July 9, 2015

Transcription

July 9, 2015

WHAT’S HAPPENING
n
More! See page 14
Hemingway exhibit
with an eco-historic
twist concludes
Wednesday, July 8, was the final day
to catch the Key West Art & Historical
Society exhibition dedicated to one of
the island’s most celebrated inhabitants,
Ernest Hemingway — “Following the
Fish: Hemingway in Key West”in the
Byron Gallery of the Custom House
Museum.
Presented with the support of the
NOAA’s Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary
and Mote Marine, the exhibit, which
opened in January, explored Hemingway’s fishing exploits, showcasing
antique fishing tackle utilized during
the period of his fishing heyday in the
2
www.konklife.com • JULY 9-15, 2015
Florida Keys and revealed Hemingway
as an uncanny naturalist and precursor
to awareness and conservation for our
local environment.
For more information, call Cori Convertito at 295.6616, Ext. 112 or go online. n
INFO
www.kwahs.org
At left, left to right: Ernest
Hemingway, Carlos Gutierrez,
Joe Russell and Joe Lowe aboard
the "Anita" in Key West, circa
1933. Photograph in the Ernest
Hemingway Photograph Collection, John F. Kennedy Presidential
Library and Museum, Boston.
KEY NEWS
n SUMMER STAGE
20 THEATRE SYMPOSIUM
Yanzi runs again to keep
his city commission seat
BY PRU SOWERS
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
First-term City Commissioner Tony
Yaniz has announced he will run for
reelection in the fall.
One other candidate, Fredy Varela,
Sr., has filed papers so far to challenge
Yaniz in the Oct. 6 election. Varela, a
life-long city resident and, like Yaniz,
born in Cuba before moving to Key
West, has not held elected office in Key
West but served on two government
boards in the 1980s and 1990s, the Civil
Service Board and Code Enforcement
Board.
Varela also was appointed to the city
manager search committee under former
entire city—“a roof over our heads, food
on the table, clean and safe streets, and
open green spaces to recreate.” He said
that his record during his four-year term,
where he often battled with Mayor Craig
Cates, proves he has been “faithful”
to accomplishing those goals.
“I am confident my constituents will
acknowledge my efforts and continue to
support me by rewarding me another
term. I thank you and ask for support to
continue moving forward. It’s working,”
Yaniz said in his statement.
In addition to District IV, three
candidates have filed papers to run for
Commissioner Mark Rossi’s seat in
District II. Two-time former Key West
Mayor Morgan McPherson, attorney
Mayor Dennis Wardlow.
Yaniz, an outspoken opponent of the
new homeless shelter planned on Stock
Island and an equally outspoken proponent of building more affordable and
workforce housing in Key West, said in a
press release announcing his candidacy
that he has met the goals he made for his
first term—access and transparency.
“I strongly believe I have kept the
promises I made to those who supported
me for my first term. I believe the role of
a commissioner is to gather feedback
from the people of my district and promote, discuss and advocate their behalf. ‘
I believe I’ve done that as well,” he said.
Yaniz said the issues in his District IV
are similar to the issues impacting the
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Sam Kaufman and retired engineer and
contractor Skip O’Neil will run to replace Rossi, who has said he will not run.
Rossi has served two full and one halfterm as city commissioner.
e deadline to file election papers
for the three city commission seats up
for reelection, including District V seat
held by Teri Johnston, technically is
noon Aug. 21.
However, the city clerk’s office said
papers should be filed with them earlier
during candidate qualifying week, Aug.
17-21, when the clerk’s office certifies
each candidate has fulfilled all election
requirements. n
CITY NEWS
july 9-15,2015
Published Weekly
Vol. 5 No. 28
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Guy deBoer
NEWS WRITERS
Mark Howell, Pru Sowers, C.S. Gilbert,
Terry Schmida
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Larry E. Blackburn, Ralph De Palma
DESIGN
Dawn deBoer, Julie Scorby
PHOTOSHOP TECH
JT Thompson
CONTRIBUTORS
Guy deBoer Key News
Rick Boettger The Big Story
Louis Petrone Key West Lou
Robin Mayer It’s Your Environment
Roxanne E. Fleszar Your Financial Future
Ian Brockway Tropic Sprockets
C.S. Gilbert Culture Vulture
Ralph De Palma Soul of Key West
Harry Schroeder High Notes
Morgan Kidwell Kids’ Korner
Diane Johnson In Review
Tim Weaver Bonehead Island
Tropical paradise was
bankrupt in the 1930s
BY PRU SOWERS
With a record-breaking tourism season last
winter, new businesses opening and soaring real
estate prices, it’s difficult to think there was a time
when Key West was literally bankrupt.
In 1934, when the nation as a whole was in the
midst of the Great Depression, the unemployment
rate in Key West was over 50 percent, with some
estimates putting that figure as high as 70 percent.
e cigar industry had relocated to North Carolina and was suffering its own problems because
people were switching to cigarettes. e Depression forced the federal government to severely reduce the size of its military presence in Key West,
including closing the Navy base completely in
1930/31, resulting in a tremendous loss of jobs.
And the bad news wouldn’t stop. e Florida
Overseas Railroad was a big employer in Key
West, but when the federal government imposed
new tariffs on imported goods, causing those
countries to retaliate with their own tariffs on
U.S. exports, the resulting drop in freight shipping
forced more layoffs in Key West.
“On top of it, the [Monroe County] Clerk of
the Courts absconded with all the money from the
treasury. And the Key West Treasurer absconded
with all the city’s money. So there were a lot of factors that led to Key West being bankrupt,” recalled
Tom Hambright, Monroe County Historian.
“ere were a lot of cities in Florida that were
in trouble. Key West was probably the worst one
because all the industries failed.”
Not knowing what to do, city officials declared
bankruptcy in summer 1934 and turned control
of Key West over first to the state, then the federal
government.
At that point, approximately 80 percent of the
city’s 14,000 residents were receiving federal
welfare relief, and the city was drowning under
| Continued on page 6
ADVERTISING
305.296.1630
Susan Kent|305.849.1595
susan.kent@gmail.com
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konklifesandnes@gmail.com
Advertising Deadline Every Friday
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Friday every week for next issue of KONK Life.
KEY WEST POLICE DEPARTMENT
Uber, Lyft drivers will be arrested
BY PRU SOWERS
Ad Dimensions
Horizontal and Vertical:
Full, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/8 page, bizcard
Ad Submissions
JPG, TIFF, PDF — digital formats only
Send to production@konklife.com
CIRCULATION
Kavon Desilus ASSISTANT
Ben Neff ASSISTANT
KONK Life is published weekly by KONK Communications
Network in Key West, Fla. Editorial materials may not be
reproduced without written permission from the network.
KONK Communications Network
(305) 296-1630 • Key West, Florida
www.konklife.com
Popular although unlicensed Uber and Lyft
taxi drivers in Key West have been put on
notice: pick up a fare and pick up a fine.
Beginning July 1, Key West Police will arrest
any Uber or Lyft drivers caught picking up
passengers, subjecting drivers to a possible
$500 fine and/or 60 days in jail. Alyson Crean,
police department spokesperson, said the city
has an ordinance that prohibits independent
taxi drivers who do not have a city
vehicle-for-hire license.
“e city has attempted to inform the
community that it provides only 56 such
4
licenses, all of which have been issued,” Crean
said in a press release issued June 30. “Despite
warnings and awareness campaign, complaints
continue to roll in that these illegal vehicles
for hire are running in the city.”
Key West City Manager Jim Scholl spoke
with lawyers for Uber on June 30 and said,
although he had provided documentation
showing Uber drivers were illegal in Key West,
the company has not stopped service in the
Florida Keys. Uber attorneys called him,
Scholl said, to argue it is “bad practice”
to arrest its drivers.
CITY NEWS
Citizen survey results reveal
few, although some, surprises
BY PRU SOWERS
Despite complaints from one Key West City Commissioner that the $17,000 citizens survey didn’t reveal any
new information, other city officials say the results will
help in the budget process this summer.
“Now we have a citizens survey that we need to review
against the strategic plan to see if we hit any of those
marks and whether we need to make any adjustments in
budget planning,” said City Manager Jim Scholl.
Scholl and city commissioners heard a presentation of
the survey results at a special meeting June 30. e firstever scientific survey of how Key West residents rank the
quality of life and city services here was sent to 1,200 residents, asking them to fill out a five-page questionnaire.
A total of 367 people sent the survey back, a 34 percent
response rate. Although Commissioner Billy Wardlow
complained about the low number of completed surveys,
saying city staff could have done as good a job without
spending $17,000, Damema Mann from the National
Research Center, which conducted the survey, disagreed.
“e typical range we see for this type of survey is between 25 and 40 percent so Key West was well within
the norm and actually at the high end of the response
rate,” she said.
