pedal gets this type of sound. It’s the pinnacle of psychedelic fuzz.” IN was able to reach Johnson one afternoon as he was on his way to the studio. We talked with him about his musical beginnings, his rock ‘n’ roll life and everything in between.

IN: What is it like working with Sonny Landreth? JOHNSON: He is such a nice, normal, down-to-earth guy. I am a fan of his. I picked him to play with and we have played with each other.

IN: How do you stay alcohol free and vegetarian in the face of all the rock ‘n’ roll life presents you? JOHNSON: I get it: life is tough. Those that take drugs or drink are paying a high price for a small amount of escapism. It does not accomplish what they expected in the end. You have to be clean and sober to be available to receive the messages and magic. Drugs and alcohol are an undesirable rock tied to your balloon. IN: What is your favorite tool of the trade? JOHNSON: When I was taking flute lessons, I used my Sister’s solid silver Haynes flute. Old instruments sound great. Like the flute, I like old Fender Stratocasters. Old instruments really channel a vibe that new ones cannot replicate. They also used wood that is not available anymore. Now they use the wood used to make shipping crates. When I got my first guitar, guitars were so new to everyone; it was like it was from another planet. Now guitars are a common household item.

IN: You began playing in a band at about 11 or 13; you have been in the music IN: What CD have you most recently business for a long time, any advice for purchase? And, whom do you listen to? those just entering the music world? JOHNSON: My most recently purchased JOHNSON: (Laughing) Yes, I have been CD is from double bassist Esperanza Spaldplaying since the year 1113. It feels like I have ing—love her music. The album I have been playing that long. My advice for anyone listened to since 1970 is Stevie Wonder’s, thinking about getting into the music busi“Music of My Mind.” I never tire of that ness is to separate your craft, art, music from album. When I listened to it for the first yourself personally. There are always critics, time, I said to myself, should I go practice do not take it personally. Try and make a or quit. {in} splash out there. I see so many new musicians who create YouTube videos that do not want to sign a contract, or make it their life, and they are much better than I am. There is WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 26 so much dynamic strong talent out WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox there; you have to be really good COST: $20-$25 at what you do. Can’t live in your DETAILS: vinylmusichall.com own head, think you are doing great things but you are really average.

AN EVENING WITH ERIC JOHNSON

June 21, 2012

happenings THURSDAY 6.21

‘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. ‘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. 595-0050 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. ‘GIRL’S NIGHT OUT: ITALIAN HOME COOKING’ 6 p.m. $45. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com. HERB CLASS AT EVER’MAN 6 p.m. $2 for nonmembers. 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. ‘PEOPLE TO PEOPLE’ FILM PRESENTATION 7 p.m. Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. 4536774 or openbookspcola.org. EVENINGS IN OLDE SEVILLE SQUARE 7p.m. Seville Square, between Alcaniz and Adams streets. 438-6505 or pensacolaheritage.org.

live music

J. HAWKINS, KEN LAMBERT 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama. com. ELAINE PETTY 4 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. JAZZ AT GREGORY STREET ASSEMBLY HALL 5 p.m. Gregory Street Assembly Hall, 501 E. Gregory St. 607-8633 or gregorystreet.com. THE DAVENPORTS 6 p.m. The Leisure Club, 126 S. Palafox. 912-4229 or tlcdowntown.com. DAVE AND JOE SHOW 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 9324139 or peglegpetes.com. LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. The Deck at The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or fishhouse.goodgrits.com. CHARLIE ROBERTS 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com. UPSTARTS 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com. KARAOKE WITH BECKY 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd. 934-3141 or dalesbigdeck.com. MAINSTREAM 8 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. JOE FINGERS 8 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com. TIM SPENCER 8 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731

Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9322211 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

inflatable bounce-house, food and beverages. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. 934-8444 or bluewahoos.com. WINE TASTING AT SEVILLE QUARTER 5 p.m. Palace Café at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. ‘SUMMERFEST’ EXHIBIT RECEPTION 5 p.m. Blue

Grayson Capps / courtesy photo sevillequarter.com. WAYNE MILLS 8 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. RICKY & DENNIS 8:30 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. BIG JIM BROWN 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley 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. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com. CORNBREAD, WAYNE MILLS 9:30 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. LUCKY DOGGS 10 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com.

