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Independent News | September 3, 2026 | Volume 27 | Number 35

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winners & losers

outtakes

news

We stay winning.

buzz

feature

publisher Rick Outzen

graphic designer Tim Bednarczyk

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Joshua Encinias, Savannah Evanoff, Jennifer Leigh, Dakota Parks, C.S. Satterwhite, Tom St. Myer

a&e 15

Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2026 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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winners & losers

Sandy Sansing / Photo Courtesy of Sandy Sansing Automotive

winners

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SANDY SANSING Last month, Sandy Sansing donated $100,000 to the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. Sansing's donation honors the nonprofit's tireless efforts to raise funds for childhood cancer research and bring awareness to the cause. The gift comes as Rally Gulf Coast heads into its annual observance of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since 2005, Rally Foundation has given $47.5 million to support childhood cancer research projects across the country. Rally Gulf Coast was born in 2015 and has raised over $8 million locally, providing resources for pediatric oncology families in the Florida Panhandle and South Alabama.

META The social media giant agreed to settle

FLORIDA SBDC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA The Florida Small Business

Development Center (SBDC) at the University of West Florida has been named the Florida SBDC Network's Region of the Year, the state's top regional honor, at the network's Annual Performance Excellence Awards Celebration last month. In 2025, UWF's center delivered 11,658 consulting hours to more than 1,258 clients, helping launch 144 new businesses, secure $81.4 million in capital and win $39 million in government contracts. UWF staff also took individual honors: John Carey IV was named Florida Ambassador of the Year; Chip Wells received a Government Contracting Lifetime Achievement award for helping clients secure more than $50 million in contracts; and Christa Wilson was honored for helping launch more than 125 new businesses.

CHANGE MAKERS JUNIOR BOARD The As-

cension Sacred Heart Foundation Change Makers Junior Board hit its fundraising goal, raising $26,000 to provide 2,400 safe sleep swaddles for newborns from uninsured or underinsured families at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. The wearable blankets mimic the womb while supporting safe sleep practices. The 17-member board, made up of Escambia and Santa Rosa County high schoolers, is the second cohort since the program launched in 2024. "Every swaddle means a safer, softer start for a baby who needs it most," said Foundation President Adrienne Maygarden. The 2026-27 board is now raising money for therapy equipment and AAC devices at Studer Family Children's Hospital. 44

with U.S. states for up to $16.7 billion in a landmark lawsuit over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed in ways that harm children. The company has asked other social media platforms to sign on, saying the pact won't work unless they jointly back broad reform. Meta agreed to limit under-18 users to two hours per day on Facebook and Instagram, block them from accessing the platforms from midnight to 6 a.m. and limit notifications during school hours.

TIKTOK The Justice Department, TikTok and

parent company ByteDance have agreed to a $400 million settlement resolving allegations that TikTok violated federal children's online privacy law, Axios first reported. The Biden-era DOJ filed the suit in 2024 alongside the FTC, accusing TikTok of letting children hold regular accounts and interact with adults, and of improperly collecting kids' personal data—violations of a 2019 consent order. TikTok admits no wrongdoing but avoids further litigation. DOJ calls it one of the largest recoveries under the children's privacy law, crediting ownership, compliance and privacy changes TikTok made since 2024. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward called it "a major victory for American children and parents." The deal follows TikTok's Trump-era reprieve from a nationwide ban.

HOLMES COUNTY New research ranking

loneliness across 1,996 U.S. counties has named this Mississippi county of 15,465 people the loneliest place in the nation, with 43.8% of adults reporting feelings of loneliness, which is 8.9 percentage points above the national average of 34.9%. The study, conducted by CBD company Mood using federal data covering 184.2 million adults in 39 states, found Georgia dominates the upper rankings, holding seven of the 10 loneliest counties and 53 of the top 100 nationwide. The pattern isn't confined to rural areas: Clayton County, Ga., with nearly 220,000 adults, ranked third at 43.2%, while Los Angeles County, one of the nation's largest, with over 7.7 million adults, placed 16th at 41.1%. Wasatch County, Utah, ranked least lonely, at 27.3%. inweekly.net

outtakes

By Rick Outzen

COME ON, MR. ROLL While serving as a guest host on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," country singer and songwriter Jelly Roll told a joke about President Donald Trump's weight. It so enraged our congressman, Jimmy Patronis, that he posted on X saying Jelly Roll "is 100% not welcomed to Florida's Panhandle." He called the award-winning star a "token 'country' star the libs in California are allowed to enjoy. (He ain't country, never was.)," adding, "I don't even want to see his bus on I-10." Of course, my response was to offer Mr. Roll an open invitation to visit Pensacola, where Escambia County voters preferred Patronis' Democratic challenger Gay Valimont in the 2025 special election, 38,849 to 35,849.

a woman crosses him, Trump goes for her looks. His remarks are intended to be hurtful, while Mr. Roll was clearly joking.

BEATING THE MAGA DRUM Patronis doesn't have the power to ban anyone from coming to Pensacola. I'm not sure he's an authority on country music, either. Mr. Roll has won three CMT (Country Music Television) awards. The CMA (Country Music Association) named him its Best New Artist in 2023. This year, he won Grammys for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance and Best Contemporary Country Album. For the record, the CMT Awards are based in Austin, and the CMAs hail from Nashville. Neither city is in California. Patronis needs votes. His 2025 loss in Escambia County was the first time a Democratic congressional candidate carried the county in more than three decades. A Republican candidate in that position has every incentive to prove to Trump's base that he'll fight anyone for teasing Trump. However, blacklisting a country singer over a fat joke isn't governing. Patronis would do better focusing on grocery prices, healthcare access, public education or data centers.

Patronis doesn't have the power to ban anyone from coming to Pensacola.

NAME-CALLING Making fun of people in the

news has been standard operating procedure for late-night TV hosts since Steve Allen sat at the "Tonight Show" desk in 1954. After six decades of one-liners, politicians have become snowflakes, taking offense at any tongue-incheek comment that pricks their ego. The irony is, Trump hasn't hesitated to lash out at others' looks, especially those of female journalists. Last November, Bloomberg's Catherine Lucey asked Trump aboard Air Force One about the Epstein files. He cut her off with two words: "Quiet, piggy." A few days later, ABC's Mary Bruce pressed him on the Khashoggi murder during a meeting with the Saudi crown prince. Trump told her she was a "terrible reporter" and a "terrible person," called ABC a "crappy company" and suggested she shouldn't "embarrass" his guests with such questions. Then on Nov. 26, after New York Times reporter Katie Rogers co-wrote a story about visible signs of his aging in office, Trump posted on Truth Social that she was "a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out." Former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the pattern as evidence the president is "frank and open and honest," as if cruelty about a woman's appearance were a character trait to be admired rather than a habit to be named. When September 3, 2026

OPEN THE DOOR There was a time when Northwest Florida would have had more fun with this. Two decades ago, Visit Pensacola or the Pensacola Chamber would have seen a country star taking incoming fire and built a "Jelly Roll Weekend" package with a key to the city and a parade. Local officials would have leaned into the attention. Bob Snow, the late founder of Seville Quarter, would have had a field day with it. Sadly, we've lost the instinct to invite people in. Hospitality used to be second nature here. It shouldn't take a spiteful viral tweet to remember it. I don't know if Mr. Roll will accept my invitation, but I'd prefer if Pensacola were a place that opens the door rather than blocks entry to win political favor. {in} rick@inweekly.net

