Issue #96 Archives - The Blue Paper/Key West The Newspaper

What The Fest?

Jan 092015

by JD Adler Fantasy Fest Since 1979, Key West has hosted an annual bacchanal called Fantasy Fest. Initiated as an attempt to draw tourists, it has by that measure been wildly successful. Tourists and locals alike revel in the opportunity for open celebration every year. Vendors and the marketers rake in significant stacks of cash. It also has its detractors, and every few years the calls for reform rise to a crescendo. Another tide of reform appears to be rising this year. This last successfully [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by JD Adler at 7:07 am * Featured Story *, Issue #96, JD Adler 4 Responses »

Good Morning Florida Keys with Jenna Stauffer Featuring Michael Halpern

Jan 092015

Key West attorney and philanthropist Michael Halpern talks with Good Morning Florida Keys about his newest project, the Michelle Keevan Halpern Center for Learning. The Center will offer free academic tutoring and counseling to students who are at a risk of dropping out of school. It will also provide academic support services to both middle and high school students. For more great interviews from Good Morning Florida Keys with Jenna Stauffer click here.

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:30 am Island Voices, Issue #96 No Responses »

Florida Senate Examines Police Brutality & Excessive Use of Force…

Jan 092015

by John Donnelly How many times have FDLE Investigators discovered evidence that indicated a law-enforcement officer had committed a crime? On how many occasions were ‘criminally deficient cops’ brought to trial and found guilty? The following excerpts (In bold black print) were taken from a brilliantly authored document that was prepared by Chairman Allison DeFoor’s “Project on Accountable Justice”. It was examined on Monday (1-5-15) by the Florida Senate. This manuscript identifies in part, a disturbing ‘investigative relationship’ that exists between the Florida Department of [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by John Donnelly at 12:28 am Issue #96, John Donnelly 8 Responses »

This Cannot Be Happening

Jan 092015

by Alex Symington I cannot be alone in my shock and disbelief at the US Supreme Court’s recent eight to one ruling that severely weakens our fourth amendment rights. I’ve taken the liberty to refresh your memory …, “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Alex Symington at 12:26 am Alex Symington, Issue #96 5 Responses »

An Open Letter To New DEP Secretary From Dump The Pumps

Jan 092015

Dump the Pumps, Inc. P.O. Box 1956 Big Pine Key, FL 33043 January 09, 2015 Jonathan P. Steverson Office of the Secretary Florida Department of Environmental Protection 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard M.S. 49 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Dear Mr. Steverson: We are a collection of citizens in the Florida Keys with grave concerns about environmental regulation, or rather, lack thereof. You are no doubt aware that the Florida Keys are legally designated an Area of Critical Concern, situate in a National Marine Sanctuary having Outstanding Florida Waters. [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Banks Prevatt at 12:25 am Issue #96, Letter to the Editor 3 Responses »

Open The Driver’s Side Door, Skippy

Jan 092015

by Michael Alan I think it all started when we took Skippy to the car dealer in Miami for a minor recall. It was just a quick airbag-bolt torque but, in retrospect, it marked a turning point in our relationship. Now I can see the signs that I failed to notice at the time. Skippy is of South Korean extraction and named after a town in Arizona (Tuscon, not Skippy). So it is natural that Skippy has issues. The trip to the dealer seemed to [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Michael Alan at 12:24 am Island Voices, Issue #96, Michael Alan 1 Response »

TUNATOONS by Richard [Tuna] Rohe

Jan 092015

January 9, 2015 Posted by Richard Rohe at 12:23 am Issue #96 No Responses »

An Open Letter To John Dick

Jan 092015

John: We need your help. More than ever, we need your help. When you were elected to the School Board, you made it your mission to restrain, ideally reduce, the size of the District administration. Generally speaking, you were successful and the voters rewarded you with reelection twice. A noteworthy exception to restraining administrative growth came early in the Porter administration when the Board acceded to the creation of a new, six-figure position—Executive Director of Operations and Planning. Superintendent Porter said that he needed someone [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Dr. Larry Murray at 12:20 am Dr. Larry Murray, Issue #96, Letter to the Editor 1 Response »

Dennis Reeves Cooper On Charlie Hebdo Tragedy

Jan 092015

By now, you have probably heard the news from Paris: A little newspaper was raided by presumably Islamic terrorists after the paper published cartoons which made fun of the prophet Muhammad. At least 10 employees of the paper were shot dead. Back in 2006, employees at a Danish newspaper received death threats after publishing similar cartoons. This became an international story– although management of most media made the decision not to re-publish the actual cartoons. Here in Key West, however, I made the decision to [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Dennis Reeves Cooper at 12:18 am Issue #96, Journalism as a Contact Sport, Letter to the Editor No Responses »

Je Suis Charlie

Jan 092015

Dear Naja: Yes, I’ve been reading The Blue Paper for the past few weeks, but have not been moved to write you due to excesses of the frantic holidays. However, the recent developments of 2015 have shocked my senses of human dignity and civil rights as well as international warfare. Specifically, I’m talking about today’s horrendous happening in Paris around noon – their time. As I write this at 7:30 – our time – I believe they have rounded up the three young terrorists who [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by John Gish at 12:16 am Issue #96, Letter to the Editor 2 Responses »

Key West Art & Historical Society Opens Hemingway Exhibit With an Eco-Historic Twist

Jan 092015

On Friday, January 9th, Key West Art & Historical Society will present their latest exhibit in the Bryan Gallery of the Custom House Museum—Following the Fish: Hemingway in Key West. The exhibit will explore Hemingway’s fishing exploits and showcase antique fishing tackle utilized during the period of his fishing heyday here in the Florida Keys. It will also expose Hemingway as a preservationist with an awareness for the conservation for our local environment. “His footprint in this sphere—aside from writing—is quite substantial,” says Cori [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:14 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