FRIDAY 6.22

Morning Gallery, 112 S. Palafox. 429-9100 or bluemorninggallery.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. ‘SUNSET SAFARI’ AT THE ZOO 6 p.m. Gulf Breeze Zoo, 5701 Gulf Breeze Pkwy. 932-2229 or gulfbreezezoo.org. BANDS ALONG THE BLACKWATER FEATURING TOUCH OF GRAY 6 p.m. Along the Blackwater River, behind the Santa Rosa Courthouse, 6865 Caroline St. 983-5466 or ci.milton.fl.us. ‘SUNSET TOAST AT THE TOP’ 7:30 p.m. Couples only tour, reservations required. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or lighthousereservations.org. MOVIES AT MARITIME PARK Begins at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.) Free. Maritime Park, 449 W. Main St. facebook.com/maritimepark. ‘LIGHT OF THE MOON TOUR’ 8 p.m. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org. ‘SEPIA’ 8 p.m. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com. STAR GAZING 8 p.m. Gulfside Pavillion, 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9321500 or visitpensacolabeach.com. SWING DANCING 8:30 p.m. American Legion, 1401 Intendencia St. $5. 437-5465 or pensacolaswing.com 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

TIM SPENCER 12 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. WAYNE MILLS 1 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido

Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. KEN LAMBERT 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. JOAN HART & TYLER MAC 3 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. DAVE JOHNSON & JJ, JACK ROBERTSON 5 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. CANCER BENEFIT FOR SHERRI BUTTS W/ GRAYSON CAPPS & MORE 6 p.m. Donations welcome. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. 607-6758 or vinylmusichall.com. J. HAWKINS BAND 6 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. PAUL KILLOUGH 6 p.m. The Oyster Bar, 709 N. Navy Blvd. 455-3925. 3 AMIGOS 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. TIM SPENCER 6 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com. POSI TONES 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21 Via de Luna, Pensacola Beach. 916-5087 or paradisebar-grill.com. CORNBREAD 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s at the Point, 5851 Galvez Rd. 497-0071 or hubstaceys.com. SAWMILL & GUESTS 7 p.m. Chumuckla’s Farmers’ Opry, 8897 Byrom Campbell Rd., Pace. 994-9219 or farmersopry.com. CROSSTOWN 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9343141 or dalesbigdeck.com. JB LAWSON BAND 8 p.m. Five Sisters Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St. 912-4856 or fivesistersbluescafe.com. DESTIN ATKINSON 8 p.m. The Leisure Club, 126 S. Palafox. 912-4229 or tlcdowntown.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. FLANNEL CHURCH 8 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. HOLLY SHELTON AND DAVID SHELANDER 8 p.m. Ragtyme Grille, 201 S. Jefferson St. 4299655 or ragtyme.net. THE BLENDERS 8:30 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. 469-1001 or hubstaceys.com. THE REZ 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. MIKE JENCKS BAND 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. BIG JIM BROWN 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com. SCHOFIELD 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. LEA ANNE & RICK & MAC WALTERS 9:30 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. CIVILIZED NATIVES 9:30 p.m. Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom, 10 S. Palafox. 497-6073 or hopjacks.com. BUST W/ REBECCA BERRY 10 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama. com.

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happenings

SATURDAY 6.23

PALAFOX MARKET 8 a.m. Martin Luther King Plaza on North Palafox Street between Chase and Garden streets. palafoxmarket.com. JUNE FEST 2012 9 a.m. Bartram Park, 211 W. Main St. 606-3292. ‘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. ‘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. DISCOVERY SUNDAY 10 a.m. Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd. 453-2389 or navalaviationmuseum.org. SIDEWALK BOOK SALE 11 a.m. Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. 453-6774 or openbookspcola.org. EMERALD COAST TOURS GRAND OPENING BASH 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free refreshments and Segway demonstrations. 701 S. Palafox. 4179292 or emeraldcoasttours.net ‘SURFING FLORIDA: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY’ 12 p.m. through Sep 2. 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. ‘SEPIA’ 8 p.m. Loblolly Theatre, 1010 N. 12th Ave. 439-3010 or loblollytheatre.com. LIGHTHOUSE GHOST HUNT 8 p.m. Pensacola Lighthouse, 2081 Radford Blvd. 393-1561 or pensacolalighthouse.org.