Residents gave their highest approval ratings to Key
West as a good place to visit, the abundance of opportunities to attend cultural and music activities, and the
city’s openness and acceptance of different lifestyles. e
lowest marks were given to available housing options, including affordable quality housing, public parking and
the cost of living in Key West.
“Less than one in 10 residents gave’ excellent’ or
‘good’ ratings to those items,” Mann said about affordable housing, parking and the high cost of living. “ose
were all lower than the national and custom benchmarks,
as well.”
Neighborhood and downtown area safety received
high marks. And 47 percent gave a “good” rating to the
overall quality of city services. e highest rated municipal service was the fire department, followed by emergency medical services, drinking water and the police
department.
e lowest rated city services were the amount
of open space on this densely populated island, code
enforcement, street repair, and land use, planning
and zoning.
“Some of the lowest rated services had to do with
housing in Key West,” Mann told commissioners.
“Housing options and affordable, quality housing were
rated as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by less than one in 10 respondents.”
Affordable housing, and the lack thereof in Key West,
came up repeatedly in the survey results as the area where
residents were most concerned.
“Our calculations indicated that 60 percent of Key
West residents are under housing cost stress, which is the
highest level of housing cost stress we’ve seen in any
n Key West VFW Post No. 3911’s FKCC scholarship
Veterans of Foreign
Wars Key West Post
3911 Junior Vice
Commander Mark
Tobin (left) and
Commander Rod
Delostrinos (center)
present $1,000 to
Florida Keys Community College President
Dr. Jonathan Gueverra
to establish a scholarship to support veterans and dependents
at FKCC.n
More Story on page 7
5
Commissioner Billy Wardlow, Utilities
Director John Paul Castro, Waste
Management’s Craig Sullivan, First Lady
Cheryl Cates and Mayor Craig Cates.
Solar trash
compactors
installed
Key West Mayor Craig Cates and wife
Cheryl recently returned from St. omas
with a great suggestion for sustainability in
Key West: solar-powered trash and recycle
compactors!
When the Cates suggested it to city staff,
they checked with Waste Management and,
sure enough, they’re available here. Today a
trial run was begun on Duval Street. If it
proves effective, there’s a good chance these
Big Boy units could be seen up and down
BANKRUPTCY
| Continued from page 4
$5 million in debt. With municipal services practically non-existent, garbage and
refuse piled up for 18 months, creating a
stinking mess and health hazard. e
combination of problems became so bad
that federal officials were thinking about
closing Key West completely, relocating
the remaining residents to other parts of
the state and turning the entire area into
a public park.
It was the depth of ignominy for a
city that in 1889 was America’s richest
city per capita, thanks for the sponge
and wrecking industries.
In 1934, Key West tottered on the
brink of extinction.
Enter Julius Stone, Jr., a controversial
lawyer, according to author Jani Scandura in her 2008 book, “Down in the
Dumps: Place, Modernity, American Depression.”
“A Roosevelt protégé, Stone understood the importance of symbolic
gesture… Stone sought to revise the
American population’s view of the
island-city—and, more important,
to bring it into its consciousness in the
first place,” Scandura wrote.
Proclaiming he was going to turn Key
West into the Bermuda of the North,
Stone, who took to wearing the traditional Bermuda shorts around town, was
assigned the task of revitalizing the city
under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Relief Organization (FERA), one
of Roosevelt’s New Deal programs to
bring the country out of the Depression.
Key West was selected to showcase to the
rest of the country what federal help
could do, and Stone arrived with
$1 million in federal funds and a lot
of ideas.
First, he hired locals to clean up the
garbage by dumping it into the ocean,
paying them a low wage but a wage
nonetheless. He also required the newlyhired workers, as well as other residents,
to volunteer unpaid hours to clean and
paint local buildings. Declaring that Key
West would become a major tourist destination, Stone provided training for locals to become efficient waiters,
housekeeping staff and other jobs aimed
at serving tourists. He improved the
local infrastructure, building a municipal
sewer system, and renovated the Casa
Marina Hotel, which itself had fallen
into bankruptcy. Coconut palms were
planted around the island to enhance a
tropical feel.
“But even he didn’t think it would
work,” Hambright said of Stone, pointing out air conditioning hadn’t been
invented yet. “e tourism season was
only three months. Nobody came to
Florida after April 1. And in those days,
tourism was for the rich, the
1 percenters.”
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Still, one year Stone came to Key
West, things had greatly changed for the
better.
“By the first anniversary of the FERA
takeover, Key West had hosted 38,000
visitors, the best tourist season on
record. at number constituted a 46
percent increase in the number of
tourists, an 86 percent increase in hotel
registrations, and a 150 percent increase
in rooming house guests,” Scandura said
in her book. And a year after that, control of Key West was handed back to
local officials.
Still, there are some questions
whether or not Stone was the savoir
of Key West. Hambright gave a flat,
“no,” when asked that question.
“Economists say it was the war that
brought the country out of the Depression. Stone was a great self-promoter,” he
said, adding that while Key West did declare bankruptcy, its residents had it better than the rest of the country. “It wasn’t
that bad here because they [residents]
were eating fish and it wasn’t cold in the
wintertime.”
But there is no question it was a difficult time, both for Key West and for the
country. As to whether it could happen
again, the current City Manager, Jim
Scholl, points out that it doesn’t take a
lot to create a fiscal crisis; “bad shortterm thinking and not understanding the
long-term impacts” of a lack of cost control. But Scholl isn’t worried, saying that
the annual audit reports are solid.
“We’re in good shape. As long as I’m
here, I’m keeping it that way,” he said. n
CITY NEWS
Hospital prepared during large scale hurricane drill
Lower Keys Medical Center’s annual
hurricane preparedness evacuation drill
recently at its main hospital facility and
Boca Chica Naval Air Station (NAS) Key
West involved 35 personnel, including
pilots and crew of the 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from North
Carolina. Air National Guard flew down
to NAS Key West in the C-130 patient
transport plane and participated in the
drill. North Carolina Air Guard team
members, 15, were prepped at hospital
and staged simulated patient evacuation
by hospital staff. e simulated patients
were transported to NAS Key West by
the City of Key West and the Monroe
County Emergency Medical Services and
fire- fighter teams and loaded onto the
model H, C-130. is particular C-130
is able to transport up to 72 hospital patients in stretchers; 50 patients can walk
on in case of an impending Level 3 hur-
ricane or higher. Participants educated
by Guard’s flight team leaders on how to
approach and load C-130 safely.
Approximately 100 individuals
participated in this year’s educational
drill. n
Keys’ museum undergoes Phase II of larger restoration
While not apparent to those passing
by, one of the city’s prominent national
landmarks currently undergoes major
renovation. e Custom House—the red
brick, award-winning museum that towers over Mallory’s historic seaport—is
updating its fire suppression, electrical
and plumbing systems.
e 124-year-old building built in the
Richardsonian Romanesque style of
architecture of late 19th century Federal
buildings, was once home to the island’s
postal service, district courts and customs office. It was built to keep pace
with trade routes and maritime indus-
As with any other historic structure in
the tropics, corrosion and repairs need to
be addressed. Phase I upgraded the second floor windows and was completed
last fall with unveiling of the newly restored and hurricane-safe windows.
is second phase of renovations by
Bender & Associate Architects, DL
Porter, Nearshore Electric and Gary’s
Plumbing consists of internal upgrades
including streamlining electrical systems
for energy efficiency, updating fire control systems, bringing plumbing systems
up to code and installing additional basement pumps to prevent potential flood-
tries that made Key West the richest city
per capita in th states.
When the island city went bankrupt
in the 1930s, the building was transferred to the U.S. Navy as headquarters
for their Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
operations. Over time, the building was
abandoned as surplus property and was
later purchased in 1991 by the State of
Florida’s Land Acquisition Advisory
Council. In 1999, it reopened as a museum after a nine-year, $9 million
restoration project spearheaded by the
Key West Art & Historical Society to
return the building to its former glory.
ing during storms.
Phase II has been funded by Dogwood Foundation, Monroe County
Tourist Development Council and
Society’s Keystone Circle of Donors. n
Scholarship for vets, service members, dependents
e Southernmost Post of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars (VFW) donated $1,000 to Florida Keys Community College Foundation to establish the VFW Post
3911 Ed Moran Memorial Scholarship.
e group’s Commander Rod Delostrinos and Junior Vice Commander Mark Tobin visited the Key
West Campus last week to present the donation to
FKCC President Dr. Jonathan Gueverra.
e VFW created this scholarship to honor their
late Post Commander and to provide financial assistance to veterans, service members, and their dependents so that they may complete their educational goals
without incurring excessive student loan debt.
