🌱 Patch AM: How will the Palafox Street closure change your downtown routine?

Hi Pensacola! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How will the Palafox Street closure change your downtown routine?
• Why a Pensacola Bay Bridge traffic stop led to federal prison
• How a Pensacola tax preparer’s scheme unraveled in federal court

Also on today's calendar: Pensacola Dermatology by Amy Watson MD and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Fog in the a.m.; mostly sunny, with a high of 72 and low of 56 degrees.
• Friday: Partly sunny and nice, temps: high: 73, low: 58.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 75 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pensacola's New Palafox project to get underway Jan. 5 (pnj.com) — Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola will close to vehicle traffic starting Jan. 5 as a $10.7 million makeover brings wider sidewalks, new landscaping, and stormwater upgrades. Sidewalks and storefronts will stay open, with free city parking nearby and a marketing push to keep businesses busy while construction runs through mid-2026.
   

2. Mexican man sentenced for firearm possession in Pensacola (wkrg.com) — A man was sentenced to 10 months in prison after Gulf Breeze police found a pistol in his truck while it was stopped on the Pensacola Bay Bridge in July. Federal authorities say the case, involving a Mexican national convicted of unlawful firearm possession, is part of a broader effort targeting gun crime in communities like Pensacola.
   

3. Pensacola tax service owner sentenced to 2 years in prison for preparing false tax returns (weartv.com) — A Pensacola tax preparer has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for filing fraudulent returns and causing more than $100,000 in tax losses. Prosecutors say she ran the scheme for years, even rebranding her business and using another person’s ID number after learning of an IRS investigation.
   

4. Pensacola Police officer highlights empathy on Christmas Eve patrol (weartv.com) — A Pensacola Police officer spent Christmas Eve on patrol, balancing routine calls with moments of compassion, including safely returning an elderly woman with early Alzheimer’s to her family. His ride-along with local media highlights how empathy and patience shape everyday policing in Pensacola, even during the holidays.
   

📸 Around Pensacola

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Pensacola

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 28

• Ongoing Senior Programs for ages 50+
  Bayview Senior Center :

Thursday January 1

• Pensacola Dermatology by Amy Watson MD
  4850 Grande Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504
  9:00 am

Friday January 2

• KIDZ BOP LIVE: The Concert Movie - Pensacola
  6596 North W Street , Pensacola
  12:00 pm

📣 Pensacola Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 27

• Olivet Baptist Church Food Pantry
  Santa Rosa County, FL Calendar , 5240 Dogwood Drive , Milton
  9:00 am
• Movie Night (Milton)
  Milton Library -
  2:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Intro to A Slight Shift in Thinking
  Fairy Dust Crystals and Such , SE , 11781 US-441 , Belleview
  10:30 am

Wednesday December 31

• SoundCheck Music Bingo at Pedro's Taco & Tequilla Bar-Gulf Breeze
  Pedro's Tacos & Tequila Bar (Gulf Breeze) , 3095 Gulf Breeze Pkwy , Gulf Breeze
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• First Baptist Church of Milton
  Santa Rosa County, FL Calendar , 6797 Caroline St. , Milton
  10:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Pensacola PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• MISSING DOG!!
  She responds to the name Zelda or HooHoo. She got out around Harvard CT lastnight around 5 PM (Nextdoor Langley Creighton)
• I resisted as long as I could, but finally gave in to producing an AI generated Christmas picture of myself like everyone else seemingly has.
  I have to admit, I can't believe how realistic it looks! (Nextdoor Shangri-la Place)

• Buffalo Rock posted a job opening for Inventory Clerk- Franchise in Pensacola. Apply here.
• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Meat Cutter and Wrapper in Pensacola. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pensacola here.

Ok Pensacola! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook