Inweekly March 26 2026 Issue

RAY PALMER

for Bringing the Excitement, the Crowds, and the Legacy to Our Community!

For more than 20 years, Ray Palmer has poured his passion, vision, and energy into making Pensacola a destination for sports and community events.

As President & CEO of Pensacola Sports — Florida’s oldest sports commission, founded in 1955 — Ray has elevated both the organization and our city’s reputation on the national stage.

Through his leadership, Pensacola secured the Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Basketball Championships at the Pensacola Bay Center — now extended through 2030 — bringing ESPN broadcasts, unforgettable tournament moments, and thousands of visitors to our community each year.

Through his dedication, Ray has given us more than great sporting events — he has helped create opportunity, pride, and lasting memories for generations of athletes and fans.

Highlights of Ray’s leadership include:

• Securing the Sun Belt Conference Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships for Pensacola

• Helping bring the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament to our city

• Growing the Pensacola Double Bridge Run to a record 5,000 runners

• Creating a series of high school all-star games in football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball — giving local male and female athletes one final opportunity to represent their schools

• Helping position Pensacola as a trusted host for major sporting events welcoming thousands of out-of-state visitors, boosting our local economy year after year

winners & losers winners losers

RAY PALMER Pensacola Sports President and CEO Ray Palmer will be inducted into the Sports ETA Hall of Fame on April 22 in Las Vegas. Sports ETA, the nation's only trade association dedicated to the sports events and tourism industry, recognized Palmer for more than two decades of leadership along Florida's Gulf Coast. Since joining Pensacola Sports as executive director in 2002, Palmer has secured marquee events, including the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Championships and the SEC Women's Soccer Championship. Palmer also served as Sports ETA board chair. A lifelong Pensacola resident, he has been named three times to the

JESSE ARGUELLO & SKYLUV RIOS These Navy sailors are being credited for saving the life of a driver who crashed into an Escambia County creek on March 15. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a 37-year-old man who was speeding on Highway 98 ran a red light. He crashed his vehicle through a fence and into Bayou Chico Creek, where it became completely submerged. Two sailors assigned to the Naval Aviation Schools Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola witnessed the crash. One sailor jumped into the water, heard the driver knocking on the window, broke through the sunroof, pulled the driver from the submerged vehicle, and brought him to shore. The second sailor rendered first aid until Escambia EMS arrived.

HANCOCK

WHITNEY BANK Pensacola Parks and Recreation has named Hancock Whitney Bank its 2026 Financial Literacy Partner, bringing financial education to youth enrolled in the city's Out-of-School Time programs and to the broader community through Movies in the Park. The bank will deliver 18 interactive financial literacy sessions covering saving, budgeting, goal-setting and smart decision-making within after-school and summer camp curricula. Hancock Whitney will also serve as Title Sponsor of the 2026 Movies in the Park series, scheduled May 30, June 13, July 18 and Aug. 1. Each event will feature a banking game where attendees earn "Cinema Cash" to spend or save, reinforcing real-world financial concepts in a family-friendly setting.

Florida lawmakers introduced just under 2,000 bills and resolutions as they began the 2026 legislative session. Both chambers only agreed on 235. Jim Turner and Ana Goñi-Lessan of the News Service of Florida reported on these issues that went unresolved, making the topics losers for Inweekly.

EDUCATION Florida has dramatically expanded school voucher programs in recent years. But there are growing pains in the programs that included questions about whether money properly follows students as they shift between public schools and private schools and homeschooling. The Senate passed a plan early in the session to address those issues, but the House never took up the bill.

GROWTH MANAGEMENT After facing lawsuits and objections from local officials, legislation was put forward to scale back a 2025 law crafted after the 2024 hurricanes that in part temporarily blocks cities and counties from approving "more restrictive or burdensome" changes to growth plans. The Senate approved the rollback, but it didn't advance in the House.

HEALTHCARE A key healthcare measure pushed by the DeSantis office and the Florida Surgeon General Joe Ladapo to ban vaccine requirements was never filed. A softer bill to expand exemptions to vaccine requirements for public K-12 students failed to pass both chambers. When asked if the proposal (SB 1756) could make a comeback during budget talks, Senate President Albritton told reporters: "That is a decision the Legislature will make, and we'll see."

RURAL RENAISSANCE For the second year, Senate President Albritton sought a significant take-home bill. Even after reducing the overall price tag with healthcare components expected to be covered by millions in federal rural healthcare dollars, the House didn't approve the measure, which would have infused rural areas with funding for education, transportation and economic development. Part of the plan, though, was included in the Senate's tax cut bill, which means it could be part of budget talks with the House.

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

CELEBRATING THE GOOD

Spring in Pensacola is the season of hope. We can shed the political battles and agendas that have held our community back and celebrate the good.

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS Downtown Pensacola continues to add residents. More people living within walking distance of downtown adds vibrancy and makes retail businesses more sustainable. A decade ago when Quint and Rishy Studer purchased the old PNJ headquarters on Romana Street and announced their intent to build Southtowne, a mix of commercial and residential space, we predicted it would be a game-changer for downtown. It not only has been that, but also a catalyst for more residential construction in the area, including over 500 units on the old ECUA property across from Bruce Beach. Downtown Pensacola is no longer a ghost town after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

SAILING FUTURE The Port of Pensacola has gone from a financial burden for city taxpayers to an economic driver. American Magic has turned a chunk of the port into a permanent high-tech sailing, manufacturing and training campus that brings high-wage jobs, new port revenue and global visibility to the city's economy. Its formal partnership with SailGP, a rapidly growing new international sports league, turns American Magic's Pensacola facility into SailGP's first long-term training base and North American hub. In turn, this brings additional teams, jobs and visibility layered on top of the America's Cup program. We will be the sailing capital of North America.

