In this week’s top stories, we look back on Keyla Richardson’s hometown parade and concert as she heads to the American Idol finals on May 11, a fence controversy in Gulf Breeze, new restaurants and more.
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Gulf Breeze fired up over new fence cutting off popular shortcut
The old adage “good fences make good neighbors” may be true most of the time, but for one Gulf Breeze businessman a fence he built on his own property has caused an uproar.
Christopher Green has owned the shopping center adjacent to Harbourtown commercial center in Gulf Breeze for 31 years. About a week ago the 84-year-old developer hired a crew to put up a fence along his property line between the two shopping centers.
Green believes the “discrepancy” is that people are upset the fence has blocked a longtime cut-through they use to get to Harbourtown from McAbee Court, which runs behind and through both properties.
Pensacola’s new ‘Bar, Justa’ is an unpretentious bar with quality eats
Pensacola’s Wine Bar owner Ian Kaple has unlocked the code for a winning restaurant—solid core menu, exciting weekly specials and a killer frosé that customers crave on hot summer days.
It worked for Palafox Street’s downtown location that he launched about 16 years ago, and again when he opened its sister, East Hill Wine Bar, over a year ago.
Now, Kaple is trying something different. He doesn’t want another Wine Bar. He wants just a bar, “Bar, Justa” to be exact.
These 7 restaurants & sweet shops opened in the Pensacola area in April
Seven new restaurants joined the Pensacola area’s dining scene in the month of April, and it’s hard not to get hungry hearing about them.
This month’s round of restaurant openings brought the area more options for traditional ramen bowls, hot cookies and miniature doughnuts, Indonesian skewers, street tacos and much more.
Let’s take a look back at April’s restaurant openings in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Navarre Beach Fire Chief Danny Fureigh out after violating probation
Navarre Beach Fire and Rescue Chief Danny Fureigh is no longer employed by the fire district after he was taken into custody April 30 on charges he violated the terms of probation handed down in February by testing positive for cocaine.
Navarre Beach Fire District officials declined to say whether Fureigh was fired or left on his own. Longtime Midway Fire Chief Jonathan Kanzigg was named the Fire and Rescue District’s interim chief.
Fureigh was placed on one year of probation on Feb. 13 following his arrest in September on DUI charges that were reduced to reckless driving. He was taken into custody after being pulled over on State Road 87 traveling 70 mph in a 45 mph zone, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office report said.
The Keyhive swarms downtown Pensacola to welcome Keyla Richardson home
With all the black and yellow-clad folks screaming and waving on South Palafox, you’d think Pensacola was hosting a Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Parade.
But no, this was Pensacola, or “PensaKeyla,” hosting a parade to honor Pensacola music teacher Keyla Richardson, an “American Idol” Top 3 finalist. The parade, followed by a Mardi Gras style second-line procession led by longtime Pensacola musician Joe Occhipinti and his Jazzabouts, were all part of Pensacola’s “Keyla Fest,” a hometown hero’s welcoming for the talented singer.
Richardson received a true heroes welcome only a day and a half after learning she had been voted into Top 3. Her whirlwind day included riding jet skis, saying hello to the Blue Angels on the flight line, and even popping by the school where she teaches, Life Shifting Learning Academy, to visit with her students. There, she was met with a cascade of bear hugs and even a decorated float for the parade embellished by her students with the Keyhive theme.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola’s top news includes Keyla Richardson, Gulf Breeze fence fight
Reporting by Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