Moran, who passed in 2012, was a Marine Corp
veteran and served two tours in Vietnam. After a career as a helicopter mechanic and chief engineer in oil
fields in Texas and Louisiana, Moran moved to Key
West to enjoy fishing and writing. rough the VFW,
7
he and his wife Lucy devoted countless hours to helping veterans and their families in this community.
e $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a deserving FKCC student in two $500 installments over
the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 semesters. Students
can view full information about and apply for this and
other scholarships online online. n
INFO
fkcc.academicworks.com
KEY WEST LOU
COMMENTARY
Illegal human trafficking
BY LOUIS PETRONE
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
Uber has grown dramatically since
2009. Money initially was invested by
outsiders in the millions. Now in the bilhat a title!
lions. Uber is presently valued at $41
No, it does not refer
billion. By the end of 2015, it is anticito young girls being taken across territo- pated further billion dollar investments
rial lines for purposes of prostitution.
will be made. Uber’s value is expected to
Rather, a new form of transrise to $50 billion.
portation. A Uber. Same
Uber presently operates in
name as the company.
over 300 cities covering six
Uber is a whole new concontinents.
cept in shuttling people
Uber does not screw
around who need transportaaround when it wants to do
tion from one point to anbusiness in a State or City. It
other. Similar to a cab. Yet
generally either comes in
not a cab. So claims Uber.
unannounced or gives a city a
Uber had its beginnings
reasonable amount of time to
in 2009 in San Francisco.
make up its mind that Uber
One of its its founders,Travis
can do business. If a city says
Kalanick, is CEO. Senior
no,
Uber literally storms in
LOU
Vice President is David
PETRONE
with an army of lobbyists and
Plouffe. Plouffe is an experiCOLUMNIST
lawyers. Sharp elbows the
enced political operative.
order of the day.
Plouffe was one of Obama’s
Most states/cities have rules
chief political strategists. He knows how regarding cab services. Uber says it is not
to mobilize political support.
a cab. It also says it cannot wait months
Uber refers to itself a a new type tran- or years for local laws to be cleaned up
sit provider, a transportation network
so they can operate. Regardless of size,
company. Technologically driven. If one
few cities can play tough for only so long
needs a ride and has a smart phone, the
with a $41 billion company accustomed
process is simple. ere is an app on the
to getting its way.
phone. Push a button and a vehicle
Uber’s primary tool is the power of
shows up to take you where you want to
back room lobbying. e art of political
go. e slogan, Tap an App. Generally
influence. e reason Plouffe is on
quicker and at half the price of a cab.
board.
Uber has a presence in almost every
State house. Two hundred fifty lobbyists
and 29 lobbying firms in State capitols.
One third more than Walmart.
Uber has expanded internationally
also.
Uber has a local rules be damned attitude. ey are experienced, know what
is legal, what the law permits. ey have
a package that sets forth steps necessary
so it can operate in an area. e troops
are sent in to get things done if local cooperation is not forthcoming. e troops
all heavy hitters. Well connected.
Portland, Ore., was a problem. Uber
hired Dan Bates to lobby for the company . Bates was Portland’s lobbyist in
the capitol. In Kansas, Uber used Governor Sam Brownbeck’s former campaign
manager as its lobbyist. e man was
also a lobbyist working for KOCH industries at the time. In Connecticut,
Uber hired the House Speaker’s firm. In
Illinois, a former governor’s Chief of
Staff.
Examples of how Uber spends its
money promotion wise includes the
State of Texas. In 2013, Uber had no
registered lobbyists in Texas. In 2014,
14. us far in 2015, 28. Lobbyist contracts are speculated to cost Uber for
2015 in the area of $420,000-$945,000.
More money than Philip Morris or
Pfizer spends.
In 2014 in Maryland, Uber paid its
W
8
lobbyists $208,000. In California,
$684,000. Uber spent $600,000 in a
Seattle referendum. Lobbying efforts
cost them for city purposes alone in
Washington, DC, $314,000.
e Philippines approved Uber in
May. e Nevada Assembly passed a bill
in May legalizing Uber service. It is expected the legislation will pass easily the
Senate and be signed by the Governor.
Paris itself and France a war. Both
presently oppose Uber. Paris taxi drivers
a strong political influence. ey struck
to express their opposition. e Netherlands, Italy, Indonesia and South Korea
are investigating Uber and obtaining
court ordered bans against the company.
I question how long these countries can
hold out against Uber. Especially the
Asian ones. Billions of Chinese dollars
are invested in the company.
Taxi drivers in many places make $6
an hour. In those same places, Uber drivers earn $16 an hour. Some taxi companies require drivers to pay up front costs
each day. Approximately $175. e first
$175 taken in goes to the company to
cover the cost of the vehicle, dispatch
costs and insurance costs. en the
driver makes money for himself. Could
be as much as $200 a day or significantly
less.
Taxi drivers and taxi companies are
the one’s opposing Uber. Customers
THE BIG STORY
COMMENTARY
Uber and Airbnb—
Bad ideas
BY RICK BOETTGER
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
how hard the job can be. ey are a
bunch of characters, almost invariably
long-time locals, who always know exillions of people think
actly where to go and how to get there.
they are great ideas.
In San Francisco last summer, two
Wow! Anyone can be a taxi driver,
of the first three cabs we took had
today, without a license, insurance,
brand-new drivers who couldn’t even
training—just a car and an app to hook
find Scoma’s, one of the most famous
up with people who need rides. And
restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf.
wow again! Anyone with a spare room
Best, our local drivers load up our
can become a hotel, without a business
bikes without complaint if Cynthia and
license, inspections, any standards
I get stuck at, say, Virgilio’s on Duval in
to follow, and maybe even without
a surprise rainstorm, or after too much
paying taxes.
wine at sunset on the Ingham to brave
What energizes these
the pavement safely. Our cabbies really
“crowd-sourcing” businesses
are the best in the world, in
is the far libertarian ethos
my opinion.
that people can do whatever
And none of them are
they want, and government
getting rich and buying
be damned. It helps the
houses. It is a long hours
business model that the
hospitality-type job as it is,
drivers and hosts don’t have
and competition from
to pay the government, and
rate-busters like Uber will do
thus the riders and guests
some of them in—an entire
can pay less as well.
company might fold. So we
is is the same ethos
get people without bike racks,
that applauds child labor,
and
who may not want to
RICK
the 16-hour workday,
work
the long hours the cabs
BOETTGER
anything-goes food and
are
committed
to. You
COLUMNIST
medicine, rapacious CEOs,
replace a good business with
polluting corporations,
barely-decent earnings with
global warming, and the right to beat
a haphazard business whose drivers are
your child. Individual rights uber alles,
already suing successfully to get less
and the collective good be damned!
screwed financially.
I don’t know if I can blame this, too,
Similarly with the hotel and “land”
on 9/11, but it is sad that we as a nation B&B businesses undercut by Airbnb.
have so lost our concern for the general
A hotel or real B&B is a tremendous
welfare. It should be obvious to all how
investment. You create a business plan,
these self-serving, ad hoc services are
get licenses, pass inspections, and have
bad for us, starting with, obviously, the
to follow numerous federal, state, and
legitimate cab companies and real hotels local laws. On the other hand, I could
they undercut.
rent our guest apartment for around
I love our local cabbies. ey are the
$200/night according to what I see on
best I’ve had anywhere. I drove cab once Airbnb Key West, and do nothing more
a week in San Francisco for a couple of
than make up the bed.
years when I was a student, so I know
We have three fine hotels within a
M
few blocks of us, following the rules.
Why should they be competing with
me? It is simply not fair.
On the Airbnb website, half of the
25 private rooms available at a random
night next week were indeed real B&Bs.
Maybe they have decided that if you
can’t beat them, join them. But they are
more expensive than some very desirable rooms available in private homes.
As with manufacturing jobs across the
United States, and hospitality jobs in
9
Key West competing with “student” visa
workers, it will be a race to the bottom,
financially. Maybe the local cabs will
have to join Uber to survive.
is is a fight for the good. Key
Westers, don’t let your guest rooms
grow up to be Airbnbs. Don’t get a ride
on Uber just because it seems so modern and cool. We have the choice between right and wrong. e essence of
ethics is that when you can see the
choice, you do what is right. n
SHORTANSWERS
BY J E F F J O H N S O N n P A U L A F O R M A N
Are you kidding?
Dear Short Answers: I have a good
friend who is in the middle of a very nasty
divorce, and she has decided to share all
the intimate details of her marriage with
me and all her other friends. Including
photos of her husband’s private parts.
Although I sympathize with her
emotional distress, I think she is behaving
horrendously and possibly illegally by
divulging such private and personal
information. Should I
tell her to stop talking
about her soon-to-be-exhusband or do we all sit
still and listen and hope
she’ll get it out of her
system soon?
A Listener
Dear Listener: Tell
her in every way you can
that this is no way to
behave. And most
importantly,
STOP LISTENING!
Brother beware
Dear Short Answers: My girlfriend
and I are in an amazing relationship.
Her brother is a jerk and makes her life
difficult in general. We make plans with
him and his fiancee. We are always cordial
and extend invitations all the time.
However, we don’t really care for them
that much. How do I navigate this situation and not be seen as “the boy who is
taking her away from the family”?
Love Her/Hate Him
Dear Love/Hate: Best
not make a statement
about this. It’s her
brother/her call. What
you can do is make plans
with him less frequently
and/or include others.
y neighbor’s
poop
Dear Short Answers:
My neighbor and I were
out walking our dogs. My
neighbor’s dog pooped in
PAULA FORMAN &
somebody else’s yard and
JEFF JOHNSON
the woman came out and
started to yell at us. If it
was
my
dog,
I
would
have apologized and
Dear Short Answers: What do you
cleaned it up. But my neighbor started to
think of all this “identify confusion” that
argue back. ey got into a screaming
seems to be going around? Bruce Jenner
match. I didn’t want to get involved, so I
thinks he’s a girl, and some white woman
walked
away. I couldn’t defend my neighfrom Spokane thinks she’s Black. Why
bor
because
I think she was wrong. Now
can’t people just be happy with the way
she’s
furious
at me. Should I have stuck
they were born? RWT
around
and
argued?
I just didn’t think it
Dear RWT: ese two examples are
was worth it. A Pooper Scooper
not the same—and neither of them is
Dear Pooper: In our view it is never
confused. Transgender behavior, meaning
okay
not to pick up after your dog.
acts that depart from a binary set
Apples and
oranges
of norms associated with the gender
to which an individual was born, are
NOT acts of confusion. It is quite the
opposite—it is an act of conviction. We
are less familiar with transracial identity.
Why can’t everyone be happy?
We continue to ponder.
When hell freezes over
Dear Short Answers: When will my
employer let me take the summer off?
Overworked
Dear Over: Never. We don’t think you
understand why they call it “work.” n
Life is complicated. “Short Answers isnt. Send a question about whatever is bothering you
to KonkLife@shortanswers.net or go to www.shortanswers.net and a psychologist
and sociologist will answer. A selection of the best questions appear in Konk Life.
10
COUNTY NEWS
Gov. Rick Scott takes veto pen to Florida’s budget
VFW among casualties
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
Florida Keys’ politicians, and those
who depend on them to bring home the
bacon, have been dealt yet another blow
from a penny-pinching Tallahassee.
e first punch to the gut came from
the Republican-held legislature whose
$78 billion budget, passed on June 19,
withdrew state funding for wastewater
projects for the first time in years,
and also reduced money for land
conservation by millions of dollars.
On June 24, Gov. Rick Scott threw
the Keys a left hook, by vetoing much
of what little good news remained for
the southernmost county. e governor
carved another $500 in total from the
budget, including cuts to items he had
already approved, according to State
Rep. Holly Raschein, (R) Key Largo.
“Obviously, there were a couple
of key projects in there that benefited
the county that I’m disappointed about,”
said Raschein, who voted for the budget.
“It was an interesting special session.
Reading through the governor’s veto
letter, his explanations didn’t actually
add up. He vetoed things that he had
signed into law previously, which tells
me that this was a very staff-driven
process. My staff, and the entities who
were going to receive this funding all
did their jobs with due diligence.”
Among those entities is Key West
architect Bert Bender, who has been
working to restore the VFW Hall on
Emma Street in Bahama Village to its
former glory. anks to Scott’s veto pen,
Bender must now find alternate revenue
sources.
“It was certainly a disappointment
to lose the funding,” said Bender, who
serves as a trustee on the Florida Trust
for Historic Preservation. “All special
appropriations in that category of the
Division of Historical Resources were
cut. While the $154,000 appropriation
would not have completed our project it
would have allowed us to reopen the
building by providing code compliant
access and emergency egress. I’m looking
for other funding sources that might
allow us to complete this phase.”
Raschein singled out Bender’s project
as one of her budgetary regrets. By contrast, Raschein said she was pleased that
arts and cultural funding to the Keys
survived nearly unscathed.
“I can't hide my disappointment, but
you can’t win them all, and we have had
some good years in the past.” n
New invasive species hits South Florida
BY TERRY SCHMIDA
Yet another invasive species may be inching its way
into iguana-weary Monroe County. e New Guinea
flatworm (Platydemus manokwari) is a small, predatory flatworm with a dark brown top, a light gray underside, and two eyes. As its name suggests, it is
native to New Guinea, but has become a familiar
sight throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Recent reports suggest the slimy creature is becoming established in northwestern France, where its
presence has removed escargot from local menus.
Closer to home, Hawaii, Puerto Rico—and now
Miami—have reported infestations of the creature.
ARRESTED
“Despite court findings against drivers, Uber continues to operate in violation of the City Code,” Scholl said. “We
need to increase the consequence to
compel Uber to comply. Until such time
that the Code is amended, which is possible if UBER chooses to work with us,
we are responsible to respond to complaints and enforce the code appropriately.”
So far, police have issued three summonses to Uber drivers—two in Decem-
A recent study carried out by Jean-Lou Justine of
the Institute of Systematics, Evolution and Biodiversity in Paris spelled out the danger posed by the flatworm, which has no natural predators, possibly due
to its strong taste.
“is should be considered a significant threat to
the whole of the United States and even to the rest of
the Americas,” Justine wrote in the report. “e
record in Florida is of particular concern because it is
in mainland America. Until now, infested territories
were mostly islands and the spread of the species from
island to island is limited.” e worm can “be passively spread with infested plants, plant parts and
soil,” he added.
ber and one in January—although none
of the men were arrested. After receiving
multiple complaints from licensed taxi
drivers, two Key West Police officers conducted a sting operation early this year
using the Uber smart-phone app and
posing as potential passengers. Two unlicensed drivers were nabbed and each
given a summons to appear in court.
“It’s really about insurance,” Crean
said in a telephone interview, referring to
Uber and other car services that are not
licensed. “ere is no way to ensure the
city is not held accountable for an accident on our public streets.”
New Guinea flatworm
| WIKIPEDIA
In June, Monroe County Extension Service added
an article about the worm to its Facebook page, as a
warning to locals about transporting soil into the
county.
“It’s a new one,” said Environmental Horticulture
Agent Kim Gabel. “Another one that’s come across
Uber ride fares in the Keys start with
a $4 drop charge, then 20 cents/minute
or $1.80/mile, with an $8 minimum per
ride. Licensed taxi fares in Key West have
a drop charge of $2.75 for first one-fifth
of a mile, then 60 cents for each additional one-fifth.
e crackdown on Uber and Lyft is
the latest example of city officials trying
to keep unlicensed providers from entering the local tourism market. Key West
code officials recently forced Airbnb,
the online service that matches local
property owners with vacationers
looking for an inexpensive place to stay,
11
to stop advertising in the Florida Keys.
Any weekly, daily or monthly vacation rentals in Key West require a license
and the Airbnb properties did not have
the necessary legal authorization.
In addition, the Key West Code
Compliance Special Magistrate last
month imposed a $20,000 fine on a local
property owner who had been advertising his Riviera Drive home on Internet
sites such as HomeAway.com and
VRBO.com, where homeowners
connect directly with vacationers.
KEY BUSINESS
KEY WEST
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Mystery Fest Writers fest
n THE JERRY AWARD PRESENTED 22
Register today!
e 2nd Annual “Murder & Mayhem in
Paradise” themed Mystery Writers Key West Fest
takes place Aug. 14-16 in Key West. Register at
mysterywriterskeywestfest.com
Seven killer reasons . . .
1) Walk into the pages of a mystery novel! Fest
guests who registered by June 30 are automatically
entered into a drawing for a cameo role in New
York Times and USA Today bestselling author
Heather Graham’s next mystery tale.
2) Be a witness at the inaugural Jeremiah Healy
Mystery Writing Award presentation. (Deadline
to submit the first three pages of finished,
unpublished manuscript was June 30.)
3) Rub elbows with international bestselling and
global multi-award winning suspense-thriller
writer Jeffery Deaver and other world-class and
bestselling mystery authors, including James O.
Born, Heather Graham, Chris Kuzneski, Libby
Fischer Hellman, Sandra Balzo, Nancy J. Cohen,
Laurence O’Bryan, Carolina Garcia-Aguilera,
David Beckwith, Don Bruns, Robert Coburn,
John H. Cunningham, Mike Dennis, Michael
Haskins, Vicki Hendricks, Sharon Potts, Shirrel
Rhoades, Chuck Van Soye and Jonathan Woods.
