Just like we have every year for the last 24 years, we’re asking all of you to play favorites and vote in our Best of the Coast poll. That means your most important opinions—like who really has the best cookies in town—are finally going to be heard. And don’t worry if you can’t get through the full ballot in one try. Voting is open through May 21, so you can take it one section at a time. You can also fill out a paper version if that’s more your style—we’re printing it in our May 2, 9 and 16 issues. Community, Media & Culture Services Health & Wellness Retail Weddings Restaurants Food ..read more

Even though we’ve been doing this Best of the Coast thing a long, long time, we know some of you still have questions. We also know some of you might need a friendly reminder of the rules, so let’s get to it. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding Best of the Coast in general and the voting process: When is voting? May 1-21. This is a recent change, but a permanent one, so feel free to make note of it. Where can I vote? You have two options. You can vote online at: https://inweekly.net/best-of-the-coast-2024-ballot. Or you can fill out a paper ballot if that’s m ..read more

Winners Lyndsey Stevens The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners approved Stevens as the new purchasing director. Her duties include overseeing the county’s procurement program, developing purchasing policies and procedures and implementing a long-term strategy for efficient purchasing programs. Stevens has served as the interim purchasing director since October 2023. County Administrator Wes Moreno said, “With over $100 million in county projects completed last year, I’m excited to see where we go from here. I’m very proud of Lyndsey and her strong work ethic and commitment to excell ..read more

By Rick Outzen The University of West Florida (UWF) launched its “Here for Good” capital campaign with $65 million of its $90 million already contributed—a fantastic achievement. Howard Reddy, the vice president for the Division of University Advancement, told me the capital campaign’s silent phase began in January 2022. UWF was advised a reasonable goal would be $55 million in light of the other capital campaigns conducted over the past few years. However, Reddy quickly learned donors had a greater appetite for giving than the consultants realized. “We framed our conversations through the len ..read more

Nonprofits & FundraisersUnited Way of West Florida Glitz & Gallop GalaCelebrate 100 years of United Way 4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Pensacola State College, Building 27 located at 1000 College Blvd. The gala will be a Kentucky Derby watch party with two drink tickets, 10 betting tickets, heavy hors d’oeuvres and live music from String Farm Band included in ticket price. Tickets are $100. Additional betting tickets, 50/50 raffle will also be available to purchase. For more information, visit uwwf.org/gala. Animal Allies Florida BingoAnimal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Sce ..read more

By Tom St. Myer A pregnant Pensacola woman facing a possession charge sat in the Escambia County Jail for three months without the financial means to post bail. Fortunately for her, the Bail Project came to her rescue. Founded in 2018, the Bail Project is a nonprofit with 29 locations nationwide that raises money to pay bail for these types of inmates. The Bail Project opened a Pensacola branch two years ago. “If we couldn’t post bail for her, she probably would have had her first child inside the jail system,” said Reginald Robinson, executive director of the Pensacola branch. “You know, and ..read more

By Savannah Evanoff Spanish Love Songs has earned a reputation for bumming people out in the best way. “Nobody breaks and rebuilds your heart like Spanish Love Songs,” reads a comment under the rock band’s recent music video for “Haunted.” “I think this speaks largely to our songs being simultaneously realistically bleak and also optimistic in the way we try to make peace with this pain,” said Dylan Slocum (lead vocals/lead guitar). “We’re trying to take people on a journey, or at least let them know they’re not alone on the journey they’re on.” But to be clear, the band’s latest album “No Joy ..read more

NEW PIPES Pensacola Energy was awarded $10.1 million in a federal grant to replace 15 miles of unprotected bare steel mains with polyethylene pipe throughout the Greenhut Court and Peachtree Park neighborhoods. The substantial sum, presented at a special April 25 press conference, was funded by DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations’ Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program. The grant dollars improve underserved neighborhoods by reducing safety incidents and attracting new development and employment opportunities. “How can we help co ..read more

By Savannah Evanoff Stéphano Candreva likens a ballet company to a garden. Some plants need lots of light and water; some don’t. Ballet Pensacola’s new artistic director has made it his mission to create a positive environment for the dancers while rehearsing for their upcoming production of “The Sleeping Beauty.” It’s a physical job, in which you can’t make a lot of mistakes; positivity makes the process easier, he said. “I have worked in many places, and I know exactly what not to do in order to make them feel they are valued inside of this studio,” Candreva said. “My approach is completely ..read more

By the Editors at Andrews McMeel Boom! Talk about explosive developments! In Holladay, Utah, authorities were summoned to a home on April 23 to advise a homeowner on how to dispose of “a lot” of explosives, including “ancient dynamite” that had been in the family for “generations and generations.” Capt. Tony Barker of the Unified Fire Authority said the collectors did not appear to have malicious intent. KUTV reported that multiple agencies descended on the home, where it was determined that they would have to conduct a controlled explosion. “The house will be uninhabitable at the end of this ..read more