BEULAH TOWN CENTER Beulah, the fastestgrowing community in Escambia County, will finally get a town center. Outlying Fields, a former OLF- 8 Navy training field, is slated to become a large mixed-use district. This will be divided further into several districts, including a walkable town center, a commerce corridor along Nine Mile Road, a residential area with higher-density housing, a community district centered on a lake and trails and an Employment, Technology and Innovation zone aimed at attracting sectors like aerospace, cybersecurity, marine innovation and biopharma. Chad Henderson, whose company is developing the site, has described the project as a "generational" economic opportunity and the future "beating heart of Beulah," arguing it will add

jobs, housing and amenities while following the broad framework of the county's earlier DPZ master plan that emphasized a New Urbanist-style mix of uses and green space.

AEROSPACE ECONOMY ST Engineering's Pensacola operation was rebranded as "ST Engineering–Pensacola Aerospace" in January, highlighting its dedication to our community. VT MAE/ST Engineering has run MRO facilities in both Mobile, Ala. and Pensacola, but in 2025, the company announced a plan to shift capacity, consolidating more U.S. airframe MRO work into Pensacola and phasing out its Mobile operations after over 30 years there. Its third Pensacola hangar, a 167,000-square-foot, two-bay facility designed to handle widebody aircraft, is set to open this year. Meanwhile, the City of Pensacola has started designing a fourth hangar. Eventually, the complete four-hangar MRO complex is expected to create over 1,700 direct jobs in Pensacola once fully developed and staffed, with local estimates indicating several thousand additional indirect and induced jobs.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Escambia County has lost thousands of students to parochial, private, virtual and charter schools, as well as homeschooling. Despite this, our school grades and graduation rates have improved. Traditional thinking would suggest that public education might struggle after losing what some believed were the brightest students, but Superintendent Keith Leonard and his teachers are educating our children better than ever. Unfortunately, we can't compare public schools to voucher-funded options because the other choices aren't graded using the same standards.

BROWNSVILLE REVITALIZATION The Brownsville Community Center has become a vital anchor for revitalizing Pensacola's west side, offering services that strengthen families, seniors and the broader neighborhood. Opened in 2017, the county-run center hosts community meetings, after-school programs, summer job sign-ups for teens, activities for senior citizens and galas for nonprofits. The center is critical to Brownsville's long-term resurgence.

Yes, we have plenty to celebrate. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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IN BILL CLOVER'S MEMORY

Bank's signature annual fundraiser raised more money than ever before last week, collecting $78,694 at the 2026 Clover Pick A Bowl Fill A Bowl to provide the equivalent of more than 47,000 meals for hungry residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

The fundraiser was established in 2006 at Pensacola State College and renamed in 2018 to honor Visual Arts Professor Bill Clover, who spent 52 years at the college and was central to the event's founding and growth. He was known for his ceramic pottery, including his distinctive bowls and mugs, and he was deeply involved in outdoor art festivals as an exhibitor and judge at local, regional and national levels.

Clover helped build the college's ceramics program, at times firing student work off campus before the school had its own kilns. In 2014 he received the U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award for over 7,000 hours of volunteer service and creating more than 6,500 bowls for Manna events.

Clover died on May 7, 2018, while still an active faculty member at Pensacola State College. The college and its foundation created the Bill Clover Endowed Scholarship to support aspiring visual arts students.

The 2026 event, presented by Sandy Sansing Dealerships, drew local artists, restaurant vendors, corporate sponsors, and hundreds of community members to what organizers called the most successful gathering in the fundraiser's 19year history.

"This event is Manna's largest fundraiser of the year and provides critical financial support for our organization," said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna's executive director. "Potters, sponsors, food vendors, volunteers, and event guests have raised the bar again, making this year's event an overwhelming success."

bowls created by faculty and students from Pensacola State College's Visual Arts Department, First City Arts Center and local artists. Guests select a bowl and fill it with food donated by participating restaurants, with proceeds going directly to Manna.

More than a dozen local restaurants competed for the event's People's Choice Award, including The Grand Marlin, Sonny's BBQ, Tacos El Fluffy, Steel Pony Diner, and The Farm. Guests cast their votes through cash donations to Manna. Chef Bob Solarski of WEAR 3 won the award for his Pumpkin Lobster Bisque and received a handmade award bowl at the conclusion of the event.

BUDGET DEADLOCK

Florida's legislative session ended on March 13 without a state budget, leaving lawmakers and the governor to sort out a path forward through special sessions.

State Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who serves as the House's Health Care Budget Subcommittee chair, told Inweekly that the breakdown came down to a fundamental disagreement between the House and Senate on the total budget amount.

"Our proposed budget in the House was, I think, $113 billion. Theirs was I think $115 billion. And they came back and said, 'Well, we'll agree on a $116 billion budget,'" Andrade said. "Well, you're going in the wrong direction if that's your offer."

Without an agreed top-line number, negotiations on individual budget categories—including healthcare, transportation and environmental programs—never got off the ground.

Andrade pointed to several factors tightening the state's fiscal picture. Federal COVID relief dollars that inflated Florida's budget in recent

years are gone. The federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" now requires states to contribute more of their own funds to programs like SNAP and Medicaid. And Florida's job growth has not kept pace with its population growth, with the state posting a net deficit in total jobs over the past two quarters.

"We're in a kind of a cutting position right now when it comes to preparing for the future," Andrade said. "It's not the same as it was four years ago when we were flushed with cash that came from D.C."

The tax package also proved contentious. Both chambers agreed not to piggyback off federal corporate tax cuts made under the new federal law, a move that would have cost the state $3 billion in lost revenue.

All bills that failed to pass before the March 13 deadline are now dead and cannot be revived outside of a formal special session call.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has already called a special session for April 20, limited to congressional redistricting. Additional sessions focused on the budget, vaccine policy, and the governor's proposed property tax referendum are all possibilities, though no formal calls have been issued.

"It's an unlimited universe at the moment," Andrade said, "and we'll all find out at about the same time what policies will actually be taking up in the next few months."