4) Event registration, $125, includes three days
of panels, presentations and social events plus
three meals in the company of celebrity authors.
5)Fest attendees who book before July 10 scoop a
“killer” early bird room rate of $199 per night in
deluxe digs—no small potatoes in Paradise.
6) Spy a special fest showing of “Swingers Anonymous, neo-noir film adapted from book by fest
author Jonathan Woods, filmed by Quincy
Perkins and presented at Cannes Film Festival.
7) Learn first-hand the how-to’s of crime scene
investigation from leading true-crime law
enforcement experts. n
Jenna Stauffer dives into the pages of one
of Fest headliner Jeffery Deaver's famous
Lincoln Rhyme mysteries.
Call for volunteers,
sponsors goes out!
Sponsors and volunteers sought for the
2nd Annual Mystery Writers Key West Fest,
a gathering of world-class mystery writers
and local storytellers set for Aug, 14-16.
Open to writers and non-writing mysterybuffs, this year’s event features international bestselling and global multi-award
winning author Jeffery Deaver and includes multiple panels, presentations and social events with
renowned mystery genre authors
including luncheon with Deaver, a
dinner event with award winning
author James O. Born, a Key West night-life
stroll, editor round-table sessions, true-crime
workshops, a group book signing event, noir film
showing and more.
To become a much-appreciated sponsor
and/or volunteer, email:
info@mysterywriterskeywestfest.com
Registration and lodging information for the
fest, www.mysterywriterskeywestfest.com n
INFO
12
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Schooner Wharf Bar
The Greens
Schooner Wharf Bar
202 Williams St., 292-3302
n
Thursday 0709
Bahama Boyz/Keith Ricks/Chris
Case 7pm-Midnight
The Bahama Boyz, Keith Ricks and
Chris Case bring jammin’ authentic
sound of the islands, Motown, funk,
rock and blues.
Friday-Saturday 0710-11
Pat De Leon Band 7pm-Midnight
Pat is an infamous Miami singer and
guitarist. He was the featured house
band leader at "Tobacco Road” for
decades and was featured entertainer
at Woody’s Bar on Miami Beach.
Pat's music is played in Havana and
New York and his work is featured in
the Bronx Museum. High energy show
with drummer Mike Sweeney, bassist
Bubba Lownotes and saxophone
player Marty Stonely.
Cover songs from the legendary
RollingStones, Motown, New Orleans
and Soul grooves. Pat is a true original
Miami creation with a very personal
vocal style. His approach on guitar is
often compared to Keith Richards!
Schooner Wharf Bar
Bahama Boyz
14
Monday 0714
The Greens 7-11pm
Get ready for some high octane new
grass and bluegrass with The Greens.
Some olde-time and new-time jazz with
a little gypsy, dueling guitars and country thrown in! Vocalist and musical
virtuoso Gary Mackey, former fiddle
player with Dolly Parton’s Nashville
band, along with Rob Cook, Duval
Street “washboard” on percussion,
Dillon Scott on guitar and standup
bass player, Steve LaPierre.
Thursday 0716
Marty Stonley and Toko Irie 7-11pm
Marty has been entertaining in Key
West with his world-beat styles on sax
and flute. Toko hails from Grenada in
the Caribbean and his magic will
captivate you with blistering technique
and fun improvisational vocals. This is
a hard driving and fun duo.
Smokin’ Tuna
4 Charles St., (305) 517-6350
n
Thursday 0709
Kevin So 5pm
Powerful singer/songwriter to emerge
from the Boston music scene. Blend
of pop, rhythm and blues and hip hop.
Lyrical truths and knack for engaging
people through intense storytelling and
foot stomping performances. Chinese
American born and raised in greater
Boston, attended Boston Latin School
and went on to Los Angeles to graduate from the University of Southern
California with a Bachelor's Degree in
Jazz Studies.
Caffeine Carl & The Buzz 9pm
Friday-Saturday 0710-11
Kevin So 5pm
Caffeine Carl and Friends 9pm
Sunday 0712
Currie W. Clayton 5pm
Rusty Lemmon & Kevin So 9pm
Monday 0713
J. Curly 5pm
Caffeine Carl & The Buzz 9pm
Tuesday 0714
J. Curly 5pm
Key Lime Pirates 9pm
Wednesday 0715
J. Curly 5pm
Tackleboxx 9pm
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Hog’s Breath
Homemade Wine
Hog’s Breath Saloon
400 Front St., (305) 296-4222
n
Thursday-Sunday 0709-12
Holt-McAdam Band 5:30-9:30pm
Nashville singer-songwriter Mike
McAdam and pal Eric Holt perform.
Homemade Wine 10pm-2am
Powerful vocals, lightning fast guitar
licks, backed by driving percussion
and New Orleans-style bass takes
you from the backwoods of East
Tennessee to the shores of Lake
Pontchartrain. One of the hottest upand-coming bands. Trop-rock, country
and Southern acoustic rock rolled into
one. Heavy into the Jimmy Buffett
style, but also branched out and
created their own genre. Six-piece
band based in Knoxville.
Monday-Wednesday 0713-15
Francisco Vidal and Dan Harvey
5:30-9:30pm
Francisco Vida accompanied by Dan
Haryvey. For more than 20 years,
Francisco Vidal has been a pillar in the
music scene in Atlanta, Ga. Opened
for Lynrd Skynrd, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Kenny Loggins, Hall and
Oates, John Mayer; traveled with Rock
Boat Cruise to perform for international
audience as a band and solo performer. And Dan Harvey gives a high
16
Hog’s Breath
Jonell Mosser
energy show with more than a
1,000 song set list.
Jonell Mosser 10pm-2am
Jonell Mosser joins guitarists Mike
McAdam and guest band members.
Mosser has provided backing vocals
for a who’s who of performers ranging
from Etta James and Delbert McClinton to Trisha Yearwood and Wynonna.
She is the rare artist who finds the soul
of every song she sings and bares it
for both herself and her audience. Her
release, “Fortunes Lost, Fortunes
Told,” shows a woman at the height.
La Te Da
WHAT’S HAPPENING
1125 Duval St., (305) 296-6706
n
Thursday 0709
Piano Bar
Debra and Patrick, 9pm
Jazz, blues and pop. They have
worked International club circuit from
New York and Miami to Italy and the
Middle East.
Cabaret
Randy Roberts LIVE! 9-10pm
All-live tribute to some of the world’s
most loved performers—uncanny
impersonations for 20 years.
Friday 0710
Piano Bar
Saturday 0711
Piano Bar
Cabaret Christopher Peterson
EYECONS, 9-10pm
Impersonation master. Comic timing
impeccable. Live show, no lip-sync,
with his characterizations of Joan
Rivers, Better Midler and more.
Sunday 0712
Tea Dance 4-6:30pm
Key West’s infamous Tea Dance,
every Sunday. Music and dancing with
resident DJs Rude Girl and Molly Blue.
Piano Bar
Black & Skabuddah, 8:30-11:30pm
Acoustic duo originally from New York
City. Laura Black, throaty vocals, also
plays guitar and percussion. Repertoire, classic rock and original music.
Thursday 0714
Piano Bar Debra and Patrick, 9pm
Cabaret
Randy Roberts LIVE! 9-10pm
All-live tribute to some of the world’s
most loved performers!
Bottlecap Lounge
1128 Simonton St., (305) 296-2807
n
Thursday 10pm
Pool Tournament
Friday 5-8pm
Tips benefit nonprofits.
Saturday 10pm
Latin Night; DJ JC Productions
Sunday 10pm
Pool Tournament
Tuesday 10pm
House Music DJ Party
Plus . . . Bad Boy Burritos available
daily until 10pm nightly.
Chicago’s
610 Greene St., (305) 741-7891
n
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri 3:30-6:30pm
Monday-Thursday
Amandah Jantzen, 4:30-7:30pm
Tuesday-Thursday
3sum, 8-11:30pm
Friday
The Boys, 7-8pm
3sum, 8-11:30pm
Saturday
Amandah Jantzen, 5:30-7:30pm
3sum, 8-11:30pm
Sunday
Robert Albury, 4-6pm
Moose, 8-11:30pm
Monday
Moose, 8-11:30pm
McConnell’s Irish Pub
900 Duval St., (949) 777-6616
n
Thursday
Craig Jolly,1-4pm
Trivia with Mike Litrenta, 7-9pm
Friday
Patrick and the Swayzies,
8pm-Midnight
Saturday
Raven Cooper, 8pm-Midnight
Sunday
The Greens, 8pm-Midnight
Monday
Craig Jolly & Tropher James,
8pm-Midnight
Tuesday
Fiona Malloy, 8pm-Midnight
Wednesday
Karri Daley, Topher James, Craig Jolly
8pm-Midnight
Thursday
Trivia & Karioki with Mike LaTrenta,
7-9pm; Trivia, Karioki -Midnight
Pinchers
712 Duval St.,(305) 440-2179
n
Carl Hatley 1-5pm
Bobby Enloe 1-5pm
Carter Moore 7-11pm
17
CULTURE
VULTURE
Quartet debuts
to cheers
usically speaking, there’s
a new group in town,
and wow! are they good!
Is anyone out there in readerland
besides me a little tired of string quartets?
is is not to say the the symphony’s
Blue Door Quartet and other string ensembles aren’t marvelous; it’s just that we
can count on enjoying at least several of
their excellent performances each year.
And we’ve had the annual joy, these
past couple of summers, to welcome
KWHS grad Dominic Guardino and his
woodwind (clarinet, oboe, bassoon—
what have I left out?) colleagues from the
august Eastman School of Music. And of
course there are the Paradise Big Band,
Paradise Swing Band and the Bones
‘Bones.
But now, hooray, we have a new
group—Georges Hemund, Les Dudley,
Donna DeForest and Mark Rose—
performing as the Key West Saxophone
Quartet, which debuted June 13
at St. Paul’s.
e sound was superb, the program
varied and delightful, from Mozart and
Beethoven to Gershwin, Lennon and
McCartney and If I Only Had a Brain
from Over the Rainbow. New to me was
composer Andrew White; comprising his
Suite Number 1 were movements 1.
Impression; 2. Elephant Ballet; 3.
Buttercup’s Chicken Shack; 4. A Little
Melancholy and 5. Shoo Bee Do Bee Dee
Bop. Extraordinary.
“ey were very nicely in tune, and
they did well with the difficult business
of playing complex rhythms together
without a rhythm section under
M
18
them,” commented Konk Life music
guru Harry Schroeder after the concert.
“All of them sounded very good. I was
especially taken by Donna’s playing: her
sound was rich and full of feeling on exposed passages, and when playing with
Mark’s soprano, the sounds matched
beautifully. On flute she has always been
one of the very best wind players here;
now she has brought the alto sax up to
that same level.”
Les Dudley on tenor turned in his
usual flawless performance and shared
the very informative M.C. duties with
Rose.
“One of the high points was e Stars
and Stripes Forever, with Georges Hemunds’ baritone sax playing the piccolo solo.
Contrabass piccolo,” Schroeder explained. Wonderful and amazing!
I’ve hears 100 piece bands do this
piece, and they were just as stirring, comparatively more so.
Another favorite moment: Hemunds
at one point made his sax sound identical
to a plucked upright bass.
“is was, among its other virtues, by
far the most difficult and most advanced
music being made by local players,”
Schroeder said.
Producer Linda Sparks, musical and
artistic director of Music in Paradise and
director of music at St. Paul’s, and the
players promised another concert “next
season.” I can hardly wait!
Incidentally, Guardino and friends
will return in August, Sparks said. More
to look forward to!
at’s all for now. Gotta fly! n
C.S.
GILBERT
COLUMNIST
WHAT’S HAPPENING
The Green Room
501 Greene St., (305) 741-7300
n
Thursday 0709
3pm Karri Daley
8pm Antony Picone
Friday 0710
3pm Jared Konersman
8pm Jason Lamson
12am DJ Dream Chaser
Saturday 0711
3pm Brad Shadduck
8pm Jason Lamson
12am DJ Dream Chaser
Sunday 0712
5pm Jason Lamson
Monday 0713
3pm Jason Lamson
8pm Robert Douglas
Tuesday 0714
4pm Karri Daley
9pm Jason Lamson
Wednesday 0715
3pm Ericson Holt
8pm Jason Lamson
years. at has led a new taxi company,
ADA 24 Hours Plus, LLC, to sue the city
last year, alleging its taxi licensing regs
put the company out of business before it
could pick up its first passenger. A state
court refused to dismiss the case in a
May 15 ruling.
e lawsuit claims the city violated
state antitrust laws by creating new regs
that only allow existing, licensed taxi
companies to offer handicapped-accessible
cabs that can be hailed on the street and
do not require a pick-up reservation.
“e existing vehicle-for-hire licenses,
permits and agreements protect the existing licensees from competition and create
monopoly power,” according to the lawsuit, filed by attorney Ralf Brookes. “e
exclusive agreements with existing
licensees resulted in the exclusion
of plaintiff from the market.” n
INVASIVE
our radar. People should remember to be
careful that they’re not bringing any hitchhikers in; no snails or worms, along with
plants, from the mainland.”
e potential exists for the flatworm to
upset the ecosystem by feeding on snails
and earthworms necessary for plant life.
So voracious is the predator it has been
known to chase snails up trees. n
ARRESTED
Key West licensing officials are facing
some pushback, however, over the way the
city issues taxi licenses. e city currently
has 56 taxi licenses outstanding and has
not granted a new license in the past 25
19
COUNTY NEWS
eater Symposium
preview—it’s back!
Last year’s Directors Panel featured top Key West directors.
SPECIAL TO KONK LIFE
Now in full swing with “A Streetcar
Named Desire” at the Red Barn in Key
West, eatreXP and Summer Stage will
hold the first segment of the eatre
Symposium series 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July
13, at the Red Barn eatre in Key West.
Admission is free.
Tuesday night’s panel discussion will
open up the world of Stage Managing,
featuring some of Key West’s best,
including Annie Miners, Andy Celli, and
newcomer Andrew Lincout, as well as
actor Tammy Shanley. Discussion moderated by eatreXP founder and artistic
director Bob Bowersox, who has himself
served in the stage management role.
“If you’ve ever sat in a theater and
been amazed by what you’ve seen on
stage, this will be a great couple of
evenings for you,” said Bowersox. “Conversely, if you’ve never been to a play,
these interactive discussions will be a way
for you to introduce yourself to theater.
e idea is if audiences have a better understanding of what it takes to create the
magic on stage, then they’ll enjoy it all the
more when they attend a show.”
For Tuesday’s Stage Managing Symposium, the panel reveals what many have
20
| ROBERTA DEPIERO
called the core of a stage play’s engine—
the person charged with keeping it all
moving smoothly from wrangling oftenerrant actors to hitting the right button
for lights or sound effects at precisely the
right moment. What do they have to contend with? Do actors depend on them or
wish they’d leave them alone? Expect
funny anecdotes to pop out.
On Tuesday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m., the
Symposium turns to e Business of eatre, taking in-depth look at what Key
West theaters have to do to be successful
and stay alive. Panelists include the Red
Barn’s Mimi McDonald, Waterfront
Playhouse’s Bunnie Smith, Fringe’s
Tammy Shanley, and On e Rock’s Mike
Marrero. Bowersox moderates the panel.
“We’ll encourage the audience to join
the discussions,” Bowersox said. “Questions and comments more than welcome.
Expect to hear some great stories about
how the gears of theater work.”
For information on eatre Symposium, go online, or call eatreXP,
(302) 540-6102.
Season Sponsors of Key West Summer
Stage 2015 are Royal Furniture, e
Grand Café, Konk Life, Design Group
Key West, and the Monroe County
Tourist Development Council. n
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
Mel Fisher Days
gives away $5,000
During the Rockin’ Block Party on Duval 80s Rocker Jeff Watson of Night Ranger and Suenalo of the Green
Parrot will take the stage along with a host of Key West’s favorite entertainers.
n July 9-12
Mel Fisher Days Kickoff is in one week on ursday, July 9, with Dockside Party at Schooner Wharf
Bar where the JB Magruder will be commissioned into
the Conch Republic Navy.
As treasure hunters return from a trip to Emerald
City, they will dock behind Schooners at 11 a.m. Limited spaces are available for tours of the treasure-hunting vessel to be hosted by the crew members. See the
equipment, charts, quarters and most recent finds.
Evening brings swashbuckling great time with a Pirate
Pub Crawl and Pirate Ball with prizes for best costumes. Pub crawl includes five drinks and a 30th anniversary event t-shirt at $35.
On ursday and Friday, between 10 a.m. and 3
p.m., sign on for behind-the-scenes tours of the fam-
ily’s conservation lab at 200 Greene St. (Space limited!)
Friday evening rolls out as Amazing Mel Fisher
Treasure Hunt takes place on land with teams of two
to four follow clues and solve riddles to claim a treasure chest filled with $5,000 in U.S. silver dollars,
awarded at Rockin’ Block party on Saturday.
Annual favorite, Mel Fisher Days Rockin’ Block
Party is Saturday, noon-10 p.m., along 200-300 blocks
of Duval and features a silent auction, classic car show,
dunk tank, games for kids, food vendors from the
hottest spots in town and a free concert featuring ’80s
rocker Jeff Watson of Night Ranger, Suenalo—one of
the Green Parrot’s hottest bands, local favorites Caffeine Carl, e Durt Bags, Patrick and the Swayzees
and Barry Cuda. VIP backstage party passes available,
including open bar.
21
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
SOLAR TRASH
CITIZEN SURVEY
of our other communities in our database,” Mann said.
“I’m not all that surprised at the ranking of the issues. We all knew affordable
housing was a major crisis in the city,”
said Commissioner Jimmy Weekley.
“What surprised me is that they were
willing to have their taxes increased if
they knew it was going for affordable
housing.”
Scholl said that is one of several
pieces of information contained in the
survey results that he will be taking into
consideration as he continues preparing
a draft budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal
year, beginning on Oct. 1. Another
piece of the fiscal puzzle revolves around
street repair, which 90 percent of the respondents ranked as an important issue.
Commissioner Teri Johnston pointed
out that the Key West street repair
budget essentially stays at the same level
each year and perhaps that should
change.
“Clearly this report says we need to
move that up in the food chain,” she
said, adding, “ere are a whole lot of
opportunities in [the survey results] that
I see. I’m really glad we have this report
right before we go into the 2015/16
budget cycle.” n
the street.
As Mayor Cates pointed out, receptacles become full quickly on a busy night
and most of it is air. Empty cups and
bottles take up a lot of space. e compactors, one for trash and one for recyclables, promise a more efficient
collection and cleaner streets. n
MEL FISHER DAYS
Friday a matinee at Tropic Cinema
features “Memorial Day to the Mother
Lode, Who Could Ask for Anything
The Fisher family offers a limited number of tours of their private conservation lab, Thursday-Friday, July 9-10.
More?”—a collection of archive video
and interviews from the Fisher’s and the
Golden crew in a way that’s never been
shown to the public. e annual Mel
Fisher Lifetime Achievement Award will
be presented to Judy Gracer at the show.
Sunday brings Booty Bingo & BBQ
Brunch at Charlie Mac’s. After filling up
at brunch, walk it off and head down to
Island Dogs for their free trivia with fun
prizes and half-price drinks.
To win the Individual Sponsorship
Award, start now and collect donations
from your friends, family, co-workers
and acquaintances for Wesley House
Family Services, Inc. Keep track of your
collected donations and who they’re
from. Bring list and donations to Island
Dogs in Key West on Sunday, July 12, to
be turned in between 3-4 p.m. Fill out
your contact information and donation
total.Organizers will count and verify
your donation totals with you and award
the person who collects the most money
for the charity a two-tier trophy and a
4.4 carat non-shipwreck Madagascar
Emerald at 5 p.m. Register online.
INFO
www.MelFisherDays.com
22
Honoring Healy
Jeremiah Healy Mystery Writing
Award, e Jerry, will be presented
at the Mystery Writers Key West
Fest, Aug. 14-16. Winner will claim
a contract with Absolutely Amazing
eBooks, free Mystery Writers Fest
registration, hotel for two nights
and a bobble-headed Jerry trophy.
Award salutes the author’s legacy as
influential mentor credited with
helping and advising many aspiring
writers. No fee to enter. n
INFO
The “Jerry” trophy is shown with
a collection of mystery-suspense
books written by Jeremiah Healy.
T R O P I C S P R O C K E TS
IAN BROCKWAY
Me and Earl
and the
Dying Girl
riendships imperiled by
sickness are the stuff of
melodrama. ankfully “Me and Earl
and the Dying Girl” by director Alfonso
Gomez-Rejon (TV’s American Horror
Story) manages to avoid any pitfalls
of sap by giving some quirky charm
and vibrance in its place.
Greg (omas Mann) is a melancholy high school student caring only
for cinema. He pathologically avoids the
intimacy of others spending most of his
time with his friend Earl (Ronald Cyler
II) watching Werner Herzog films in the
office of the history teacher, Mr.
McCarthy (Jon Bernthal).
Greg’s domineering mom (Connie
Britton) informs him that Rachel
(Olivia Cooke), a fellow classmate, has
leukemia urging him to spend time with
her. Greg is resolutely opposed, thinking
it would impair his energies as a creative
loner, aside from acute anxiety.
Greg reluctantly agrees. So begins an
unusual friendship between the two.
At the heart of this film is the wondrous chemistry between actors Cooke
and Mann, who don’t ham it up and
have a generosity of spirit that is freely
given.
For a start, Mann is terrific, drawing
from the rich history of characters depicted in the films of John Hughes,
right on par with “Ferris Bueller’s Day
Off” and “e Breakfast Club.” Cooke
is spirited and authentic, with a full
range of emotion, not one of them
being a withered sadness. is is no sob
story, but a chronicle of a friendship,
much of it with a light lift.
But that is not to say that it ignores
darkness completely. More often than
not, however, the film tells it like it is
and then moves on.
e repartee between the two is
destined to be classic, in parallel
to Matthew Broderick’s antics
F
TROPIC CINEMA
416 Eaton St. • 877-671-3456
Week of Friday, July 10, 2015
through Thursday, July 16, 2015
Selfless (Self/less)
(PG-13)
Fri - Thu:
(1:30), 4:00, 6:20, 8:40
Dope (R)
Fri - Thu:
(2:00), 4:10, 6:30, 8:50
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
(PG-13)
Fri - Thu:
(2:15), 4:20, 6:40, 9:00
Spy (R)
Fri: 4:15, 6:25, 8:45
Sat - Thu:
(1:45), 4:15, 6:25, 8:45
Paddington (PG)
Kids Club $1
Sat: 10:30 AM
Caltiki the Undying Monster
(Caltiki - il mostro immortale)
(NR) Creature Feature $3
Sat: 11:00 AM
Tropic Cinema
Four Screens in Old Town.
Rated Best Cinema in Florida.
www.TropicCinema.com
(877) 761-FILM
as a young kid.
is film has a texture and a color
that actually feels like the psychic heart
of a teenager. e camera is frequently
tilted sideways in perspective, from up
above or upside down. School cafeterias
feel like prisons. A girl’s room is a warm
sanctuary filled with pillows, at once
funny and erotic.
Within the whimsy of the camera angles is a profound pulse which illustrates
the wildness of a teen: one part euphoria, one part comedic horror-show.
Interspersed with the ups and downs
are some very funny jokes about classic
cinema with most of the humor aimed
at Herzog and Klaus Kinski.
Well known for comedy herself on
“Saturday Night Live,” Molly Shannon
gives a spare and understated performance as Rachel’s mother, who covers up
23
her worry with a forced joie de vivre.
Nick Offerman does fine too as Greg’s
father, though his character trades heavily on Offerman’s past goofy parent incarnations.
Although it does flirt with the sentimental and the bittersweet, it is to its
credit that it never slides fully into
soupy emotion.
Above all, the film is a surprising
portrait of friendship. Its glib self-deprecating spirit is refreshing and without
cynicism. “Me and Earl and the Dying
Girl” delivers a type of “e Breakfast
Club” to a new generation making an
irrepressible crowd pleaser, garnished
with jovial colors. n
Jazzy Mike
Emerson
Mike plays the big band
swing when he’s
‘In the Mood’
BY RALPH DE PALMA
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
ike Emerson is a jazz
guitarist/vocalist from
Cincinnati, Ohio, who has been playing
guitar since he was 12. While still in
high school, Mike began studying with
local jazz guitarist Cal Collins, who
recorded with Concord Jazz, travelled
with Benny Goodman during the ’70s
and recorded with Rosemary Clooney.
Cal introduced Mike into teaching by
turning over a large portion of his
guitar students whenever Cal went
on tour.
After high school, Mike continued
to perform in Cincinnati until he
accepted a job with a show band and
spent the ’70s travelling coast to coast,
assuming the position of group arranger
and conductor. He had the opportunity
to perform with actress/vocalist Rose-
M
Mike Emerson with the Southernmost Brass. Above, Emerson and Joe Dallas laying down.
mary Clooney, as well as opening for
jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis and vocalist/
pianist Ray Charles.
Mike ultimately completed his
Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Guitar
Performance and eory at University
of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music,
where he also taught guitar.
Mike and wife Jenny moved to Key
West in 2002. Mike is impressed with
the variety of music and venues in Key
West that allow musicians opportunities
to express themselves freely. He feels
that there is more of an artistic musical
environment in Key West, that positively
affects creative music of all styles.
Along with performing solo or with
small groups, Mike has also had very
special musical experiences in his years
in Key West performing with the Key
West Pops Orchestra and with his sevenpiece horn band, the Southernmost
24
| RALPH DE PALMA photographs
Brass. e Southernmost Brass are a special group of musicians, performing at
the Green Parrot and two performances
at Boondocks Bar and Grille on Ramrod
Key.
Look for them back at Boondocks
in the near future as they pack the house
with swing, jazz, and pop/rock tunes.