FOL Book Sale Saturday

Jan 092015

Friends of the Key West Library will sponsor their second book sale of the season on Saturday, January 10, 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, in the Palm Garden next to the library, 700 Fleming Street. All types of books are available: General fiction, mysteries, biography, children’s, art, food, history, hobbies/pets, nature/geography, coffee-table, etc. And half-priced all-most new books have returned! DVDs and CDs abound. As always, most fiction is a buck a book. Proceeds go to the library’s programs, books and equipment. Future sales are [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:12 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

Florida Keys Council of the Arts Cultural Calendar

Jan 092015

Florida Keys Council of the Arts Cultural Calendar Thursday, January 8 thru Wednesday, January 14 Visit keysarts.com, Cultural Calendar for more listings and events throughout the Keys. Key West Happenings ARTISTS RECEPTIONS / EXHIBITIONS Friday Following the Fish, Ernest Hemingway in Key West Opening Reception, 6 PM The Custom House Museum, 281 Front St. 295-6616. kwahs.org On exhibit thru January 13: The History of the Waterfront Playhouse: A Collection of Theatrical Memorabilia. Lincoln Perry & Mariette Rooderburg, Light Sensitive Gala Reception, 6:30 PM Lucky Street [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:10 am ~ Artists ~, Issue #96 No Responses »

The Key West/Boston Jazz Collective is Back!

Jan 092015

The Key West/Boston Jazz Collective, the ten member musical collaboration between top local jazz musicians and all-star seasonal visitors, will present a concert at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 800 Center Street, on Wednesday, January 14, at 8 o’clock. The Collective was formed a decade ago to play at the Tennessee Williams Theater, and has been reunited in concert several times since. Reviews of its concerts have been invariably enthusiastic. The visiting players will be Jerry Seeco on trumpet and flute, Tim Mayer on tenor sax [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:08 am Issue #96, Music No Responses »

Reef Restoration and Ocean Warming Topic of Talk

Jan 092015

January 15 at 12:30, Meaghan Johnson, the Marine Science Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy in the Florida Keys, will explain programs to develop resilience–based management strategies for coping with ocean warming and other stresses on Florida’s coral reefs. Cultivating staghorn and elkhorn corals (Acropora genus) for transplanting in the Dry Tortugas National Park is one that Meaghen manages. General Public is invited to attend at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden on College Road. Admission to the talk is free to KWBGS members [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:06 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday at Viva Zapata This Year

Jan 092015

Come and celebrate the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the weekend designed to observe the accomplishments of the Civil Rights movement. Dinner will be served at 7 and the entertainment starts at 6 PM at the Viva Zapata Gardens 903 Duval Street Key West. This is the sixth annual event and each year it has grown more than 50%. The first event was held at the American Legion VFW building in Bahama Village. It then moved to the Casa Antigua and was [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:05 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

Old Island Restoration Foundation House Tours Next weekend

Jan 092015

House Tour – January 16th & 17th, 2015 4-8pm East Side/West Side – Ride the Conch Train ‘round Old Town Between the Gilded Age and the Roaring Twenties, industrious Key Westers filled the Old Town borders with cottages and bungalows. View their homes – improved for modern comforts – through late afternoon shadows, soft winter dusk, or after dark. Tour at your own pace over two dates, or ride the Conch Train and see them in one evening. Featured addresses: 322 Southard Street – 166 [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:04 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

17th Annual Key West Half Marathon and 5K Race Set for Sunday, January 18th

Jan 092015

For runners, January means one thing: the Key West Half Marathon and 5K in the southernmost city. The 17th annual race is set for Sunday, January 18th, and is fast becoming a much desired destination for those wanting to run off the winter blahs in a balmy, subtropical climate. “We look forward to seeing our returning runners, who always say how great it is to get away for a run this time of year,” said Barbara Wright, event founder and organizer. “And for newcomers, they [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:02 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series Comes to Islamorada!

Jan 092015

Series presented by Bass Pro Shops WHAT | The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series WHERE | Coral Shores High School’s Performing Arts Theater (89901 Overseas Highway, Tavernier) WHEN | January 31. from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. WHO | George Poveromo, Host of George Poveromo’s World of Salt Water Fishing on the NBC Sports Network, and editor-at-large for Salt Water Sportsman, will headline the program with Ric Burnley as co-host and many more! HOW TO REGISTER | To pay with Visa, MasterCard and American [continue reading…]

January 9, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 12:00 am Issue #96, Special Events No Responses »

Lovin’ That Love Lane Gang!

Jan 082015

The Love Lane Gang is a homegrown band that charms and thrills both locals and visitors with their rollicking raucous ruckus. With an age range among the members of over thirty years, they bring a wide variety of experience and musical tastes to bear and appeal to music lovers of all ages. They’ve brought back skiffle and updated it for the present. It’s impossible to keep from smiling amidst their mirthful musical mayhem! The emphasis is on ragtime and swing from the 1930s and 1940s, [continue reading…]

January 8, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 11:59 am Issue #96, Music No Responses »

Southernmost Magnolia – Lettin’ Them Good Times Roll

Jan 082015

Southernmost Magnolia, the Key West version of the renowned New England band Magnolia, plays a unique blend of Cajun, country, and bluegrass music. Led by singer and guitarist Maggie Moniz, with local fixtures Steve Gibson on mandolin and Chief Billy or Cindy Jefferson on bass, world-famous Chuck Sherman on pedal steel, they play good time music sure to get your head boppin’, your toes tappin’, and your feet movin’. Tandhey will be making sure everyone can let the good times roll at B.O.’s Fish Wagon [continue reading…]

January 8, 2015 Posted by Contributed at 11:58 am Issue #96, Music No Responses »