HERO'S WELCOME A Cantonment veteran

critically wounded while saving a teammate during Operation Epic Fury in Iran received a hero's welcome on March 14, as Pensacola-area residents lined local roadways to honor 27-year-old Hunter Girdner on his return from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Community members carrying American flags and homemade signs gathered along the motorcade route and at a public reception to recognize Girdner's actions under fire and the severe injuries he suffered while refusing to leave a wounded teammate behind.

Girdner was working as a defense contractor with a small team in Iran when their position came under drone attack on Feb. 28. As the team moved toward safety, teammate and fellow veteran John Gabrysiak was struck and fell behind. Girdner turned back into the impact area to reach him, exposing himself to additional incoming fire. He was hit by shrapnel in the abdomen, sustaining catastrophic internal injuries that required multiple surgeries and weeks of intensive care at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Maryland. Gabrysiak and others have credited Girdner's decision to turn back with saving his life.

On March 13, Sen. Don Gaetz took to the Senate floor to honor Girdner before his release

from the ICU. "Despite life-threatening wounds, he found his way back to rescue his engineer before the next drones struck, and he succeeded in saving the engineer's life," Gaetz said. "A brave soldier who risked his life and saved his friend."

Local and state officials joined the Cantonment community at the homecoming event, praising Girdner as a hometown hero. He is continuing his recovery following his discharge from Walter Reed.

PRESSER TAKEAWAYS

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves used his weekly press conference last week to announce a major shift in the city's recycling drop-off operation and provide construction updates on several key projects.

The recycling drop-off site at Summit Boulevard will close permanently on May 4, relocating to the sanitation services office at 100 West Leonard St. The move comes after data showed contamination rates at the Summit location running as high as 90%. Nearly everything deposited there ended up in the landfill.

Deploying a five-person crew up to six days a week cost $258,984 annually to operate the site. The new location, secured by existing fencing and staffed by a single employee using on-site equipment, will cost just $30,000 per year—a 90% reduction.

At the Port of Pensacola, road and rail rehabilitation work began earlier this month on infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Sally. The base bid runs approximately $11.5 million, with an additional $2.3 million in alternate bid items pending City Council approval.

The New Palafox Project has reached the halfway mark ahead of its May 24 incentivized completion date. Storm infrastructure is 80% complete, irrigation 90% done, and pavers are roughly 50% installed across 11,755 square feet of sidewalk and 2,200 square feet of parking bays.

RECESSION PROOF Pensacola Sports CEO

Ray Palmer has spent more than 25 years watching sports tourism outlast recessions, hurricanes, an oil spill and a global pandemic. His conclusion: no other segment of the tourism industry comes close.

"We all hate to use the word, but it's true — it's the recession-proof capacity of sports tourism," Palmer said in a recent appearance on the "We Don't Color on the Dog" podcast. "When your children are playing sports and you have an option to take your child out of town to compete, you're not going to say no."

Palmer says the next decade will only accelerate that trend. With the FIFA World Cup already underway in the United States, the 2028 Olympics on the horizon and a string of international events filling the calendar, he believes American sports tourism is entering its strongest run yet.

"It just is such an interesting dynamic of what sport does for our economy," Palmer said. That dynamic, he argues, makes the longrunning debate over a Pensacola indoor sports facility more urgent than ever. Studies dating

back to 2010 have consistently shown unmet demand in Escambia County for multi-court indoor venues, and every new study shows the market has grown, not shrunk.

"If you build a venue in Escambia County, I know it will get filled," Palmer said. "I have watched for all 20 plus of my years, people ask about bringing their events here. They want to come to our community."

Palmer believes the venue doesn't need to be adjacent to the Pensacola Bay Center, because traveling athletic families operate on entirely different economics than convention attendees. He said, "They're going to find deals and bargains, stay outside of generally a downtown area, and eat at your fast foods and your pizza joints."

What families need most, Palmer says, is multiple courts or fields under one roof at a single site, which lets a family manage a U-10 and a U-14 player competing the same weekend without driving across the county. He said that a conference center at the Bay Center site can still work, but only if it is designed large enough to convert to flat-court sports use.

STATE CHAMPS STIFFED Booker T. Washington High School's girls' basketball team made history this month, defeating Blanche Ely High of Pompano Beach 56–54 to claim the Class 5A state championship—Pensacola's first state title in 11 years. But a dispute between the Escambia Board of County Commissioners and Clerk Pam Childers kept the county from fully joining the celebration.

Commissioner Lumon May had requested a $1,000 disbursement to support the program. The full board voted unanimously to authorize the expenditure. Childers refused to cut the check, stating the payment lacked "a clearly identified and concrete purpose as the primary objective purpose."

It was not an isolated incident. Last summer, Childers declined to release a $500 reimbursement to American Legion Post 33 for sending teens to the Boys State program at Florida State University, despite another unanimous board vote approving the expenditure.

Commissioner Mike Kohler said Childers' restrictive interpretation of community support funding has made Escambia County "a complete and utter outlier" compared to other Florida counties. Commissioner Steven Barry challenged the legal basis for Childers' position, questioning the distinction between "public purpose" and "county public purpose" as a "made-up difference."

County Attorney Alison Rogers has been unambiguous about where the authority lies. "What serves the public purpose is not the counsel to the clerk's decision to make," Rogers told the board last July. "You guys are the ones who are supposed to decide what serves a public purpose, and you have very broad discretion to make that legislative finding."

Despite Rogers' legal opinion, Childers has continued to community support disbursements approved by the commissioners. Mean -

while, the City of Pensacola has no problem helping nonprofits.

On March 12, the Pensacola City Council approved several discretionary funding requests without controversy, including $1,000 for the Pensacola Humane Society, $500 for the Pensacola Historic Society, $500 for the Studer Community Institute, and $500 for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Pensacola Chapter.

Childers has not provided the board with any data on how Florida's 66 other counties handle similar discretionary disbursements. County staff should research and report on how every Florida county clerk handles their commissioners' discretionary funds. Let the facts drive any resolution.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT TEDxPensacola returns this spring with a new message: the talent and innovation shaping Pensacola's future are already here; they just haven't had a big enough stage.

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BAYVIEW PARK

The 2026 event, themed "Hidden in Plain Sight," is scheduled for May 23 at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Organizers say the theme reflects the depth of leadership, research, and creativity already present in the region's neighborhoods, classrooms, laboratories, and businesses, but they have been overshadowed by Pensacola's more familiar identity as a coastal and military community.

The event will feature 15 to 20 speakers drawn from fields including technology, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, the arts and community leadership. Talks follow the signature TEDx format, which calls for short, focused presentations designed to challenge perspectives and spark conversation. A live audience of 300 to 400 is expected at the theater, with additional livestream viewing hosted at universities and community locations across the region.

Community Day activities will extend the event to Museum Plaza in Downtown Pensacola later in the afternoon, with experiences designed to encourage collaboration and reflection beyond the stage. All talks will be professionally filmed and published on the global TEDx platform.

TEDxPensacola is organized entirely by volunteers and operates in partnership with Pillars of Promise, a Pensacola-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization is currently seeking volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and donors to support the event.

Tickets and additional information are available at tedxpensacola.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR The Northwest Florida Unit of the National Association of Social Workers will hold its Social Work Month Celebration and Awards Ceremony from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the UWF Conference Center, Building 20, 11000 University Pkwy. The guest speaker is Honor Bell, MSW. The registration fees are $25 members, $30 future members, $16 student members and $20 future student members. Please register by March 27 at naswfl.socialworkers.org/events/calendar-of-events. {in}

SHOUT OUT

Congratulations to Megan F. Fry, Pinnacle Award Recipient – Attorney & Shareholder, Clark Partington Attorneys at Law

850 Business Magazine and the Pinnacle Awards proudly recognize Megan F. Fry for her outstanding leadership, professional excellence, and commitment to making a meaningful impact in Northwest Florida.

For more than 17 years, Megan has exemplified resilience, integrity, and strategic insight in her legal practice.

As the first woman to chair Clark Partington’s Commercial Litigation Department and the first woman to serve on its Executive Committee, she has helped pave the way for others while delivering exceptional results for her clients.

Megan’s influence extends well beyond the courtroom. Through her service as General Counsel to the Escambia Children’s Trust and Triumph Gulf Coast, and her leadership with the University of West Florida Foundation and numerous community organizations, she continues to strengthen our region and invest in its future.

The Pinnacle Awards honor women who balance leadership, service, and purpose—lifting others as they lead. Megan Fry exemplifies that mission in every sense.

Thank you, Megan, for your leadership, your resilience, and your commitment to our community.

The Team Behind Pensacola’s Biggest Sporting Moments

BEHIND THE SCENES, THE ORGANIZATION CREATES, RECRUITS, HOSTS AND SUPPORTS AMATEUR, COLLEGIATE AND PROFESSIONAL EVENTS THAT SHOWCASE THE PENSACOLA AREA AS A PREMIER SPORTS DESTINATION.

If you’ve ever cheered runners across the finish line at the Pensacola Double Bridge Run, watched championship basketball at the Pensacola Bay Center, or seen athletes competing across our community, you’ve experienced the work of Pensacola Sports.

71 YEARS OF Competition

Founded in 1955, Pensacola Sports is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing high-quality sporting events to Pensacola and Escambia County. Working behind the scenes, the organization creates, recruits, hosts and supports amateur, collegiate and professional events that showcase the Pensacola area as a premier sports destination.

Many locals know Pensacola Sports through its signature events. The Pensacola Double Bridge Run, one of the most scenic 15K races in the country, attracts thousands of runners each year. Events like the Bayou Hills Run and DeLuna’s Open Water Swim have also become community traditions that celebrate both competition and the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Through partnerships with event rights holders, local governments, volunteers, sponsors and sports organizations, Pensacola Sports helps deliver events that draw athletes and visitors from across the country. These events generate significant economic impact for local hotels, restaurants and businesses while creating opportunities for residents to experience top-tier competition close to home.

Beyond events, Pensacola Sports celebrates athletic achievement through the Annual Sports Awards Banquet and Senior Scholar Athlete Program, honoring athletes, coaches and community leaders who have shaped the region’s rich sports legacy.

Whether you’re running across the finish line, cheering from the stands or volunteering to support an event, chances are Pensacola Sports is part of the moment.

Learn more about upcoming events and how to get involved at

deeply rewarding.

"I joined Emerald Coast Writers back in 2021 and started in their critique group," Dalhaus said. "They were looking to expand some events because it was just after the pandemic. They were trying to figure out how to get people back together instead of just doing everything virtually."

Dalhaus soon joined the organization's event committee and suggested something simple—a small book fair with a few vendors and perhaps a speaker or two.

"I'm a crafter. I love doing little craft shows and things like that," she said. "So, I was like, 'Well, how about we do a little book fair?'"

The first year's call for speakers quickly showed the team just how much interest there was in a literary festival for the region.

"We would have been thrilled to get maybe two or three applications," Dalhaus said. "Instead, we got 27. We were floored. Suddenly we had all these people who wanted to participate, and we didn't want to turn anybody away."

The inaugural festival featured children's graphic novelist John Patrick Green as a keynote speaker alongside authors Ginny Myers Sain and Paul Lonardo Webb. Vendors lined Museum Plaza, authors spoke inside nearby venues and to the organizers' delight, crowds showed up in droves. Some authors even sold out of their books entirely.

"That was when we realized, okay, we should probably do this again next year," Dalhaus said.

Celebrating Community & Storytelling at B OOKS BY THE BAY

By Dakota Parks

was flooding downtown. I said, 'We're not doing that again.'"

The new venue provides a mix of indoor vendor spaces and outdoor booths, giving the event both flexibility and room to expand.

"There are so many beautiful places in Bayview Park to sit and read a book or write," Dalhaus said. "It's just a perfect setting for something like this."