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HOW ESCAMBIA EARNED ITS "A" challenging because school districts cannot easily reduce expenses at the same pace that enrollment declines. "When you have done all your budgeting, worked with the state, worked with your community, worked with your school board to develop, and then all of a sudden it begins to deteriorate, not quickly, but fairly quickly, there's no room for movement," Leonard said. "You've got all these different people hired under contract. There are contract stipulations that you have to adhere Escambia County School District HQ / Photo by Rick Outzen to. It makes it extremely difficult to be nimble." For Escambia, the challenge is to convince families that the district's improving academic Escambia County Public Schools opened the performance and expanded opportunities are 2026-27 school year fresh off reaching a milereasons to stay. stone it has been chasing for years: an "A." "We're hopeful that we've hit that floor, and The district earned an "A" grade for the first that our performance would be recognized by all time in its history, with 19 of its schools receivfamilies, and [they'll] see that we are doing a really, ing an A rating and none lower than a "C." Five really good job with their students," Leonard said. of the district's eight middle schools earned "A" grades, and Escambia ranked third in Florida in middle school acceleration after ranking No. 1 the previous year. But as Superintendent Keith Leonard celEscambia schools have spent the past three ebrates the academic gains, he is confronting years adjusting to changes in Florida's testing sysanother number that has become increasingly tem and curriculum standards. Material previously difficult to ignore—enrollment. The district's first taught in fourth grade, for example, was moved "A" grade comes as Florida's education landscape into third grade. is undergoing a significant transformation. "We had to figure out, what does this really Escambia County Public Schools now serves tell us is happening?" said Jim Bobbitt, district about 31,500 students, a dramatic decline from data scientist. "Because a student who walks into the more than 44,000 students enrolled in the late fourth grade, for example, they take the end of 1990s and early 2000s. Leonard said the district the fourth-grade test. They haven't seen fourthhas lost hundreds—and in some years more than grade math yet." 1,000—students as families choose private schools, Bobbitt continued, "We've made some adhomeschooling and other educational options. justments in our pacing and our understanding, That decline matters beyond classroom head- and that's made a huge difference in elementary counts. In Florida, student enrollment is closely school, and in middle school to that extent." tied to the money available to operate public High school students faced another chalschools. Under the state's universal school choice lenge. The state's branching tests now algorithmiprogram, K-12 students can receive education cally change the difficulty of questions based on funding that families then use for private school how a student answers earlier questions. tuition or home education. The average amount is Students had traditionally been taught a testabout $8,000. taking strategy of skipping difficult questions and For students who remain in public schools, returning to them later. That strategy could hurt the Florida Education Finance Program provides them on the new assessments because returnan average of about $9,337 per weighted student ing to a question could alter the questions they in state and local operational funding. receive later on. The result is a difficult balancing act for public "We had to unteach that," Bobbitt said. school districts. Schools can lose the revenue Over time, district educators became more attached to students while many of their costs familiar with the new testing system and adapted remain fixed. their instruction and preparation. The result has "You're seeing some of the largest school disbeen stronger performance. tricts in the country that are in the state of Florida Middle school algebra performance is now losing thousands and thousands and thousands," above the state average, and ninth-grade algebra Escambia Supt. Leonard said. "I want to say one has reached the state pass rate for the first time. of them lost close to 10,000 students, 120-someLeonard said the district's middle school accelthing million dollars that needs to be collected eration rate was 89% this year, ranking third in quickly. How do you replenish that? You don't." Florida. The district also reported its highest civic Leonard said the problem is particularly scores ever.

By Tom St. Myer

"A" GRADE REFLECTS YEARS OF CHANGES

The district has invested in creating greater consistency among its schools without eliminating their individual identities. The district has pacing guides used across all 52 schools. The goal is to ensure that when students transfer from one school to another, they encounter the same curriculum sequence rather than having to catch up or repeat material. "When you have as many schools as we do, you don't want a school to lose its identity, but you want there to be some common threads from an academic standpoint," Leonard said. The district has also benefited from expanding grade levels at West Pensacola, Cordova Park and Longleaf elementary schools. According to Leonard, sixth graders at those schools are outperforming their peers in traditional middle schools. Longleaf is adding seventh grade this year and is on track to become the district's first full K-8 school beginning in the 2027-28 school year. At the high school level, career and college opportunities have contributed to the improvement. Seventy-two percent of last year's graduates earned some form of industry certification, including credentials in fields such as certified nursing assisting and welding, as well as programs supporting employment at ST Engineering. "Every school has career opportunities. Every school has industry certification programs," Leonard said.

COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS

State Sen. Don Gaetz said the expansion of school choice has fundamentally altered the environment in which public schools operate. "For decades, for generations, public schools, basically, were government monopolies," said Gaetz, who serves on the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education and the Education Pre-K-12 Committee. "Public schools across Florida are dealing with a new phenomenon. It's called competition." Public school test scores are up statewide while enrollment continues to crater. That leads to an obvious question. Are the school districts performing better due to poor test-taking students enrolling in homeschool or private schools? "It is true that some students who are poor test-takers look for options that don't have them taking assessments," Gaetz said. "But I don't know that it's true that Escambia's academic improvement overall is attributable to losing students. We'd have to study that." Carol Cleaver, president of the Escambia Education Association, said the competition for students has created another challenge: students who leave public schools and later return. Cleaver, who taught eighth-grade science last year at Ferry Pass Middle School, recalled receiving two students in December who had effectively missed about a year and a half of schooling. The students had not been adequately homeschooled during that period. "Parents may accept that homeschool voucher money, but then they figure out that teaching is an actual profession that takes actual skills," Cleaver said. "We have students showing back up

after the money is already spent. The state has done nothing to prepare for this inevitability." Cleaver said teachers and support staff remain central to the district's improvement. "We are a district that is full of people who actually care about their students and sometimes put in the work while sacrificing their own time with their family because they care about these students." Cleaver described support staff as the unsung heroes of the school district. The absence of any "D" or "F" schools allows those specialists to focus on more schools that need their assistance this school year. "Oftentimes they're the ones doing the most one-on-one work with our most vulnerable students," Cleaver said. She worries that declining enrollment and reduced funding could undermine the gains the district has made. "Schools are being starved," she said. "Our reserves are being slashed. We lost more than $18 million last year. We cannot sustain this."

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The district's academic turnaround has involved partnerships beyond the school system. Dozens of nonprofit organizations have contributed to its improvement, as has the military with Navy pilots serving as mentors for high school students. Escambia Children's Trust awards taxpayer money to nonprofit organizations for out-ofschool-time and mental health programs, among other initiatives. For Executive Director Lindsey Cannon, the "A" confirmed that "staying the course, investing in kids will pay dividends." Gaetz related the school district's improvements to those of Okaloosa County, where he served as superintendent from 2000-06. The school district with a "C" grade climbed to an "A" on his watch. "What turned it around was the parents and the business community hitting a pain threshold where they simply decided they just couldn't stomach having a poor-performing or middlingperforming school system," Gaetz said. Gaetz downplayed his own contributions as a superintendent, but heaped praise on Leonard. He credited Leonard for providing leadership that demands, supports and rewards performance. Leonard said he feels immense pride in his school district earning an A, but he is far from satisfied. "I'm a very competitive person, and I … believe [unless] you're No. 1, you're [not] there yet," Leonard said. "So we have room to grow. But the fact that we're closing that gap and getting closer and closer is fantastic." The "A" grade offers the district something it has not had before: a measurable academic success story to take to families considering their educational options. But Leonard knows one good year will not resolve the financial pressures facing public education. "I feel very comfortable about where we are," he said. "But guess what? Where we are is not what matters. Where are we headed? What are we going to do? That's how we'll be judged." {in} inweekly.net

