Cartoon

By Arnaud Girard

* Featured Story *

By Arnaud and Naja Girard

The infamous green fence that hid the Boulevard worksite blew away last week in an unexpected gust of wind.  It revealed the same moonlike landscape, unmanned machinery, and lack of progress and has renewed the perplexity of passersby jammed in traffic.

According to local mainstream press, some Key West politicians, and FDOT everything is swell on the Boulevard.  One might think business was thriving.   The Key West Citizen even reported last week that new businesses are opening up and Commissioner Billy Wardlow, in whose district the project lies, declared himself proud of the achievement.  It really looked as though no one had bothered asking those business people on the Boulevard about their side of the story.

So here it comes. It may be unpleasant work but someone’s got to do it: [...full article]

* Featured Story *

By Arnaud Girard

“Pair-O-Dice” 2009

Could the seizure and destruction of the casino boat “Pair- O-Dice” open the County up to liability comparable to the 8 Million dollar Duck Tour fiasco?

After the County spent around $ 125,000 in 2009 cutting the “Pair O Dice” into pieces and reducing it to a heap of scrap metal, a Monroe County Judge, last December, finally dismissed the criminal charges against the Casino boat operator Mickey Marrone.

Marrone was arrested on March 20, 2009 after his Casino boat, anchored in Key West harbor, broke loose and ran aground on Sunset Key.  He was charged with criminal abandonment of the “Pair-O-Dice”.

“We called the owner,” says Captain David Dipre of FWC, “We told him his boat was on the beach.  He said there was nothing he could do about it.”

“Yes, they called me,” says Marrone, [...full article]

Island Voices

By Scott Fraser

We kids were having a grand water-fight when I stepped on it. Standing waist high in the lake, I knew whatever I was standing on wasn’t a stone, for it felt square and man-made. Reaching down to the bottom I retrieved a small yellow metal box, the type automobile fuses are packaged in. Sliding open its top, I was surprised to find not the small transparent glass fuses I had expected but a few milk-white colored balloons.

These were just what I needed to get an edge on my sibling combatants and turn the tide by escalating the contest to a water-balloon fight.

These little balloons were tough. They didn’t break on impact, just spilled their watery warheads leaving the rubber rocket’s fuselage intact for an immediate rearming and launching. [...full article]

Featured Artist

By Arts Editor

Nadia Rosier

Colors, curves, spirals and tiny flowers are the spirit of my creations.  A collection of objects and amusing jewelry reminiscent of childhood and English candy.  “Lili Bombec” is also a series of small paintings inspired by warm people and warm countries.

                        – Nadia Rosier

Nadia Rosier, a forever-young french artist with a brilliantly impish smile arrived in Key West for the first time in 1986 when she was only 17 years old.   [...full article]

News

By Coyaba Studios

Producers immediately seeking persons involved in or affected by the Florida Keys “Border” fiasco, inflicted on them by the U.S. Government in 1982, for participation in the movie scheduled to be filmed in May, 2013

Coyaba Studios is filming a documentary to be titled ‘The Great Battle for the Conch Republic’ in Key West. Their film crew will be in the Florida Keys shooting during the month of May, 2013.

Andy Crawford of Coyaba Studios, the film’s Producer explains: “We are seeking personal
stories of peoples experiences, how their lives were impacted, and the clever and surreptitious ways they circumvented the stranglehold put on commerce, that impeded the livelihoods of residents during 1982 when the U.S. Government set up a ‘Border’ between the Florida Keys and the Mainland”.

This  ‘conchYOUmentary’ will look at the way these people were oppressed by, and then took-on the “Giant”, in their struggle to be freed from Washington’s strong arm tactics used in carrying out illegal searches and seizures, under the guise of searching for Illegal Aliens.

“We are in the pre-production stage now [...full article]

Letter to the Editor

By Christine Russel

I am a worrier. But living in Key West, I have lived through and seen enough deals drag on over many years, that I have good reason to worry!  The mega-yacht marina comes to mind! The contract was awarded, but as nothing happened over time – we all realized there had been NO time constraints put on the project in any way! The City for some time had no idea how not to offend the marina developer, yet get out of the deal and move on with the park plans. None of us caught that omission initially.

So now I keep thinking about the Channel dredging referendum (let’s call it what is!) and worrying what could go wrong.  What have we NOT considered, before the wording and parameters are set in stone?

Considering past lessons learned, I am now concerned about the amount of time allowed for the Chamber to gather up the 0,000 which is the City’s portion of the study. IS THERE A TIME LIMIT?! Let’s face it – the Chamber will drag this out forever (they already have!) if they are not given a strict time period to raise the 0K.

Also, it is JUST the study we are talking about, but if no one is interested in the actual dredging project through the NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY, with the huge price tag of million (that the City would be responsible for 30%), then why would we waste taxpayer money, and people’s time on a study?! So let’s get all the facts out there for the public to make an informed decision.

I know there is no way to get that much info and wording in the 75 words of the referendum, but the current referendum is only 55 words.

My problem or question is this: WHY IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID TO PUT THE FACTS AND TRUTH OUT THERE AND SAY …..”determine the environmental, economic and social impacts of” DREDGING “the Key West Main Ship Channel’ THROUGH THE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY “for use……

As I said at the last Commission meeting it is NOT what you say in a referendum, but what you DON’T say that is dangerous!

The facts need to be there in the 75 words! The Ship Channel is a long channel – those NOT paying attention, will walk in the polls, read this and have no idea of what this project entails! I know, I am an Assisant Clerk at one of the precincts! They NEED TO KNOW the exact location of this project! Why is the Chamber so fearful of the truth and the facts? Actually I don’t care what they think – the citizens have a right to the TRUTH and as much information as possible in the wording of this referendum.

2 individuals with the City Attorney’s help created this – why did no Commissioner recommend any additions or suggestions? Don’t you want AS MUCH INFORMATION as possible? I hope you will call or email the Mayor and Commissioners. All I ask, FORGETTING WHO WANTS WHAT, is that the referendum provide the facts – the truth, and as much information as 75 words allows. Fact is – it is about DREDGING and that SHOULD be in there!

Christine Russell

Key West

Letter to the Editor

By John Donnelly

To the Editor:

Amidst the morass of media negativity, an invigorating current ran through the recent Military Affairs Committee Meeting at the Fly Navy Building on Trumbo Point in Key West.

A gathering of accomplished individuals convened to recognize a cadre of military professionals for their distinguished service. It was a potent antidote to the chronic cynicism and disingenuous rhetoric proliferating the airways.

Within this room of polished, proficient and savvy virtuosos lies the answer to many problems that we face as a nation and society.

Those assembled aren’t theoreticians. They’re not shielded form the consequences of their behavior by committee talk, board discussions or nepotism. Administrative failure and miscalculations are not tolerated, as individuals will die behind their errors.

The ‘esprit de corps’ resonating within the room was palpable, as the commanders of their respective units acknowledged the authentic and exemplary performance of a select group of men and women.

As this meeting drew to a close, Sheriff Rick Ramsay’s long-standing diligence and determination to make certain that our Wounded Warriors have a safe and successful bicycle ride was recognized by Captain Patrick Lefere.

The energy and enthusiasm that Sheriff Ramsay and his deputies have generated to insure that these riders are exposed to the full medical and psychological benefits that this event is designed to deliver, is legend.

The brilliant operation developed and managed by the Sheriff’s Office has guided hundreds of severely injured men and women on their rides from Key Largo to Key West.

Captain Lefere’s team incorporated and organized all of the details necessary to make this award presentation a reality. His love of country and community is reflected in the pivotal responsibilities that our nation has placed upon his shoulders. It’s reassuring to know that the United States of America has determined that our survival as a nation and our fate as a people rests in the hands of a gifted leader, the caliber of Captain Patrick Lefere.

Sincerely,

John Donnelly

Key Largo, FL 33037