Creating Space for Authors

Beyond the numbers, Dalhaus believes the festival's real success lies in the sense of community it fosters among writers and readers alike.

"Other festivals can be very competitive, which I don't understand at all, because readers buy the books they want to read. It's not like, 'I bought your book, so I'm not going to buy someone else's.' Our festival is very friendly and supportive," she said.

One of the most popular features at the event is "Author's Row," which is a shared book-signing space designed especially for emerging writers and first-time exhibitors.

"It's mostly for newer authors or people who've only written one book. They sign in threehour blocks, and the energy around that area is incredible. Everybody's laughing and talking. Authors have made such great friends just from sitting in that row together that now we have people who come back year after year just to do that," Dalhaus observed.

Fifteen selected authors will also take the stage to deliver short readings from their latest

willing to take the stage. Created by Northwest Florida Poet Laureate Asia Samson, the event has become a highlight of the festival. This year, former regional poet laureate Katherine NelsonBorn will take the helm as host.

"You have to show up with about 25 to 30 haiku," Dalhaus explained. "It's an elimination competition, so you need enough poems to keep going if you make it to the next round. The winner walks away with a $100 gift card and a free membership to Emerald Coast Writers."

Another interactive feature debuting this year is "Postcards to Home," a photo-inspired writing challenge that invites festival-goers to respond creatively to images submitted by photographers.

"We'll have photographs hanging on a line, and people can pick one that inspires them. They'll take a postcard and write something— a poem, a letter, anything—and drop it into the mailbox," Dalhaus said. "The photo that inspires the most responses will win a gift certificate from Gulf Coast Camera, and the winning writing pieces will be published in our biannual anthology, 'Emerald Coast Review.'"

The day's programming also includes an array of performances. Bestselling author Kyla Zhao will headline with an author talk and children's workshop in the senior center. The African American Heritage Readers' Ensemble will perform readings accompanied by live music. Nonfiction author Forest Issac Jones will present a talk exploring the influence of the 1965 Selma voting rights march on the 1969 civil rights march from Belfast to Derry in Northern Ireland.

Local talent will also be in the spotlight. Students from Pensacola High School will perform scenes from Shakespeare, while collegiate writ-

be reading. The more knowledgeable you are, the more your world opens up. I also hope that people who come to the festival take away that literature is not scary. You don't have to be afraid of books."

Children's authors will present story times in the kids' activity room and showcase their books in the senior center. A children's scavenger hunt will send young participants searching for prizes throughout the park, while Escambia County 4-H students will lead hands-on craft activities.

Ultimately, Dalhaus hopes visitors leave the festival with a renewed appreciation for the writers living and working in their own community.

"We have some phenomenal local authors," she said. "I'm excited that people can come to something like this and realize how incredible the literary talent is right here."

After three years of helping guide the festival's growth, Dalhaus will soon be passing on leadership to a new organizer. But she says watching Books By The Bay flourish has been one of the most meaningful experiences of her life.

"It's been the legacy of my life," she said. "I just love this festival." {in}

Books By The Bay

WHAT: A literary festival organized by Emerald Coast Writers featuring authors, resources for writers, vendors, book signings, readings, children's activities and more WHEN: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 28 WHERE: Bayview Park, 2001 E. Lloyd St. COST: Admission is free

DETAILS: booksbythebay.info, emeraldcoastwritersinc.org

a&e happenings

pensacolabaycenter.com.

SAVE OUR SHELTERS EASTER BASKET

SALE

Save Our Shelters is having an Easter Basket/Spring shopping sale with items starting at just $10. Visit Happy Dog Resort, 1401 W. Cervantes St. now through April 4 to view the baskets. Cash or check only. Proceeds help dogs get spayed and neutered.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -

TION Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and women, as well as

sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

READ ACROSS PENSACOLA DAY EXTRAVFamilies are invited to Museum Plaza, 300 S. Tarragona St., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 28 for live story time sessions, create-yourown-story adventures, book giveaways and more. For more information, visit readykidsfl.org.

ARTS & CULTURE

GULF COAST CULTURE SERIES: THE MALTESE FALCON Experience "The Maltese Falcon" as a radio audience. Live actors will perform the movie in real time with sound effects 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26. You can listen live on WUWF Public Media on 88.1 FM. Tickets are free but registration is required. Register online at uwf.edu/cassh/community-outreach/gulfcoast-culture-series.

MARCH MEWVIE NIGHT: PURRIDE & Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St., is hosting a screening of "Pride and Prejudice" with adoptable cats 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 27. Details and tickets at coastalcatpcola.com.

NOW AND THEN Pen Arts performance 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 29. Located at The Gordon Community Art Center, 306 N. DeVilliers St. Details at

SPOTLIGHT: A STUDIO ARTIST SHOWPensacola Opera fundraiser featuring performances from studio artists 6 p.m. Friday, March 27 at 716 N. Ninth Ave. Details and tickets at pensacolaopera.com.

11TH ANNUAL JAPAN-U.S. MILITARY PROGRAM (JUMP) This free event, hosted by the Japan-America Society of Northwest Florida and sponsored by the Consulate-General of Japan in Miami, is a salute to the U.S. military in Japan with speakers, taiko performance and a reception with Japanese food and drink. Event is 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at the Studer Community Institute, 220 W. Garden St. Details at jasnwfl.org.

BOOKS BY THE BAY Meet bestselling authors, shop books and more at the Books by the Bay Festival 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at Bayview Park, 2000 E. Lloyd St. Details at booksbythebay.info.

SPRING 2026 PLANT-A-PALOOZA Visit

Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave., for a spring plant sale 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.

CABARET: A STORY BOOK SOIRÉE Pensacola Little Theatre fundraiser at 400 S. Jefferson St. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Details and tickets at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

CLIFF CASH See comedian and activist Cliff Cash and local bands Outlook Bleak, Stufy and Rat Daughter at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St., at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Details are at instagram.com/shuttlepunx.