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Render Courtesy of Gulf Winds Credit Union

NEW TRUWORTH BRAND Gulf Winds Credit Union announced Tuesday it is rebranding as TruWorth Credit Union and acquiring Madison County Community Bank (MCCB), a deal that pushes the Pensacola-based institution's footprint into South Georgia, South Alabama and all of North Florida. The plan to rebrand and expand MCCB has been years in the making, President and CEO Daniel Souers said in an interview on "Rick's Blog Live." Souers said the name change had "been a debate for a long time at Gulf Winds," as the credit union expanded beyond the Gulf region. TruWorth will be the credit union's fourth name since its founding in 1954 as Chemstrand Federal Credit Union, later Monsanto Credit Union, then Gulf Winds. The rebrand, developed in-house with a hired creative director and built on member and community market research, lands on the tagline "We See Your True Worth." Souers said the goal was to capture an identity built around helping members "not just get a mortgage, but … a home." On the acquisition side, Souers said Gulf Winds and MCCB must clear four regulatory bodies. "We have two regulatory bodies that regulate us, because you want your money to be safe, so there's a process to go through to make sure your regulators will approve it," Souers said. "Then on the bank side, they have two regulatory bodies as well." He added, "In our case, because we are so well capitalized and the credit union has just run so well over the years and because of that we have great capital—we don't see any issues 88

there. So that makes it a lot smoother for us, for sure." Souers said the deal will expand Gulf Winds' branch network without duplication, since MCCB's Madison and Perry, Fla. branches sit roughly 45 minutes from Gulf Winds' existing Tallahassee-area locations. The combined credit union will operate branches in Pensacola, Tallahassee and South Alabama, with a service territory covering North Florida, South Alabama and South Georgia. "Nothing really changes other than the name," Souers said of the transition for current Gulf Winds members. "This just gives us more firepower to keep growing and keep offering more and more services to our members." Souers drew a direct line between Gulf Winds' founding, which occurred in 1954 after larger banks wouldn't lend to Chemstrand plant workers, and MCCB's founding in 1999, when its CEO started the bank because he felt his community wasn't being served. Souers said, "So he was taking care of his friends, we were taking care of our friends, and now we just have more friends." On philanthropy, a longtime pillar of Gulf Winds' community presence, Souers said the merger means "more people, more dollars" behind the same mission, plus new commercial banking products MCCB brings to the table. "So you're going to see more of what you're seeing now, not less."

JOLLY IN PENSACOLA Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly told "Rick's Blog Live" last week that Florida voters would elect a Democratic governor if the election were held today, citing recent Democratic wins in the Con-

gressional District 1 special election and the Miami mayor's race as evidence of a statewide shift. Jolly, a former Republican congressman who later became an independent before joining the Democratic Party, said he expects to draw significant crossover support from Republicans frustrated with what he called "the most corrupt campaign finance system in the country." He pointed to his opponent, Republican nominee Byron Donalds, who has raised more than $100 million from utilities, data center developers, for-profit school operators, hedge funds and gambling interests. Jolly said his campaign centers on three issues: housing, healthcare and education. He is proposing a state catastrophic insurance fund he says could cut homeowners' premiums by 60 to 70 percent, an expansion of federally qualified health centers modeled on facilities like the one in Brownsville, and what he called a "10-year renaissance" in public education. Florida ranks last in the nation in teacher pay and 40th in per-pupil spending, he said. On school choice, Jolly said he does not intend to eliminate the program but wants stronger accountability, including a requirement that choice schools teach students to read before receiving additional public funds. The candidate also addressed an issue with direct local relevance: data centers. Jolly said he would impose a one-year moratorium on new data center development in Florida if elected, citing environmental impact, water use, noise pollution and concerns about declining property values. "If they want to sue me, they can sue me," he said. The moratorium proposal echoes an ongoing debate before the Escambia County Commission, which is currently weighing its own restrictions on data center development in the county. Jolly said Donalds has taken substantial contributions from data center interests and has indicated he would welcome the industry into Florida regardless of local opposition.

SOCCER RETROFIT Pensacola Mayor D.C.

Reeves said last week the city expects results within weeks from a consultant study examining whether Wahoo Stadium could be retrofitted to host soccer, laying out the financial reasoning behind the idea in detail. The city hired LaBella, a firm Reeves said has handled both new construction and retrofits for this exact purpose, to assess the stadium's

feasibility for soccer alongside broader improvements. LaBella visited the site around Aug. 12, and Reeves estimated an eight-week turnaround, putting results back around October. Reeves described the study as a general feasibility review that will include renderings of potential improvements and a rough cost estimate. "This is very early, and it might be a rough cost estimate," he cautioned. The mayor framed the idea as a way to address two problems at once. "We can solve a problem of a 16-year-old aging stadium that already is going to need some TLC," Reeves said. "We can solve a problem of not having to reinvent the wheel with a 50, 60, $70 million potential soccer stadium, and get it done for much less." Reeves said the concept emerged from comparing new sports facility construction costs elsewhere against the city's other major venue priority: the Pensacola Bay Center overhaul. He said it would be "shortsighted" to assume significant bed-tax dollars would be available for a new soccer stadium on top of that project. Rather than relying on CRA bond dollars or bed-tax revenue, Reeves floated using leverageable city-owned property around the stadium through ground rent, private development or generated property tax to offset renovation costs. He pointed to mixed-use models around minor and major league ballparks, including the Atlanta Braves, that pair a venue with a surrounding entertainment district. Once the study returns, Reeves said the city will "roll that out and listen to the community" before deciding whether to proceed. "If we feel like it isn't something of value, then we'll pivot and do something else."

SUPERFUND CLEANUP Pensacola has se-

cured more than $50 million in additional federal and state funding for the American Creosote Works (ACW) Superfund site over the past 12 months, Mayor D.C. Reeves announced at a press conference Wednesday morning. The funding, driven by new commitments from the EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection, fully closes a $9 million shortfall that had threatened phase one of the cleanup and secures a large share of phase two. "Within the last 12 months, [we've secured] over $50 million of additional funding that wasn't there, thanks to DEP and EPA," Reeves said. EPA's Pete Thorpe told residents at a community meeting Tuesday night that phase one work, primarily residential soil remediation around the main ACW site, will begin in December. Officials had initially hoped for an earlier start, but Reeves said the delay reflects the time it took to fully fund the project. Phase two, estimated at $68 million total, now has a cost-share agreement between DEP and EPA covering $48.4 million of that work, including barrier wall construction, cap installation and thermal extraction remediation. About $19.6 million of phase two remains unfunded, and the city says it will continue working to close that gap. inweekly.net

Reeves emphasized that ACW remains a fully federally funded and operated project. "The city has no operational role whatsoever in the day-to-day functioning [or] timeline," he said, describing the city's role as a participatory third party helping pursue additional grant funding. The 18-acre site at 701 J St. operated as a wood-treating facility from 1902 to 1981 before its designation as a Superfund site.

TOURISM BOTTLENECK Florida's tourism numbers fell for a second straight quarter, but Escambia County is bucking the trend, even as its tourism agency battles a reimbursement standoff with Clerk Pam Childers' office. The News Service of Florida reports statewide visitor totals dipped amid lingering inflation and Canadian traveler backlash over President Trump's trade policies. Florida drew an estimated 34.01 million second-quarter visitors, bringing the first-half total to 73.5 million, according to Visit Florida. Domestic, overseas and Canadian travel all slipped for April through June compared with a year earlier. Escambia County didn't follow suit. Visit Pensacola reported 823,500 visitors for the second quarter, up 7.7%. Tourist Development Tax collections hit $13.65 million, up 4.8%, with Pensacola Beach up 6.2% and Perdido Key up 10.6%. But Visit Pensacola's Aug. 4 Executive Committee meeting focused less on the good numbers than on a cash squeeze tied to how the county reimburses the agency. As of June, Visit Pensacola had about $600,000 in reserves, with roughly $1.3 million in paid, unreimbursed expenditures and another $1.7 million in obligations to marketing agency Showcase still ahead. The bottleneck: Childers' office now requires cleared checks from each of Showcase's individual vendors before processing reimbursements, a documentation standard committee members say wasn't enforced in prior years and may exceed the contract's "reasonable documentation" language. With Visit Pensacola's credit line maturing in October 2026 and Regions Bank unwilling to expand it before then, the committee opted against a stopgap. Staff was directed to press for outstanding reimbursements, negotiate a workable documentation process with Childers' office and explore ACH payments to speed verification. It's the latest fallout from Childers' tightened payment practices, following nonprofits suing over withheld grant funds and an ECAT vendor sending workers home over unpaid bills. DOUBLING GOALS FloridaWest and the Pen-

sacola Economic Development Commission held a joint meeting on Aug. 25. FloridaWest CEO Chris Platè reported the organization is operating at 206% of its annual capital investment goal, with results doubling nearly every target set for the year. Year-to-date, FloridaWest has generated $185 million in new capital investment, more than double its $90 million annual goal, and September 3, 2026

helped create 600 new high-paying jobs, also double the target of 300. Platè told attendees the organization now returns $5.28 in economic impact for every $1.00 invested by the county, and that the initiatives could ultimately provide up to $1.2 billion in tax revenue to the county before depreciation and expenses. Platè attributed the surge to aggressive lead generation, which has reshaped FloridaWest's project pipeline from what he called a "cylinder" shape into a traditional funnel. The pipeline now includes 44 active projects representing approximately 4,300 potential jobs. Manufacturing leads the sector breakdown at 42%, followed by aerospace at 32%, maritime at 13% and cyber at 7%. Several key development sites are moving forward. At The Bluffs near the FPL Crist Plant, plans for a roundabout are in hand and bidding is expected to begin shortly. Platè said FloridaWest wants to push development at the Ascend property, which has freight rail access, and the FPL site, which has large barge access, calling both critical to kicking off growth in the area. In Cantonment, Central Commerce Park is advancing a 175,000-square-foot building project valued at more than $40 million and expected to bring over 200 jobs. Platè said he plans to request roughly $25 million in funding from Triumph Gulf Coast for the project, describing it as a client that would "put a stamp" on the park and signal to other prospective tenants that development there is viable. At the Downtown Tech Park, discussions are underway for a 90,000-square-foot tech building focused on life sciences and research and development, potentially supported by angel funding. Platè described a concept with retail on the ground floor and three stories of R&D and office space above. The Midtown Superfund Site, officially known as the Escambia Wood Treating Company site at 3910 N. Palafox St., has been transitioning into the Midtown Commerce Center. FloridaWest is exploring an "inland port" concept in partnership with the city, along with a separate client interested in developing the Superfund site.

HARDWOOD SERIES Florida State, Missis-

sippi State, South Alabama, Loyola Marymount and the University of West Floria are set for the new "Pensacola Hardwood Series." Russ Potts Productions and the Pensacola Bay Center announced last week a three-game slate of Division I men's college basketball this fall. On Oct. 10, the Southern Tip Off features Florida State (ACC) playing Mississippi State (SEC) in an exhibition contest. It is the programs' first meeting since 2015. On Nov. 12, the Coastal Classic had South Alabama (Sun Belt) battling Loyola Marymount (WCC) in their first meeting in over 20 years. On Nov. 29, the Battle at the Bay has Florida State returning to play the University of West Florida. Tickets went on sale on Aug. 28 at pensacolabaycenter.com. Game times and broadcast details haven't been announced. {in} 9

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inweekly.net

FALL GUIDE

PART 1

ARTS

By Jennifer Leigh

As summer ends, it's time to take in all of the culture Pensacola has to offer. In case you didn't already know, this city has a lot of talent. Our area is unique for its rich arts scene, from choir to ballet, theater to symphony music and even an opera. "We stay winning," said Bianca Villegas, the new executive director at Ballet Pensacola. "The arts give a community both identity and connection, and they reflect who we are," she continued. "They challenge how we see the world and create shared experiences that transcend age and background and circumstance. A strong arts community also contributes to the vitality of a region." Pensacola Opera Executive Director Chandra McKern added that the nonprofit arts help boost the economy. "It is proven that the stronger the arts in a community, the stronger the economy," she said. "The nonprofit arts and culture sector is not just entertainment—it is a massive economic engine." However, state funding for the arts has been drastically cut in Florida (again). In the final $117.6 billion budget, about $20 million was set aside for arts programming statewide. In 2023, comparatively, arts programs received about $52 million. McKern pointed out that no arts organizations in Escambia County were awarded state funding this year. That means some organizations have had to scale back on programming and outreach. "We all need your support now more than ever," she said. "Every dollar spent on the arts creates jobs, boosts tourism and generates tax revenue."

FOSTERING TALENT

The Ballet Pensacola Academy is an important part of Ballet Pensacola. It's led by Debi Janea, who trained with the academy before becoming a principal dancer. "In the last five years since she's been at the September 3, 2026

helm, she's put so many things in place, she's grown up and strengthened our programming," said Villegas of Janea. "She's brought our numbers to record-high levels." Having an academy and company in one organization is not unique to ballet, but it is unique to this area, said Villegas. Through the academy, students learn about dance but also dedication. "Ballet teaches discipline, resilience, accountability, collaboration and an understanding that excellence is [achieved] through consistency and hard work," she said. "The qualities developed through this training—it certainly stays with them." Academy dancers also have opportunities to audition for company productions, helping to create the next generation of performers. It's a theme among Pensacola's arts organizations. Last year, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) celebrated its 100th season and debuted the PSO Youth Orchestra. This season, the young musicians will have two concerts of their own as well as a performance alongside the adults. "We are all so proud of the youth orchestra," said PSO Conductor Peter Rubardt, who is celebrating his 30th year with the symphony. "Julie Martin Green has done an incredible job driving the vision, and Dr. Daniel Stevens has brought stellar musical leadership. The first season was a huge success, and the second season is showing more still more growth and excitement. As they did last season, the youth orchestra will be joining the PSO on stage at the final concert of the season." It's not just young talent that's showcased across organizations. People from all walks and stages of life take part. "My favorite thing about chorus is the 'us' of it," said Peter Steenblik, artistic director of the Choral Society of Pensacola. "The Choral Society is made up of your neighbors, church group, teachers, students, representatives of the PTA, members of the armed forces, nurses, insurance

agents, contractors, community activists, tech professionals and social workers." At the Pensacola Opera, a volunteer chorus of 25 performers joins the productions. Auditions are held once a year, usually at the end of August. "The Opera Chorus is a vital part of every mainstage production, serving as a large group of singing actors, interacting with the principal artists and promoting our performances throughout the community," said McKern. "In addition to their work on our mainstage productions, the Opera Chorus also participates in a series of community engagement events, including serving as holiday carolers in December at Jackson's Steakhouse, [and] appearing alongside the Artists in Residence at 'Pours & Encores' events in bars and breweries around town."

THE SEASON AHEAD

Even with setbacks, local arts organizations have countless powerful and creative performances just waiting for the curtain to rise. Rubardt is personally looking forward to a few upcoming pieces including Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe," which will be performed during the symphony's opening night on Oct. 3. "Two of the largest and most brilliant pieces ever written dominate: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring,'" he said. "Other highlights include the Tchaikovsky violin concerto and Ravel's colorful ballet, 'Daphnis and Chloe,' and a rare performance of the brilliant Concerto for Two Cellos by Destin-based composer David Ott, alongside my favorite Romantic symphony, Brahms' First." The month of October will be marked by monster stories at the Pensacola Cultural Center. Ballet Pensacola will debut a new production, "Frankenstein," on Oct. 2. Later that month, Pensacola Little Theatre will perform "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," which should be a packed house after the recent death of Tim Curry, who originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.

Guest choreographer Gonzalo Galguera will bring Ballet Pensacola's "Frankenstein" to life. The Cuban-German choreographer comes to the ballet with an impressive repertoire. "The fact that we have other artistic vision that comes in and breathes new life into a space is something exciting not just for us, but obviously the community," said Villegas. "It's not the same vision from the same person, show after show. A lot of our professional dancers came here to have those experiences." The military also serves as inspiration for a few upcoming performances. The Choral Society will kick off its new season with "Voices of Sea and Sky," which celebrates Pensacola's naval history. In November, Pensacola Opera will have "The Falling and the Rising." "[It's] especially meaningful because it incorporates a local voluntary veteran's chorus," explained McKern. "Given how much this community values its military connections, bringing veterans' voices directly onto our stage will be quite impactful." And don't forget the free performances. From Pensacola Opera's Brown Bag Opera series, to free PSO concerts in libraries and parks, you can support the arts even if you can't make it to every stage performance. "The PSO is defined by musical excellence and community service, and both are equally important," said Rubardt. "Sharing music with people is powerful, and we want to share concerts with every single person in our community." Whether you buy tickets to a show, volunteer, become a donor or share a post on social media, you're helping keep the arts strong. "For nonprofit organizations, local support is the most important, and we are very fortunate to live in a city that supports what we do and believes in our mission," said McKern. "In a climate that keeps shifting on us, thank you to the people who show up and keep showing up." {in} 11

BALLET PENSACOLA

2 0 2 6 -2 0 27 S E A S O N S C H E D U L E S

balletpensacola.org

No scary tricks, just treats with this family-friendly favorite.

of 24-Hour Theatre favorites as well as some new works.

Frankenstein

Christmas on the Coast

The Lightning Thief

Oct. 2-4 Ballet Pensacola kicks off its season with a unique retelling of this classic monster story.

Carnival of the Animals

Nov. 1-3 This Foo Foo Fest performance features Ballet academy and company performers.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 18-20 This holiday classic features both ballet company and academy students to bring the dreamy story to stage.

Alice in Wonderland

April 9-11 & 16-18 Fall through the rabbit hole with Ballet Pensacola.

Dec. 11-13 The chorus performs holiday tunes sure to get you in the spirit.

Ovation

Feb. 19 The elegant one-night event celebrates the supporters of PCC.

One World, Many Voices

Feb. 27 Take a trip around the world through music.

Showtime

May 7-9 This PCC staple production is a season finale showstopper.

CHORAL SOCIETY OF PENSACOLA

PENSACOLA LITTLE THEATRE

Voices of Sea and Sky

The Girl on the Train

choralsocietyofpensacola.org

Oct. 16 The Choral Society celebrates Pensacola's naval history in their season opener.

El Mesías

Dec. 4-5 Listen to the Christmas portion of Handel's oratorio in Spanish.

Alzheimer's Stories

March 19-20 A powerful night of song about the human experience.

Mass in Blue

May 15 The season finale will feature guest conductor Dr. Alicia Walker.

PENSACOLA CHILDREN'S CHORUS pensacolasings.org

Hauntcert: A Family-Friendly Halloween Concert Oct. 26-27

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pensacolalittletheatre.com

Sept. 18-27 Based on the bestselling book by Paula Hawkins, this production promises to be a thrilling ride full of suspense and secrets.

Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Oct. 30-Nov. 8 PLT takes on the campy cult classic.

Ebenezer's Trailer Park Christmas Speck-Tac-Yule-R!

Dec. 11-20 Written by local playwright Joe Nierle, this musical comedy spoofs "A Christmas Carol."

The Outsiders

Jan. 22-31 This story set in the 1960s follows Ponyboy's struggles with friends, family and two rivaling gangs.

Short Attention Span Theatre

Feb. 12-21 This installment of SAST features a collection

March 12-21 See the story of Percy Jackson come to life in musical form.

Marjorie Prime

April 23-May 2 In this play, an aging woman spends time with a highly advanced AI companion modeled after her late husband.

Arsenic and Old Lace

June 4-13 A classic dark comedy about a family's deadly secrets.

PENSACOLA OPERA pensacolaopera.com

Tosca

Jan. 22-24 This classic opera is a political thriller set in Rome in 1800.

The Elixir of Love

March 12-14 The opera in two acts complete with romance, comedy and twists and turns.

The Falling and the Rising

Nov. 20-21 This imagined story follows the journey of a soldier suspended in a coma after an injury from a roadside IED.

PENSACOLA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA pensacolasymphony.com

Opening Night!

Oct. 3 PSO opens the season with guest artist Elissa Lee Koljonen on violin.

Mozart & Bizet

Nov. 7 This performance features classical and neoclassical styles with guest artist Carter Johnson on piano.

Pensacola Symphony Youth Orchestra: Radiant Spirit

Nov. 15 Enjoy an afternoon of powerful and uplifting music with the PSO Youth Orchestra.

My Way

Dec. 31 Ring in the New Year with music of the Great American Songbook featuring Broadway star and Gulf Breeze native Ashley Brown on vocals.

Beethoven & Blue Jeans

Jan. 9 One of PSO's most popular performances. This year features classical guitarist Jason Vieaux.

Mozart Madness

Jan. 30 This annual celebration of Mozart will feature PSO's Josiah Bullach as soloist.

The Movie Music of John Williams and More

Feb. 13 Music and movie lovers unite for a night of cinematic scores.

Symphonic Spectacular

March 6 Listen to Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring," Claude Debussy's "Nocturnes" and more.

Rubardt Conducts Brahms

April 3 Celebrating his 30th year with the PSO, Maestro Peter Rubardt conducts Brahms' Symphony No. 1 and a special performance of Northwest Florida composer David Ott's Concerto for Two Cellos.

Pensacola Symphony Youth Orchestra: Summits & Celebrations

April 11 This special performance features Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmila overture, Grainger's Handel in the Strand and more.

Season Finale: Beethoven Symphony No. 9

April 24 The PSO is joined by Hattiesburg Choral Union, The Choral Society of Pensacola and the PSO Youth Orchestra for their finale show. {in}

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WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3-9

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

The Potter Behind Pensacola's Newest Art Night By Joshua Encinias

Gretchen Paux / Courtesy Photo

Gretchen Paux digs her own clay. "I pull out the larger chunks of earth, rocks and sticks," she says. "Then I take that clay and turn it into a functional piece or a sculptural piece just straight out of the earth." She finds it along local riverbanks and mixes her own glazes from ash out of local wood-burning kilns. The wood she burns changes everything about the finished piece. Before doing any of that, Paux spent about ten years as a landscape designer, laying out flower beds for some of Pensacola's biggest companies. She says that work formed her more than she initially thought. "I feel like my horticulture background has tremendously shaped the type of ceramic artist

September 3, 2026

that I've been becoming," she says. "I really think that's a big part of why I enjoy putting my hands in the mud and digging my own clay." Ceramics eventually took over as her focus, and she's spent more than a decade building that practice at Blue Morning Gallery on Palafox Street. For a long time, Paux says, downtown's galleries mostly operated on their own. "I really didn't feel like I saw a whole lot of that collective, collaborative art community sort of thing," she says. "There was a lot here, but it didn't feel as connected." Blue Morning was something of an exception. The gallery had its own monthly reception for a featured artist, a practice Paux credits to fellow members Sue Woodson and Beth Sage. Around the beginning of 2025, the three of them started calling it the First Friday reception. When downtown construction started on the New Palafox Project earlier this year, Paux began wondering why they needed to keep the reception to themselves. "We want to bring more business down here and connect more people … why do we need to keep it to one gallery?" she asked. She sat on that question through the construction. In early spring, she reached out to Sarah Soule Webb, an artist and gallery owner whose work she'd been following online. "I planned a meeting with her," Paux says. "She and I got together and talked about some of my ideas. Then I brought up the First Fridays

art walk idea, and she had been thinking about something similar." The two of them pulled in other galleries and held a group meeting in May. They decided not to wait. "Let's just open our doors and see what happens," Paux says. In June, First Fridays Art Walk launched, as the Palafox portion of the construction project was wrapping up. The event opens ten downtown galleries and shops to the public once a month, connected by a trolley that loops the district every 25 minutes, starting at 5:30 p.m. and leaving plenty of time for dinner or a show after. What they built runs on a few simple rules. Businesses need a permanent storefront, to be close enough to the trolley loop to draw foot traffic, and have something local or handmade for sale. They don't allow outdoor art vendors. Paux wanted the night to feel unhurried. "It should be a little bit more laid-back, yet upscale, refined evening where you can take your time and stroll through the galleries and really check out the arts," she says. She's also specific about who the walk is for: "I wanted to make sure that we were focusing on those brick-and-mortar places that are there all year long, paying those high rent prices." Before this, Paux didn't know most of the other downtown business owners. Now she talks to them monthly, sends out posters and lines up sponsors to help the Downtown Improvement Board cover the trolley's cost. Three months in, she says attendance keeps climbing even through the summer heat. People stop her at the grocery store and the butcher counter to ask about the walks. Paux hopes the walk keeps growing beyond

the first ten galleries. She'd like restaurants to join in with themed drinks, and she wants to bring dancers and singers into a lineup built mostly around painters, potters and musicians. Then there's the elephant in the room. Downtown Pensacola already has a monthly art gathering. Gallery Night has run for years and draws its own crowds. Paux says the two events aren't competitors; she sees them as different animals. "The focus seems to be more about the art in the streets and less about those brick-and-mortar galleries," she says of Gallery Night. "It really does focus a lot more on street vendors and food trucks and pop-up tents." First Fridays was built to send people the other direction, back through the gallery doors instead of past them. The format isn't new to downtown, either. Decades before Gallery Night existed in its current form, there was an event called DADA (short for Downtown Arts District Association), built the same way First Fridays is now: galleries opening their doors, a few musicians, wine, no vendors on the sidewalk. It eventually gave way to Gallery Night. Paux sees First Fridays as picking that thread back up. {in}

SEPTEMBER'S FIRST FRIDAYS ART WALK

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 WHERE: Multiple galleries, studios and businesses downtown COST: Free DETAILS: @firstfridaysartwalk

a&e happenings NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

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. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida. ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOPTION 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.

ARTS & CULTURE

MONSTERS, ROBOTS & PARACOSMS: ARTIST TALK WITH PAUL MYERS Artist,

illustrator and musician Paul Myers leads a talk about his work 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Event is free and closes the Enchanted Drawings exhibit. Details at pensacolamuseum.org.

LEANNE MORGAN: THE TIME OF OUR LIVES TOUR Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4

and Saturday, Sept. 5 at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Details and tickets available at pensacolabaycenter.com.

FALL FLEA MARKET & CRAFT SHOW

Shop local vendors and crafters 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 at Five Flags Speedway, 7451 Pine Forest Road.

MARKET & BLOCK PARTY Enjoy inflatables,

food trucks and games 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at Ensley Church of the Nazarene, 8300 N. Palafox St.

and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.

GIRLS GONE BIBLE PODCAST REVIVAL TOUR Event is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11 at Saenger

MOVIE NIGHTS AT MUGS & JUGS Mugs & Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway, hosts monthly movie nights. Watch their website for dates and movie announcements at mugsjugsbar.com. All movies are screened 9 p.m. on select Saturdays.

Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasanger.com.

ROAD TO REVOLUTION EXHIBIT AT PENSACOLA MUSEUM OF HISTORY "Road

to Revolution: Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the American War for Independence" highlights how Pensacola helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution. Developed in partnership with America250, the exhibit explores how a Gulf Coast port played a pivotal role in a global conflict. The exhibit is on display through May 2027. The museum is located at 330 S. Jefferson St. For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

THE ART OF ANIMATION Pensacola Museum of Art exhibit featuring illustrations from the Gerald and Vicki Adcox collection. On view through Sept. 6. Visit the museum at 407 S. Jefferson St. Find more details and museum hours at pensacolamuseum.org. ALTERED STATE: BFA SUMMER STUDIO EXHIBITION An exhibition from students of the Department of Art & Design at the University of West Florida. Students are under the mentorship of Marzia Ransom. Exhibit is on view Sept. 3-Oct. 1 at 52 World, 88511 Mysklak Way. View the exhibit Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 pm. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A reception will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

STEAM2026 STEAM2026 highlights themes

of exploration and wonder through investigative contemporary art, interdisciplinary fields of study and unique collaborations. This national exhibition is a community-centered experience that integrates multifaceted art practices with science, new technologies and thought-provoking research. On view at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. through Jan. 17. For details, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

HUMANISTS OF WEST FLORIDA MONTHLY MEETING The Humanists of West Florida

meet at the Ever'man Education Center, 351 W. Garden St. 10:15 a.m. every second Sunday of the month. For more information, visit facebook.com/ humanistsofwestflorida.

PLEASE SLAM BY A puppet slam hosted by The Undergrowth and Throughline Puppetry Saturday, Sept. 5. Details available on Instagram @the.undergrowth.

WEST GARDEN DISTRICT ARTISAN MARKET Shop local vendors and artisans 1-6 p.m. Fri-

MOJO BROOKZZ: OUTTA POCKET COMEDY TOUR Show is 7:30 p.m. and 10

TALK TO THE MOON COMEDY CLUB OPEN MIC Weekly comedy open mic is 7 p.m.

p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at pensacolasaenger.com.

ERICKA STREETER BOOK RELEASE EVENT Celebrate the release of the local poet's

second book "Soul Fire: The Warmth of the Ancestral Flame" 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 at Black Café and Bookstore, 3498 Dr. Martin Luther King

616 1

Jr. For more information, visit facebook.com/ blackcafeandbooks.

days at Del Mar Plaza, 1617 W. Garden St. For more information, contact info@ub-pensacola.com.

CLUB 27 COMEDY SHOW Visit Lili Marlene's

at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. on the first and third Sundays of the month for a night of comedy. Doors open at 6 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.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 CINEMA ART FILM SCREENINGS Pensacola Cinema Art will screen films

select weekends during the summer season at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.

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. STAND UP COMEDY WITH PENSACOLA COMEDY CLUB Join the Pensacola Comedy

Club 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturday at Betty's on Belmont, 506 W. Belmont St. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit Eventbrite.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little

Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every second Saturday of the month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

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.

Wednesdays at Mathison Brewing Co., 500 E. Heinberg St. Signup starts at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Adam Bowles and Russell Douglas. Details available at talktothemooncomedyclub.com.

SUNDAY MARKET ON PALAFOX Rain-orshine market is Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Located in downtown Pensacola, between Chase and Gregory Streets in the MLK Plaza. Market features handmade crafts, art, baked goods, international cuisine and fresh produce. Visit smopalafox.com for details.

FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GALLERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret

Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music

Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th inweekly.net

a&e happenings BLACKTOP MOJO Show is 7 p.m. Saturday,

the Rabbit every Monday night. Sign-ups start at 6 p.m. and music starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Visit facebook.com/algabeerco for more details.

Enjoy live music Thursdays through Sundays at Five Sisters, 421 W. Belmont St. Upcoming dates: The Glenn Parker Band 6-10 p.m. Saturdays; Curt Bol Quintet 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays; and John Wheeler 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays.

NO GENRE. JUST VOCALS Event hosted by Mybrothavan and featuring AJ the Musician 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest

RADIOLIVE The next RadioLive is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 with Hiroya Tsukamoto, Chris Moyse and John Common with Jess DeNicola at the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Tickets are $10 and available at radiolive.org.

SNOW STRIPPERS Show is 6 p.m. Tuesday,

Ave. Doors open 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

the Years on Sept. 15. For more information, call the SRIA at (850) 932-2257 or go to visitpensacolabeach.com for the latest updates.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pen-

LIVE MUSIC AT FIVE SISTERS BLUES CAFÉ

sacola'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 Investiga-

tion 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

BANDS ON THE BEACH The weekly concert

series takes place 7-9 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 27 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. Free to attend. Upcoming dates: Pistol Pearl and The Wester Band on Sept. 8 and Count

September 3, 2026

PINK STONES Show is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept.

3 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

BANDS ON THE BLACKWATER Bands on the

Blackwater live music series is Friday nights 7-9 p.m. at 5158 Willing St. Upcoming dates are Vinyl Revival on Sept. 4 and Box of Rox on Sept. 11.

BROADWAY RAVE Event is 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. For ages 18 and up. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

SHREK RAVE Event is 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4

at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

Sept. 5 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

Sept. 8 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

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

8 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

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.

GEORDIE GREEP Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept.

LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY AT THE DISTRICT

MAJOR MOMENT Show is 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.

11 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com.

NVSN Show is 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. Details and tickets available at thehandlebar850.com. DAFT DISKO French house music and disco

party. Event is 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets available at vinylmusichall.com.

OPEN MIC AT ALGA BEER CO. Country

Enjoy music and fine dining at The District: Seville Steak & Seafood, 123 E. Government St., every Tuesday through Thursday starting at 6 p.m. The regular weekly schedule is Tuesday Night Jazz with Love Brynnevere, Wednesdays with Platinum Bones and Thursdays Dan Lovelock on the piano. There is also live music on Fridays and Saturdays during happy hour starting at 4 p.m. Visit facebook.com/districtsteaks for details and updates. for more listings visit inweekly.net

Club is hosted by Brett Patterson of Snake and

free will astrology WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3 ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Most of us

are surprisingly clueless about the inner work‑ ings of our own bodies. Do you know where your gallbladder and spleen actually live or what jobs they perform on your behalf? Can you trace the journey your breath takes after it slips into your lungs? Have you ever experimented to discover in detail which foods best suit your one‑of‑a‑kind system? Do you know, from expe‑ rience rather than guesswork, how much sleep you require to stay vividly awake and emotionally balanced? The current astrological climate fa‑ vors you becoming a curious apprentice of your body's gorgeous mysteries.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The Eng‑ lish idiom "cut to the chase" comes from the si‑ lent films of the early 20th century. When the plot dragged, directors would literally switch to a chase scene to restore audience interest. Vari‑ ous languages have other ways to say "get to the point" or "skip to the crux." Spanish: "ir al grano." French: "aller droit au but." Italian: "venire al dunque." Japanese: "hondai ni hairu." In accor‑ dance with astrological omens, Taurus, I suggest you do that in the coming days. Skip the boring parts. Jump to the action scenes. You can re‑ turn later and fill in the story details, but for now you're best served by moving toward the exciting essence or the crucial core of things. GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): This is one of

those unusual times when laziness and apathy work in your favor. Life is organizing a relaxing re‑ newal on your behalf, and your main job is to not interfere. So I advise you to skip the hustle and enjoy the thrill of being still. Put a pause on doing and indulge in the fine art of simply being. Please, Gemini? Set aside your ambitions for now. Hide your to-do list. Inform your chattering monkey mind that it's on temporary leave from its usu‑ al jumping and squawking. Feel guilt-free as you immerse yourself in the most relaxed versions of feeling good and welcome whatever fresh vitality wants to flow in.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In the 17th cen‑

tury, Dutch inventor Christiaan Huygens discov‑ ered that two pendulum clocks hanging on the same wall gradually synchronized their swings.

By Rob Brezsny

Why? He eventually realized that tiny vibrations traveled through the wall and made the clocks in‑ fluence each other. Scientists call this "entrain‑ ment." Now is prime time for you to capitalize on this phenomenon, Cancerian. I urge you to be extra alert for how your moods, rhythms and in‑ tentions subtly affect the people around you, and vice versa. If you cultivate qualities you'd like to predominate in your relationships, you will find others unconsciously aligning with your rhythm.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): Now is an ideal time

to have fun cultivating the art of receptivity. Have fun being as open to influence as you can imag‑ ine. Be innocent! Be amenable! Be willing and ea‑ ger to be surprised! It doesn't mean surrendering your drive or drifting aimlessly while life hap‑ pens around you. I'm talking about an active, alert sensitivity that invites wonder and transforma‑ tion. You think boldly, act with purpose and radi‑ ate what's uniquely yours, and yet you also remain humbly aware that learning never ends and that wisdom can arrive from unpredictable directions.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): You've been ex‑

tra reasonable lately. How do you manage to be so responsible, measured and composed? I'm not complaining. I admire your integrity. But now the cosmic omens are clear that's it's time to ad‑ dress your soul's needs for more wonder and awe and reverence. So I will slip you a tantaliz‑ ing prod: what's the best, most healing trouble you could provoke right now? I'm not referring to recklessness and chaos, of course. I mean twists and tweaks that stir up inspiration and liber‑ ate creativity. Are you bold enough to follow the truth and beauty that thrills and intrigues you?

How do you manage to be so responsible, measured and composed? LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): I am asking you to give yourself slack in situations where you some‑ times treat yourself carelessly or unkindly. Instead of tightening, loosen. Instead of cornering your‑ self, offer an escape hatch. Ask: "What if I give myself 20% more mercy, 20% more time or 20% less pressure?" Maybe you'll get an extension on a

deadline or allow yourself to be a learner instead of an expert. Rather than calling yourself a fail‑ ure because you're less than perfect, you'll decide, "It's good enough for now." As you slip away from the traps you set for yourself, you'll teach your nervous system a fresh truth: you can be gentle with yourself but still be responsible.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Scorpio, you

rarely need to be lighter and breezier. Your as‑ signment is almost always to delve deeper and explore further. This is true now even more than usual. Other people might shiver and cower in the face of your intensity, but I celebrate it be‑ cause it drives you to excavate the rich, messy truths and complicated feelings that really shouldn't stay hidden. Regard this horoscope as your authorization to wield your emotional X-ray vision with precision, and to trust that the trea‑ sures you seek are often buried in places that scare others away.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): In clas‑

sical music, composers often develop a sim‑ ple motif into a complex symphony. A short se‑ quence of notes becomes the foundation for an entire composition. A key passage gets rear‑ ranged and elaborated in multiple ways. You will have a comparable opportunity in the coming weeks, Sagittarius: a seed of potential that seems modest at first could expand into more substan‑ tial riches if you cultivate it patiently. Your vision‑ ary aplomb and optimism can transform a core cell into a full orchestration.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): You

seem to be wandering in a frontier for which there are no maps. You're hovering in liminal zones, between worlds. So for now, I guess you will have to steer without your usual guidance. That's a good thing! What I can do is name the gifts that are likely to come your way as you ex‑ plore the unknown: 1) turbo-charged intuitions about your best possible future; 2) a talent for spotting surprising connections you didn't even know you were looking for; and 3) a provocative unpredictability that magnetizes allies who can help tease out and illuminate your hidden and buried desires.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): The pla‑ cebo effect has a lesser-known counterpart

called the nocebo effect: negative expecta‑ tions can create negative outcomes. If you're told a harmless pill might cause headaches, you're more likely to develop them. Your be‑ lief in harm creates actual harm. I bring this up, Aquarius, because I'm worried you may be nocebo-ing yourself right now. Your convic‑ tion that certain outcomes are inevitable is encouraging them to manifest. So here's my counsel: Which negative expectations or pre‑ dictions are you treating as facts? Consider the possibility that the problems you're so skilled at identifying are being called into existence by your identification of them. And if you find that's happening, stop! Formulate some heal‑ ing alternatives.

Your assignment is almost always to delve deeper and explore further. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): "Dear Rob:

Your horoscopes delight me in a spooky way. They make me feel as if you're watching me from afar, not like a stalker, but like an eccentric guardian angel who gives me a heads-up be‑ fore I do something foolish, tells me about op‑ portunities I haven't noticed, and shakes awake the part of me that's inclined to quit. Thanks a million times! —Deep Pisces." Dear Deep: You have exquisite timing, because now is an ide‑ al moment to pour out gratitude for the people who've lifted you up and helped you. Offer‑ ing appreciation now will function as a po‑ tent prayer that will be far more effective than pleading for what you don't have. It will set in motion an irresistible magic that draws even more blessings in your direction. HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What's the most important thing you've never done? {in}

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news of the weird AND THAT'S THE THANKS THEY GET? A Dalton, New Hampshire, man is in custody after stealing a rescue truck on Aug. 25 and using it to ram into a fire engine while firefighters battled his own house fire. NBC 10 in Boston reported that Nestor Roman II, 30, not only hit the fire engine, which sustained significant damage, but also ran over water supply lines, crashed into a personal vehicle, knocked over nearby fences and narrowly missed three firefighters before ending his wrecking spree by crashing into a nearby property and attempting to steal items off the porch. No one was injured, and firefighters were able to continue using the hoses to work on the fire. The house, however, ended up being a total loss, and Roman is charged with multiple counts of reckless conduct, theft, burglary and resisting arrest. [NBC 10 Boston, 8/26/26] LUGGAGE LIZARDS Customs officers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport discovered some truly wild contraband in one passenger's luggage on Aug. 8, reported the Times of India: 22 pairs of socks stuffed with 200 lizards. Daniel Isaac Velasco Baltazar, 23, who had flown to Japan from South Korea, purchased the lizards—some of them endangered—in Mexico for anywhere from $3.50 to $4.50 each, possibly hoping to sell them in Japan, where they could be worth up to $630. After being arrested, Baltazar confessed to smuggling the lizards. [Times of India, 8/17/26] WANDERING KINKAJOU RESCUED IN TEXAS On Aug. 20, law enforcement officers in North Richland Hills, Texas, responded to a call about a small kangaroo or monkey seeking shelter behind a garbage can outside of a restaurant. Police discovered a kinkajou, a nocturnal mammal native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. KDFW reported that the kinkajou, also called a "honey bear," had burn marks on its paws from the hot concrete. Officers placed a towel around it before removing it from behind the trash can. The kinkajou was first taken to North Richland Hills Animal Services Center before being moved to Nature's Edge Wildlife and Reptile Rescue. Exotic pets are not allowed in the city, and no one has come forward to claim ownership of the kinkajou, so how this nocturnal mammal came to be outside of a restaurant on a hot, sunny day in Texas is still a mystery. [KDFW, 8/21/26] OWL AT SEA Reuters reported on Aug. 20 that a barn owl had joined a British Army sailing crew— 70 nautical miles from shore. The crew aboard the Fujitsu British Soldier was competing in the 50th Anniversary RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race when they found their stowaway. The bird—which the crew named "Little Regina"—fell into the sea three times before collapsing onto the deck, where sailors rescued it. The Barn Owl Trust, Marine and Wildlife Rescue, and Caister Independent Lifeboat coordinated to sail out and retrieve Little Regina and take her to a wildlife center so the crew from the Fujitsu British Soldier could finish the race. [Reuters, 8/20/26]

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel

BULL ON THE RUN Law enforcement received a call about a bull traveling along Highway 35 in Half Moon Bay, California, late in the evening of Aug. 18. According to KTVU, the bull had been on the run for several days. The California Highway Patrol and San Mateo County Sheriff's deputies attempted to clear the roadway for capture. "You know, they don't cover this in the police academy, so they tried unsuccessfully for a couple of hours to get the bull secured," said Capt. Eamonn Allen, Coastside Commander for the San Mateo Sheriff's Office. "They tried a couple of methods and just realized that their efforts were futile." Realizing they needed an expert wrangler, they called in Samuel Palomino of Sea Horse Ranch. Palomino lassoed the animal while standing in the back of a sheriff's pickup, but the rope broke. After a second attempt, Palomino secured the wayward bull around 3 a.m. Officials said the bull was returned to its pen. [KTVU, 8/21/26] OOPS Whoever wins the Aug. 30 Sydney Marathon will have a unique medal to commemorate the race. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Aug. 23 that the medal depicts engravings of familiar landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. What designers meant to include: Sydney's Allianz Stadium. What they actually included: Munich's Allianz Arena. You read that right—a Munich, Germany, landmark on an Australian marathon medal. With the event coming up too soon to correct the error, a marathon spokesperson said the medals will not be changed. "We're not going to run from it," a marathon spokesperson said. "It was an unfortunate error, though it's certainly given everyone something to talk about this weekend, mostly in good humor." Germany's Allianz Arena took to Instagram to join the fun: "Perhaps they tried to find something else they had in common: Allianz Arena—Sydney Opera—Unique Architecture—Both are worth a visit!" [The Sydney Morning Herald, 8/23/26] CEPHALOPOD CHAOS On Aug. 16, a Rhode Island road was closed to traffic for eight hours while workers cleaned up 20 tons of spilled squid, ABC News reported. A tractor-trailer was taking the squid to a processing facility when the trailer part dislodged from the cab and tipped over as the driver tried to make a turn. Not only was traffic blocked across four lanes, but locals also had to contend with the smell. "Squid has a distinctive odor to it," Richard Stevens, a neighbor and fisherman, said. "It can be very foul-smelling, especially if it lands on the road and stays there for awhile." No one was injured, but Rhode Island State Police cited the driver for failing to secure a load. [ABC News, 8/18/26] {in}

Send your weird news items to WeirdNewsTips@amuniversal.com September 3, 2026

Independent News | September 3, 2026 | inweekly.net