live music

LEE MELTON 12 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. LEA ANNE & RICK & MAC WALTERS 1 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. WAYNE MILLS 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. SHAWNA P & ADAM TYLER BROWN 2 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies. com. CURT & FRIENDS 3 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9322211 or sandshaker.com. LOGAN SPICER & MICKEY 5 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama. com. 3 AMIGOS 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. JOHN CALONGNE 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., Pensacola Beach. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com. POSI TONES 7 p.m. Paradise Bar & Grill, 21

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

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

mypensacolaattorney.com • email: eric@mypensacolaattorney.com

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. FISH SANDWICH 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9343141 or dalesbigdeck.com. DAVE & JOE SHOW 8 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. DUELING PIANOS 8 p.m. Rosie O’Grady’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. THE REZ 9 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. MIKE JENCKS BAND 9 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. BIG JIM BROWN 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. THE MODERN ELDORADOS 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 4346211 or sevillequarter.com. SCHOFIELD 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.

SUNDAY 6.24

GULF COAST DRUM BATTLE 10 a.m. $15-$25. Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. WORSHIP ON THE WATER 11 a.m. Tent Stage, Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. ‘SUMMERFEST’ 12:30 p.m. through Jul 21. 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.

live music

DADDY MAN 12 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. LEA ANNE & RICK & MAC 12:30 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama. com.

THE ROWDIES 1 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. JEZEBEL’S CHILL’N 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. MASON JAR 3 p.m. The Grand Marlin, 400 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 677-9153 or thegrandmarlin.com. REZ & THE SOLUTIONS 4 p.m. Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-2211 or sandshaker.com. LEKTRIC MULLETS 4 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9343141 or dalesbigdeck.com. TOMATA 4 p.m. The Oar House, 1000 S. Pace Blvd. 549-4444 or the-oar-house.com. NEWBURY SYNDICATE 4 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. KELLY POOLE & THE SWNGSET 5 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. WHISKEY DOLLS 6 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 9169888 or bamboowillies.com. CADILLACK ATTACK 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. TROY BRANNON 6:30 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. BROOKS HUBBERT III 9 p.m. End O’ the Alley at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com. FOXY IGUANAS, LOGAN SPICER & MICKEY SPRINGSTON 9:30 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com.

MONDAY 6.25

June 21, 2012

happenings

And Then There Were Three

Zac Brown Band DeLuna Fest have finally announced their third headliner and we're sure all of you beach loving, country music fans are going to be happy with who it is. Especially if you're a fan of

And don't forget all the other amazing bands that have already been announced like Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Florence and the Machine and Band of Horses. Check out delunafest.com for complete lineup and ticket information. This is one beach party you shouldn't let yourself miss. {in}

hanging out with your "toes in the water, ass in the sand…" That's right, it's Zac Brown Band. Also joining the lineup are Fitz and the Tantrums, Honey Island Swamp Band, The Canvas Waiting, Astronautalis, High WHEN: Friday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Sept. 23 On Fire, Brass-A-Holics and a WHERE: Pensacola Beach Sunday Gospel Brunch set from DETAILS: delunafest.com The Legendary JCs.

DELUNA FEST 2012

PLAY HAPPY HOUR 4 p.m. Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 100. 466-3080 or iplaypensacola.com. OYSTER NIGHT AT ATLAS 5 p.m. First dozen are 25 cents apiece and $2 Budweiser, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra drafts until close. Atlas, 600 S. Barracks St. 470-0003 or atlas. goodgrits.com. ‘WINE PAIRING DINNER CLASS: SUMMER REDS AND ROSE WINES’ 6 p.m. $55. Distinctive Kitchens, 29 S. Palafox. 438-4688 or dk4u.com. BURGERS & BEER NIGHT AT SURF BURGER 6 p.m. Surf Burger, 500 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-1417 or thesurfburger. com. THE GULF BREEZE BOOK CLUB 6:30 p.m. Pensacola Beach Elk’s Lodge, 661 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 932-8620. WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING CLASSES 6:30 p.m. $5 general admission, $2 for students. Gull Point Community Center, 7000 Spanish Trail. For more information call 291-2718 or visit hurreyupstageandfilmworks.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

DAVE JOHNSON 2 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. TROY BRANNON 4 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. RICHARD MADDEN 6 p.m. Peg Leg Pete’s, 1010 Fort Pickens Rd., Pensacola Beach. 932-4139 or peglegpetes.com. 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, Pensacola Beach. 932-0700 or crabswegotem.com. REZ DUO 7 p.m. Bamboo Willie’s, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd., Pensacola Beach. 916-9888 or bamboowillies.com. TIM MORGAN 7:30 p.m. Sabine Sandbar, 715 Pensacola Beach Blvd., Pensacola Beach. 9343141 or dalesbigdeck.com. BIG MUDDY, REED LIGHTFOOT 8 p.m. Florabama, 17401 Perdido Key Dr. 492-0611 or florabama.com. MUSICIANS ALLIANCE 9 p.m. LiliMarlene’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. 434-6211 or sevillequarter.com.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

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by Ashley Hardaway

Summa Down Now Summer is here again, and has been since it unapologetically dethroned spring in early March. If you’re like me, you’re just now adjusting your eating habits— and not for “bikini season.” No, for reasons of physical comfort. After all, is anything more miserable than eating a big bowl of Mac and Cheese and then trudging off through the battlefield that is Pensacola in summertime? I look at my wintertime favorites like bisque and chicken potpie with startling indifference now—even mild disgust. Like an ex you were once madly in love with and then see on the street and think “meh”—wintertime foods, I’m over you! The new hotness is summertime appropriate food options. Forget about tank tops and sandals—food is the secret to keeping you comfortable in this sweltering summer.

GLASS

SUMMER BEER (aka Beer

Margaritas aka encourage people to take cabs to your party) Sometimes unlikely things go together sublimely. Maple syrup and sausage. French fries and vanilla shakes. Cheap beer and cheap vodka. Yes, ‘tis true. Discerning taste buds and class step aside—this proletariat cocktail can make even the most skeptical of drinkers raise their glass for another. Ingredients: (And really—don’t try to class it up with topshelf booze and micro-brews. The delicate, majestic nature of this concoction is rooted in the fact that three mediocre ingredients can combine to make one helluva drink.) 1 6 ounce can of frozen lemonade concentrate 1 12 ounce can of beer 12 ounces of vodka

Directions: Mix these three ingredients together. Add ice. Be careful.

PLATE

With warm weather comes the farmer’s markets, blueberry picking, and avocado and watermelon season—reasons alone to celebrate. After all, it’s nice being able to incorporate fresh vegetables again into your diet without having to forego something else to afford them. Behold! The glory of a refrigerator beaming with colors! Keep the oven off and the kitchen cool by making one of the following dishes with your newly acquired produce cornucopia.

MAKE: SUMMER SALAD

A certain very popular chain makes a summer salad with blueberries, strawberries, pecans, and chicken. I love this salad, but because it’s so easy to make I feel foolish ordering it. After all, in the summertime you probably have most of its ingredients in your house already. And let’s be honest: this is as simple as cooking gets so why pay someone 200 percent more to make it for you? Buy a rotisserie chicken and use that so you can keep the stove/oven off. If you want to do the old “buy a store-bought dressing and pour it into a canning jar and claim you ‘made it yourself’” trick, we won’t tell anyone. Ingredients (for two salads): 6 cups of greens (I like spinach or spring mix) 1 cup of sliced strawberries 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained 1 cup chopped pineapple (I’ve used watermelon before instead of pineapple: so good!)

Olive

1/2 cup chopped pecans 2 chicken breasts, cooked (or whatever your preference) Dressing 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar 1/3 cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: Put all the dressing ingredients into a mason jar and give it a good shake. Assemble salad with all ingredients. Pour dressing over the top. Use the money you saved making it yourself on a bottle of white wine.

BUY: GLOBAL GRILL

Sometimes, the most simplistic of dishes are the most delicious. The Heirloom Tomato Salad from Global Grill being a pristine example. The fact that it’s served in a mason jar only adds to its appeal. Fresh, seasonal ingredients like red and yellow peppers, green beans, peppers and heirloom tomatoes are nestled into their serving glass before being accented with house made mozzarella and lightly marinated in their famous red wine vinaigrette dressing.

BOWL

Move over nachos—summertime is all about covering chips in a variety of salsas and convincing oneself that eating fried cornmeal is “healthy” if it features a vegetable.

BUY: SABOR

If you just want to have a smorgasbord of flavors in your mouth and you don’t feel like cooking, or shopping, then head to

the

Global Grill’s Heirloom Tomato Salad Sabor and get an assortment of their salads to go. All are $5.49 and come in 12 ounce cups (except the fresh guacamole which is 8 oz.). Their current selections are Beet Salad (with cilantro and lime juice), the Pebre Salad (fresh tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice) and the Aztec Salad (corn, black beans, cilantro & green onion). Order a tamale too while you’re there—just don’t pull a President Ford and try to eat it with the husk still on.

MAKE: WATERMELON JALAPENO SALSA

Those wanting to shake up the tried and true salsa varieties: look no further! While at first look this may seem odd, the resulting mélange of flavors are anything but dull and 100 percent delicious. Serve simply with tortilla chips, or embrace your inner Bravo Chef and serve with fried plantains or atop grilled swordfish.

Best

AN EPICUREAN MARKET OFFERING: ExTRA VIRGIN OlIVE OIls • FUsEd & INFUsEd FlAVOREd OlIVE OIls WhITE & dARK BAlsAMIC VINEGARs • PAsTA MAdE dAIly • sPECIAlTy sAlTs FREshly BAKEd ARTIsAN BREAds • GOURMET IMPORTEd & dOMEsTIC ChEEsEs bodaciousolive.com | 407 - d south palafox street • pensacola, fl 32502 | located in downtown on the corner of palafox and main

DO IT.

facebook.com/themagnoliaeph

June 21, 2012

Ingredients: 3 cups chopped watermelon (if you don’t like your salsa very watery, you may want to place chopped watermelon in a colander to drain the excess water) 1/2 cup diced green pepper 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chopped green onion 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon finely diced jalapeno 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic Directions: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well. The longer it sits the stronger the blended flavors will become. It’s best not to make it too far in advance though, as the watermelon will break down in the salt and become too soft.

BOWL

BUY: EVER’DELI, DOLCE, THE LEISURE CLUB:

Perhaps no other treat embodies the taste of summertime better than smoothies or ice cream. The Leisure Club has always been a favorite for health conscience people who adore their smoothies made with fresh fruit and yogurt, but recently their addition of High Road Craft Ice Cream based out of Atlanta, in favors such Bourbon Burnt Sugar and Brown Butter Praline, could satisfy even the most wicked of sweet tooth. Every High Road order is specially crafted for the retailer—think of it as bespoke ice cream. The Ever’Deli has options available for those who the dairy fairy just doesn’t like back. Their Orange Julio Soy Shake tastes remarkably like an Orange Julius (orange juice, soy milk, banana and vanilla protein). Creative types can build their own with any base (apple juice, pineapple juice, coconut milk) and two fruits (like blueberries, mango, peach, raspberries or strawberries). While nothing breaks the heat of summer better than ice cream, it’s true nothing refreshes quite like sorbet. After all, sorbet was made for fresh fruit season and it would be shame to let the summer go by without trying some of the delicious results. Try Dolce’s Watermelon Basil or Pink Grapefruit sorbet and enjoy them with a glass of white wine on their lovely porch.

MAKE: HOMEMADE FRO-YO

You know that ice cream maker your aunt gave you that’s been sitting in the garage forgotten about for almost two years now—well today’s the day it has a purpose! Stick the ice cream maker base in the freezer before you go to bed tonight and tomorrow go shopping for two things: Plain nonfat yogurt and sugar. Ingredients: 32 ounces of plain nonfat yogurt 5/6 cups of sugar (if your mind just exploded like mine did the first time converting that, it’s 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup) Directions: Whisk together yogurt and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Pour into ice cream maker after the base has been in the freezer overnight. If the base isn’t cold enough, your yogurt will be less thick and icier. Churn for 30 minutes. Keep in freezer in airtight container.

Become a Foodie

For those wanting to broaden their culinary horizons, adding a few of these to your summer book rotation couldn’t hurt. If you need a bit of instant inspiration, be sure to check out a few of my favorite food blogs.

“Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream.” From $13.22 on Amazon. Co-Written by the owner and Chef of this popular ice cream parlor chain in Seattle, the ice cream recipes contained in this book will keep you busy all summer. Childhood favorites like Neapolitan are in here, but it’s the unorthodox flavors that have garnered a zealous fan base: Cucumber Mint Sorbet, Blackberry Sage and Pumpkin Clove are some of the highlights. They even recommend putting a scoop of their Maple Bacon ice cream atop warm oatmeal for a winter treat—that is the moment I was sold. Booking my ticket for Seattle now. “The Great Salsa Book.” From $11.72 on Amazon. Did you know salsa has replaced ketchup as America’s number one condiment? I had no idea and I must say, it’s about damn time. This book runs the gamut of salsa recipes, so if you only know salsa as the red stuff from Chili’s, you may be a bit surprised. The recipes here feature over 100 “salsas” which range from chile, tropical, fruit, bean, corn-based to salsas that are made with nuts and seeds and even, oceanic ingredients. Let this book become your salsa spirit guide and soon you’ll be thinking of the word salsa like you do salad. “The Joy of Cooking.” From $19.70 on Amazon. If you’re going to buy one book on cooking in your lifetime: make it this one. Want to learn how to braid bread? Dress a turkey? Make steak tartare? Flambé a tart? Its all in here—the veritable, and highly respected, “bible” of the kitchen. Ask any Chef if they own a copy and they’ll probably show you a flour speckled monstrosity that’s been stained from sauces and pocked over with burn marks from pans—and soon yours will too. Taking your inspiration from nights spent wandering into Canal Street’s Pink Berry, use this standard recipe as a base for whatever your dessert spirit guide inspires you to add: mochi, granola, honey, fresh berries and pretzels being my favorite.

MAKE: COCONUT AVOCADO ICE CREAM

Sounds strange I know, but when you think about it, avocado’s texture inherently lends itself to a creamy dessert. Rich in good fats, it creates a sublimely smooth, decadent ice cream. Serve it at your next grill party as an unexpected, yet fitting dessert.

“Momofuko.” $21.74 on Amazon. Momofuko is the name of one of David Chang’s restaurants. A man that inspires patrons to embark on vast pilgrimages to pray at the altar that is his restaurant empire: Milk Bar, Ko, Ssäm Bar and, of course, Momofuko Noodle Bar. The book is an interesting weave of recipes, as well as the stories behind the dishes, that impacted the culinary scene in a way no one chef had ever done before. With plenty of pictures and indepth tutorials, the book could easily make a beautiful coffee table accessory—but that would be shameful given the usefulness and creativity put into this man’s culinary oeuvre. Buy it and get in the kitchen!

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blogs davidlebovitz.com David Lebovitz is a world-renowned pastry chef who made his name working at Chez Panisse with Alice Walters. The guy now lives in Paris full-time and drives me crazy with pictures of perfect macaroons, mille-feuille and recipes for Rochoux’s Hazelnut Praline Paste. A dessert blogger who actually earned the right to write about whatever damn dessert he wants—thank you very much—prepare to be jealous. However, if you have to live the food scene of Paris through the eyes of one man: this is the one you’d want to tell the story. lookimadethat.com Sometimes food blogs can wax poetic about a recipe for too long. I hate scrolling through five pages of “thoughts” before I hit the actual recipe. This food blog hits a nice balance of the two. Updated often with great pictures and plenty of variety you’ll definitely find something here to “pin.” veganmenu.blogspot.com If you’ve ever thought “I could so be vegan forever” after eating at Sluggos for lunch—who hasn’t thought that—but then find yourself wondering how to actually cook vegan food, this blog is you. You’ll never get bored with all the variety this blog inspires: linguini with porcini mushrooms, tandoori tofu, chocolate marble cheesecake and baklava were just a few of this week’s recipes.

Ingredients: 3 cups milk 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 pound avocado pulp (about two Hass avocados) 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice Directions: Freeze the base of your ice cream maker overnight. Blend all ingredients in a blender. Add more lime juice or sugar, if needed. Refrigerate until mixture is cold. Pour in ice cream maker and churn—about 40 minutes—or according to manufacturer’s directions. {in}

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626 2

news of the weird 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. 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

inweekly.net

by Chuck Shepherd

Blind (although, obviously, at least one sighted person reported his description). • District of Columbia Councilman Marion Barry initially was scorned in May for criticizing the influx of “Asian” shopkeepers into the ward that he represents. “They got to go. I’ll say that right now.” Later, after re-thinking the issue, Barry announced that his ward should be “the model of diversity,” and issued an apology to Asian-Americans. But, he lamented, America has always been tough on immigrants. “The Irish caught hell, the Jews caught hell, the Polacks caught hell.” (The preferred terms are “Polish” or “Poles.”) BLESS THOSE RESEARCHERS’ HEARTS!(1) A team of scientists from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, following up on a Harvard study that found dramatic weight-loss qualities from eating yogurt, did its own yogurt study. The results, summarized in Scientific American in May, noted that yogurt-eating male mice have 10 times the follicle density of other mice, producing “luxuriantly silky fur” and larger, outward-projecting testicles that made them far more effective inseminators. (2) British researchers from the University of Liverpool and the University of Bristol concluded in an April journal article that caterpillars of the large white butterfly, which defends itself against predators by vomiting on them, are less likely to do so when the caterpillars live in groups. The researchers hypothesize that gratuitous vomiters are seen as poor mating risks. RECURRING THEMES The most recently reported morbidly obese person who required that her home be partially torn apart by firefighters so that she could be lifted out to be taken to a hospital was teenager Georgia Davis in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Davis, 19, weighs nearly 800 pounds, and 40 people were involved in extricating her in May from her upstairs bedroom, via scaffolding. (Several years ago, Davis enrolled in a weight-loss camp in the U.S. and got down to about 250 pounds, but she quickly gained it back.) NO LONGER WEIRD A time-honored defense used by many older men when charged with having sex with underage girls is now so common that it must be retired from circulation. In February in Bridgeport, Conn., Norberto Millet, 60, denied raping the 9-year-old girl, accusing her of actually attacking him—and said he had to fight her off. In fact, Millet told police, a lot of girls 8- to 10 years old try to have sex with him. And in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in May, Lyle Moodie, 47 at the time, said much the same about his 16-year-old accuser. “She just suddenly grabbed me by the pajama bottoms. I pulled back and said, ‘No, stop.’ I didn’t know what to do.” {in}

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

June 21, 2012

my pensacola Georgia Adams Langerfeld Day Job: Copy Editor at the Pensacola News

Journal

Pensacola Resident Since: Born here in 1983, moved to Milton, Fla. when I was 15, and moved back to Pensacola two years ago.

Good Eats:

I’m a huge fan of sushi from Horizen Sushi Restaurant. I lived in Japan for a year when I was in college, so I’m pretty picky about my sushi, but Horizen always hits the spot. Skipping continents, I love our taco nights at work, when we mosey over to Nacho Daddies on Palafox for an order of house nachos, or, my favorite, a veggie quesadilla add chicken. They use an awesome blend of vegetables that really makes their veggie items stand out. And getting away from downtown, I also have to give a huge shout-out to Goat Lips Deli. They’ve got great food and free Wi-Fi, so it’s a great studying hangout.

Retail Therapy:

I’m a bargain hunter, so I love hitting up Ross, TJ Maxx and Beall’s Outlet stores when I’m looking for clothes. And even though we rent, I love working in the yard, so I spend a fair amount of my dinero at Home Depot. And honestly, when I really feel the need to shop but I don’t want to blow my budget, I hit up any Dollar Tree. I can walk out with all kinds of weird stuff for less than 10 bucks.

Watering Holes:

I really love the atmosphere and attitude at The Magnolia, and I also adore The Elbow Room. I’m not much of a partier, so the laid-back atmosphere at both these

places is great. Plus, I’m (tragically!) allergic to beer, so the selection of ciders and wines at these places is great.

Nightlife:

Honestly, most of the time I’m just as happy at home watching Netflix, but when I do go out I like to be somewhere I can hear my friends talk, like sipping glasses of wine at The Wine Bar. For the times I do feel like dancing, I haven’t found anywhere that could beat Emerald City for a stress-free dance party.

Outdoors:

Palafox Pier is really awesome, and I love that it’s so easy to get to. I also really love canoeing, though I don’t get to do it too often. If you’re looking for a real adventure, hit up the zip line at Adventures Unlimited in Milton, Fla.

Arts & Culture:

I like to try to catch productions at the University of West Florida whenever I can. I work nights and weekends, so I don’t get to see many of the things the town has to offer. There have been a ton of classical concerts at the Saenger Theatre that I’ve wanted to see. Someday. I do like strolling Gallery Nights on my dinner breaks from work, as there are always cool performers playing on Palafox, like my friend Tanya Gallagher.

Never Miss Events/Festivals:

Tanya Gallagher / photo by Luke Infinger

I’ve been to every Festival on the Green for the past three or four years. I love the mix of art, history and culture it provides. For everything else, my work schedule dictates whether I can make it, but I love to get out when I can. The Seafood Festival and the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival are both stellar. {in}

Do you want to tell us how you see our city? Email Joani at joani@inweekly.net for all of the details.

Independent News | June 21, 2012 | inweekly.net