COMMUNITY POTLUCK WITH BREAD BOX THEATRE Bread Box Theatre kicks off their 309 Artist in Residency with a community potluck 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.

EASTER MARKET AT GARY'S BREWERY

Shop local vendors and get your photo with the Easter bunny 12 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Details at facebook.com/garysbrew.

IMPROVABLE CAUSE The next Improvable Cause show is 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St. Details and tickets at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

FABULOUS FORGERIES Artel Gallery's current show "Fabulous Forgeries" is on view through March 27. Featured artists: Carlotta Succi, SN Dabson, Marjorie Kitchen and The Paint Out Artist Group. Located at 223 S. Palafox St. For more details visit artelgallery.org.

GARDEN PARTY AT QUAYSIDE GALLERY Exhibit featuring artists Ellen Holland Manual Rivas at Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. On view through March 30. Details at quaysidegallery.com.

MICHELLE JONES: SEVEN SISTERS Inspired by Greek mythology and the jungle-like landscape of the Gulf Coast, Michelle Jones presents lush, vividly colored landscapes using mixed media. Exhibit is on display through May 1 at the Switzer Gallery at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Details are at visualarts.pensacolastate.edu.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING

GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION

LECTURES Learn Pensacola and Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live stand-up comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

a&e happenings

PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FILM SCREENINGS Pensacola Cinema Art screens multiple films most weekends at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.

PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark

Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. After your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

LIVE MUSIC

PENSACOLA SONGWRITER ROUNDS SERIES Show starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

VANDOLIERS AND HEAVY KID Show starts at 6 p.m. Friday, March 27 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

PSO PRESENTS SYMPHONIC SPECTACULAR: GIL SHAHAM Enjoy a live PSO performance with renowned violinist Gil Shaham 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. A dress rehearsal takes place 1:30 p.m. Tickets and information at pensacolasymphony.com.

ROBERT LESTER FOLSOM FEATURING SNAKE AND THE RABBIT Show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28 at The Handlebar,

319 N. Tarragona. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

BASILANTROS, COOKIES + CAKE, ROCKSTAR GIRLFRIEND AND JOLLIE THOMAS Show is 6 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.

OV SULFUR, ATLAS, TARKIR AND HUMAN INSTINCT Show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

VARIALS, UNITYTX, HEAVY//HITTER AND BOLTCUTTER Show starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

SANTANA "Oneness" tour. Show is 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and details at pensacolabaycenter.com.

SATURDAYS AT YOUR PLACE, RETIREMENT PARTY AND KEROSENE HEIGHTS Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

WUWF'S RADIOLIVE The next RadioLive is 6 p.m. Thursday, April 2 in the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. with Jed Harrelson, David and Anna Grace Borné and Tanner Bingaman. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.org.

FANTASIA & ANTHONY HAMILTON Show is 8 p.m. Friday, April 3 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Details and tickets at pensacolabaycenter.com.

WEEDEATER FEATURING CONAN Show starts at 6 p.m. Friday, April 3 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

WHITE TIE ROCK ENSEMBLE: TRIBUTE TO AMERICANA ROCK Show is 8 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Details and tickets at pensacolabaycenter.com.

ETHEREAL TOMB, INNERWOUNDS, LESION AND SPIDER SHED Show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 5 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.

PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLONY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.

a&e happenings

TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUAR-

TER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.

ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO SHOW

Watch the famous dueling piano show 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY

Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURTYARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m. Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.

LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook. com/calvertsintheheights for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

EVERYTHING: BEER Cooking class is 6-9 p.m. Friday, March 27 at 20 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C. Cost is $70 per student. Register at pensacolacooks.com.

BIG DOG DAY AT COASTAL COUNTY

BREWING Bring your pups to Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, March 28. There will be activities, specialty brews, food specials and more. Visit coastalcountybrewing.com/events for details.

GARDEN PARTY COOKING CLASS Class is 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28. For ages 6-12 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C. Cost is $60 per student. Tickets at pensacolacooks.com.

BOOZY BRUNCH FEST Full brunch buffet with mimosa specials and curated cocktail menu. Event is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 29 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Details and tickets at facebook.com/thewellpensacola.

ATLAS BEVERAGE CLASS: CARBLISS

READY TO DRINK The next Atlas Beverage Classes are 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. Cost is $30 per person. Seating is limited. RSVP at (850) 2870200 or email taylor@goodgrits.com.

EASTER AT GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS Celebrate Easter Sunday at Great Southern Restaurants Sunday, April 5. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com to see special menus and make reservations.

DOWNTOWN HAPPY HOUR AT SEVILLE QUARTER Drink specials and laidback vibes

are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. every weekday throughout the entire Seville Quarter complex with $2 off all liquor drinks and $1 off all beer and wine. Must be 21 or older. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

MARTINI MONDAYS AT DOROTHY'S Martini menu with specialty prices at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

MEN'S NIGHT AT WISTERIA From 3 p.m. to close Mondays, guys can play free darts and enjoy $6 craft tallboys. There are more than 150 craft beers to choose from at Wisteria, 3803 N. 12th Ave. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

BAR BINGO AT SEVILLE QUARTER Bar

Bingo is 8 p.m. Mondays at Apple Annie's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Drink specials include $2.50 Miller Lite bottles and $3.50 bomb shots. Bingo is free to play with prizes, giveaways and bar tabs up for grabs for winners. Visit sevillequarter.com for details.

FIGHTER GAME NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S Gamers unite 5 p.m.-close Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS Play a game (or two) of bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

MONDAY NIGHT SPAGHETTI SESSIONS

Visit V. Paul's Italian Ristorante, 29 S. Palafox St., 5–9 p.m. Mondays for live music and spaghetti and meatballs from the Monday night menu.

DOUBLE MONDAYS AND SIN NIGHT Enjoy Double Mondays 8 p.m.-midnight and SIN Night 11 p.m. to close at O'Riley's Tavern, 3728 Creighton Road. Details are at orileystavern.com.

MARTINI NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY Every Tuesday, The Kennedy, 1 S. Palafox St., hosts Martini Night, featuring all martinis from the menu for $10 from open to close (4-11 p.m.).

TRIVIA AT DOROTHY'S Play trivia 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. It's free to play, and prizes are up for grabs. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.

75-CENT OYSTERS AT ATLAS Enjoy 75-cent oysters 5-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. For more information, visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

MUSIC BINGO Test your music knowledge 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Wisteria, 3808 N. 12th Ave. Take part in half-price bottles of wine and $5 canned cocktails. Visit wisteriatavern.com for details.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

free will astrology

WEEK OF MARCH 26

ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Aries poet Maya Angelou proclaimed, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." In that spirit, Aries, I urge you to tell everyone everything—all your secret thoughts, hidden feelings and private opinions. Post your diary online! Confess your fantasies to strangers! Share your unfiltered inner monologue with authority figures! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Angelou urged us to bravely communicate our authentic truths, but not to overshare or be careless about observing good boundaries. Here's the deep wisdom: express thoughts and feelings that make you feel real and whole, but be discerning about when, where and to whom.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): Taurus writer Charlotte Brontë said, "I would always rather be happy than dignified." Given your current astrological potentials, I think you should tattoo her motto across your forehead so everyone knows you're committed to pleasure over propriety. Burn your dressy clothes! Quit doing boring duties! Dance naked in the woods! APRIL FOOL! I don't really think you should tattoo your forehead or dance naked in public. But Brontë's sentiment is sound: in the coming weeks, if forced to choose between joy and respectability, pick joy every time. Just do it with a modicum of common sense.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Gemini actress Marilyn Monroe said, "A wise girl knows her limits. A smart girl know that she has none." I propose we expand that counsel to include all genders. And I especially recommend this approach to you right now. It's time to shed, ignore and surpass ALL your so-called limits. Be as wild and free and uninhibited as you dare. APRIL FOOL! I worry that it's irresponsible to give you such utter carte blanche. Would you consider honoring one or two limits that prevent you from indulging in crazy and extreme behavior? Otherwise, be wild and free and uninhibited!

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote extensively about the importance of embracing our shadows: the dark, problematic aspects of ourselves we would rather not acknowledge. In the coming weeks, I recommend

By Rob Brezsny

that you stop hiding that weird stuff! Throw a coming-out-of-the-closet party for all the questionable parts of you. Let your inner monsters run wild! APRIL FOOL! Please don't do that. What Jung actually advocated was recognizing and integrating your shadow, not being ruled by it. So yes, explore your moody, unruly impulses, but with consciousness, kindness and containment, not reckless expression.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Leo author James Baldwin observed, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." With that in mind, I advise you to spend the next two weeks obsessively staring at every dilemma in your life. Don't look away! Don't take breaks! Just face every dilemma constantly until you're overwhelmed! APRIL FOOL! Baldwin's insight is brilliant, but it doesn't require masochistic endurance. Here's the truth: yes, you should courageously acknowledge what needs attention, but do so with care and discernment. And then actually work on changing it! Awareness is the beginning, not the entire process.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Virgo author Agatha Christie wrote 66 detective novels in which she meticulously planned every plot twist. I think you should apply her approach to your daily life: script every conversation! Anticipate every contingency! Control every variable! Leave nothing to chance! APRIL FOOL! Christie's obsessive planning worked for fiction, but life requires improvisation. For you, the coming weeks favor spontaneity and flexibility. So make rough plans, sure, but stay loose enough to experiment with whatever emerges. Over-control would diminish the magic.

hooks' charming revolt, but it would be counterproductive for you to randomly break *all* the rules of daily life. Instead, be judicious and selective as you question conventions thoughtfully and only violate those that genuinely deserve to be spurned. Be a strategic rebel, not a chaotic one.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio poet Sylvia Plath wrote this passage in her journal: "I desire the things which will destroy me in the end." I think you should consider embracing her approach—for the sheer, exotic thrill of it! Pursue interesting chaos! If it might unravel you, welcome it passionately! The more unruly, the better! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Plath was describing her struggle with depression, not offering us advice. Here's what I think you should actually do: examine which of your yearnings serve your evolution and which ones undermine it. Fully embrace the fact that intensity is one of your greatest gifts, but channel that intensity into experiences that build you up, not tear you down. Choose ardent aliveness over fervent destruction.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): Sagittarian philosopher Baruch Spinoza spent years alone in his room developing his radical ideas about God and nature. I recommend total isolation for you, too. In accordance with astrological omens, avoid human contact! Put your relationships on hold while you contemplate the infinite! APRIL FOOL! I totally lied. Spinoza's solitude served his unique genius, but a similar approach won't work for you—especially now. Here's what I really think you require in the coming weeks: periods of meditative alone time balanced by intervals of rich connection with interesting humans. You need to commune with both your deep inner sources and nurturing alliances.

ship. Use your organizational genius to improve your corner of the world, not tyrannize it. Think stewardship, not empire.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): My favorite Libran writer didn't capitalize her name: bell hooks. I recommend you stage a similar rebellion against all rules and structures. Ignore social conventions! Flout traffic laws! Pay your taxes with paintings and poems you've created! APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating. I do love

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Capricorn astrologer Linda Goodman wrote that your sign's "ambition is boundless" and that most Capricorns dream of ruling the world. In accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to indulge this attribute. Launch a campaign for global domination! Start with your neighborhood and work your way up to more and more conquests!

APRIL FOOL! The truth is, world domination is exhausting and impractical. What Goodman was referring to is your gift for structure and leader-

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Aquarian inventor Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." In the spirit, I recommend that you falter spectacularly in the coming weeks. The more blunders and bungles, the better! Engage in a holy quest to seek as many fizzles and misfires as possible! Make Edison look like an amateur! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Edison wasn't deliberately courting snafus, of course. His approach was similar to that of many creative artists: driven by exploratory persistence that capitalizes on mistakes and hassles. Here's your real guidance, Aquarius: experiment boldly, yes, and don't fear stumbles and bumbles. But learn from each one and adjust your approach. The goal is eventual success that's informed by humility and resiliency.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Piscean physicist Albert Einstein said, "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." In the spirit of his genius, I recommend that you abandon logic completely! Never think rationally again! Make all decisions based on fantasy and feelings! APRIL FOOL! Einstein was advocating for the creative power of imagination, not the abandonment of reason. What you truly need is a marriage of visionary thinking and practical logic. Ask your imagination to show you possibilities, then call on lucid logic to help you manifest them.

HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What's a good prank you could play on yourself to be liberated from a stale fear? {in}

freewillastrology.com newsletter.freewillastrology.com freewillastrology@freewillastrology.com BrezsnyAstrology@gmail.com © 2026 Rob Brezsny

news of the weird

WHAT'S IN A NAME? It's election time in the town of Arcis-Sur-Aube in France, where the office of mayor is up for grabs. Metro News reported on March 19 that the burg's 2,785 people will have a choice between Charles Hittler, the incumbent, and Antoine Renault-Zielenski, the 28-year-old far-right candidate. Hittler isn't a fan of the fuss: "If people were talking about the town and our policies, that would be one thing," he said. "But all they're interested in is our names." He said his father considered changing his name after World War II, but it would have been too expensive. The election is scheduled for March 22. [Metro News, 3/19/2026]

INEXPLICABLE Most people can't wait to leave the hospital after a stay for medical care. But at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare in Florida, one patient isn't budging. WCTV reported on March 16 that a patient has occupied a room there since at least October, having been admitted for "acute care hospital services." The first formal discharge order was filed on Oct. 7, with subsequent orders filed on Nov. 24 and March 2. Hospital staff have made repeated efforts to "safely complete discharge," including coordinating with family members and arranging transportation. A hearing is set for March 30. [WCTV, 3/16/2026]

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINAL Patrick Alexander, 33, was THIS CLOSE to walking out of the Chesterfield County (Mississippi) Detention Center on March 16, having been ordered to pay a $250 bond on a trespassing charge. He handed three $100 bills to the judge, WSB-TV reported, and said, "Keep the change." But the sharp-eyed judge noticed something weird about the bills— an unusual color, along with Chinese writing on the backs. A counterfeit detection pen backed him up—the bills were fake. Alexander faces an additional charge of forgery, and he was returned to custody. [WSB, 3/18/2026]

FIELD REPORT On March 10, a man and woman from Germany, who had been trying to ski 104 miles across a frozen lake between Finland and Sweden, had to be rescued after the ice around them broke up, the New York Post reported. They had been camping on the Gulf of Bothnia, which typically is frozen for much of the year, when almost all of their equipment went into the water. Finnish border guards received a distress signal and sent out a search plane and hovercraft. Fortunately, the couple had spelled out SOS with ice blocks and were rescued about five hours after their ordeal began. They were "of course cold" but were unharmed. [NYPost, 3/17/2026]

EWWWW If you're wondering where all your hair ties go, maybe check in with your family feline. United Press International reported on March 17 that the HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter in Sebastian, Florida, recently took in Midnite, a cat who had been diagnosed with an intestinal blockage and marked for euthanasia at another facility. When Midnite underwent surgery, doctors found the cause of the blockage: 26 hair ties. "This is an important reminder that small objects around the house can be incredibly dangerous for pets," the

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

shelter posted on Facebook. Midnite is recovering and displaying a healthy appetite. [UPI, 3/17/2026]

THE TECH REVOLUTION A 70-year-old woman in Macau, China, went to the hospital after being startled by a 4-foot-4-inch robot on March 5, the Macau Post reported. As the woman walked along the street around 9 p.m., the bot followed her; she turned around and shouted, "You're making my heart race! You've got plenty to do, so what's the point of messing around with this?" Two police officers escorted the bot away; they later discovered it is owned by a tutorial center in the neighborhood, and the man operating it remotely said he was testing it. The bot, a Unitree G1, retails for about $13,000. The woman was released from the hospital. [Macau Post, 3/11/2026]

THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT Talk about making lemonade. Javier Yat, a 23-year-old mechanic in Brooklyn, New York, is lining his pockets with cash after setting up a tire station next to a huge pothole, the New York Post reported on March 17. Yat works out of his van and typically runs out of replacement tires each night. "I have to pay a runner to go back and forth to the shop for me and pick up what I need," Yat said. "I think the pothole is approximately 60 square inches and 12 inches deep," he said. He arrives in the area around 12:30 a.m. and stays until 10 a.m., changing 15 to 20 tires each night and charging between $150 and $300 per tire. "One man's misfortune is another man's blessing," Yat said. [NY Post, 3/17/2026]

RECURRING THEMES On March 18, as a shopper perused the plush toys at Hobart International Airport in Australia, they spotted a cute little face peering out from the shelf—and blinking. The Guardian reported that a brushtail possum had made itself at home among the stuffed kangaroos and dingoes, delighting customers and staff. Airport officials safely removed the little bundle of fur, but it'll not be forgotten: "We'll have a little shrine to the possum," said Liam Bloomfield, retail manager. "There will be a nice little photo; once it gets a name, we will put a nice little post in front of the store to make sure it's remembered." No word on how it got through security. [Guardian, 3/19/2026]

THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT Gustavo DeJesus Torres, 33, took his time in his bank-robbing spree, The New York Times reported on March 18, but didn't net much of a haul. Torres robbed six banks in five days across Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx. At each Chase branch, Torres handed the teller a note saying people would get hurt if they didn't hand over money. He got $320 and $265 from a couple of banks, but walked away with just $20 from another. And three branches gave him nothing at all. His total "earnings" were just $605. Police are still searching for Torres, who has been charged with bank robbery before. [New York Times, 3/18/2026] {in}