Mike is also a regular performer at
the Sunday Jazz Jams at the Green Parrot
Jazz at the Gardens Hotel. n
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
Artist Anja Marais
Marais exhibition
now at TSKW
rough July 31, multidisciplinary
contemporary artist Anja Marais has a
solo exhibition, “From Ship to Shore,” at
e Studios of Key West, 533 Eaton St. .
“Being Shore to Ocean” is one of
Marais’ latest series of photographic
assemblages. In it, Marais celebrates the
idea of devotion, specifically to our individual journeys. Her mixed media layered photography, sculpture and video
work engage with personal life experience and the human spirit. Mysterious
LOU PETRONE
generally like Uber’s service. Quicker and
cheaper. Uber knows how to get the populace on its side and to continue supporting the company after it is allowed
to work In a city. Petitions are used. As
in politics. People love Uber and are
happy to sign petitions supporting
Uber’s aims.
is is not the Biblical David and Goliath situation. Cities are the Davids.
ey cannot stand up to Goliath Uber.
Which brings me to Key West. Since
December 14 last year, there have been
Uber vehicles operating in Key West.
Local cab companies raised hell. Key
West stood for their locals. Not realizing
the people working with Uber were generally locals also.
females appear in dreamlike landscapes,
and emerge in the form of sculptures
which provide a more tangible presence.
Primal forces operating in a timeless
realm are manifested in her symbolic
imagery.
Anja Marais is a South African native
and currently lives and works in South
Florida, her art is exhibited and collected
internationally. She has been awarded
both the South Florida Cultural Consortium and the Florida Division of Cultural Affair Fellowships and has been
selected for Art Residencies in, Japan,
Korea, Russia, Finland and the US. Her
work is included in the permanent collections of the Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, e Washi Museum in
Japan, the Kronstadt History Museum of
St Petersburg Russia among others.
“Being Shore to Ocean” is on view at
e Studios of Key West until July 31. n
community events.
“As always, the goal has been to embrace the entire community, and offer
programs, educational opportunities and
exhibits that inspire and educate,” she
says. “I will continue to work towards
that goal to ensure KWAHS’ place in our
community as a vibrant and treasured
organization.”
For more information about Key
West Art & Historical Society’s
programs and membership opportunities, contact Gerri Sidoti, (305) 2956616 Ext. 106 or go online. n
INFO kwahs.org
On July 10, Key West Art & Historical Society’s Gerri Sidoti celebrates 15
years of service with the island’s oldest
nonprofit organization whose mission is
to preserve the culture and heritage of
the Florida Keys.
Sidoti has “played a fundamental role
in helping craft the Society’s identity,
reinforcing its commitment to the mission and giving back to the local community,” says KWAHS Executive
Director Michael
Gieda.
“On behalf
of the Society, I
thank her for her
continued service,” he says. “It
has been both a
privilege and
honor to work
with her.”
“I am inspired
KWAHS’ Gerri Sidoti
by working to
make my community a better place to live,” says
Sidoti, who lives in Sugarloaf with her
husband Ross and their assortment of
cats and tropical fruit trees. “at’s always been a big motivator for me.”
Originally from Massachusetts with
a degree in Education, Sidoti moved to
Key West in 1984 after traveling and
visiting museums extensively across the
globe. Her work as KWAHS Director
of Programs and Membership has been
instrumental in developing some of the
organization’s most successful programs,
including the Distinguished Speaker
Series and the much anticipated 2016
Kinetic Parade and its surrounding
Key West has an ordinance requiring
passenger vehicles for hire to have a decal
or permit authorizing their use as same.
A violation of the ordinance is a crime. A
misdemeanor. e penalty a fine of $200
and/or up to sixty days in jail.
Key West invoked the ordinance. Two
undercover Key West police officers arrested two drivers. eir cases are pending. Local authorities also have warned
that as of July 1, all persons violating the
law will be arrested.
ere are four cab companies in Key
West. e number of permits is 56 or
74. I could not determine the actual
number. e four companies own all the
permits. ere is no room for a new type
transportation company. Assuming the
ordinance applies to Uber.
Uber is not a bad guy. It is a good
company that discovered a new way of
operating a transportation business. A
way that provides cheaper prices and
quicker pick up time to customers.
Uber does play hard ass. It could not
stay in business if they had to screw
around ad infinitum with different local
and State ordinances to get their business
going in a particular locality. Uber has
invented the better mouse trap. ey
come into a community and say we have
something new and better. Which they
do.is is what we would like to do and
we know how to do it.
Key West in fighting Uber is merely
putting off the inevitable. Uber succeeds
in the end because it understand its business. Legally and other wise.
Key West must keep in mind what
happened in a similar situation several
years ago. e Duck Tours case. Cost
Key West $8 million. Uber and the Duck
matter have many similarities.
en there are the more recent food
truck cases. Key West said the operations
were restaurants and needed local approvals. e owners said no. We are
motor vehicles. e court agreed, ruling
food trucks were motor vehicles. e city
lost. Not an $8 million beating. Fortunately.
It is a new time. e world progresses. Uber has what appears to be a
better product for all concerned. I am
not saying put the cab companies out of
business. No, merely let Uber compete
with them fair and square. I believe 5-10
years down the road, cabs as such will be
a thing of the past. ey will not be able
to survive against the tide. Technology as
Uber represents will have taken over.
Uber and similar companies will be the
transportation vehicles of the new day. n
KWAHS celebrates
25
KEYS’ Zarate
achieves milestone
Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Erica
Zarate celebrated her
10th anniversary with
the Utility July 5.
Zarate is the director
of customer services and
responsible for managing the Collections,
Customer Services,
Customer Programs,
Meter Services and Cashiers sections in
order to provide the maximum efficiency
and benefit to KEYS and its customers. n
TROPIC CINEMA
Spy
irector Paul Feig scores
again with “Spy,” a Melissa
McCarthy vehicle, that is no doubt a
comedy, but also stands up surprisingly
well as an espionage thriller as well as a
laugh riot.
D
Yes, here again is McCarthy as we
know her: the sarcastic and brash lady
with a big mouth, but her role has heart.
She’s a CIA logistics operator who longs
for the glamorous jet set life of an agent
on the field. As Susan Cooper, she pines
for the love of her fellow agent Fine
(Jude Law) but she is sequestered behind
a desk and can only give him directional
cues.
When a strait-laced agent Crocker
(Allison Janney) needs a low profile,
mundane agent to gather the location of
a terrorist weapon, she immediately
thinks of Cooper. Cooper immediately
takes to far-flung locations to collect intelligence.
us begins a kind of odyssey involving agents, guns and briefcases. is
genre has a rich cinematic history from
“Fletch” and “Spies Like Us” to “Austin
Powers,” but what makes “Spy” different
from the rest is that it does truly pull its
weight as a thriller in the key of Bond.
e exchanges between McCarthy
and Rose Byrne as a dominant villain are
first rate. While Byrne may have the best
lines in telling Cooper that she eats like a
baby while dining at a five star restau-
rant, Cooper always gets the last word.
Director Feig (Bridesmaids, e Heat)
once again highlights this film with a
strong female protagonist that will not,
under any circumstances, give in.
Jason Statham makes good fun of
himself as Agent Ford, a spy who takes
himself overly seriously, though in reality
he is a hopeless klutz. His character is
not new, but his vigor and egotistical energy shows through and manages to
make it a refresher course ala Monty
Python.
But in terms of stealing the show, the
honor goes to Bjorn Gustafsson as a
clueless guard.
While we know McCarthy’s comedic
persona well, her hapless self deprecation
and charisma in spite of all flashes
though all recognizable shtick.
During the first half we get the usual
jokes of Cooper being the under-appreciated misfit, but by the film’s second hour,
Susan Cooper is a woman of action, progressively subverting the Bond film to include all women, and also proving
McCarthy as an action star.
e combat scene in the kitchen with
numerous vegetables, breads and cutlery
26
of all sorts, almost brings the film to
high art. A singular note of lunacy.
At first glance, Jude Law might seem
weak as a bit of a handsome dullard, lest
we forget that he is acting as the straight
man.
“Spy” is in the long tradition of
mixed genre films that have featured
Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Chevy
Chase, Richard Pryor, and Abbott &
Costello. “Spy” is a welcome addition
with dialogue that not only spoofs for
laughs but also points to a future in
going beyond the conventions of what
audiences might expect. n
Write Ian at ianfree1@icloud.com
XP’s season
n Through 25
Key West’s eclectic eatreXP’s
program for the annual Summer Stage
is through July 25. Schedule features
theatre symposium panel discussions
and will bring classic radio plays to the
live stage. More information. call eatreXP, (302) 540-6102. n
INFO keywestsummer stage.com
Womankind’s 2015 “That’s What She Shot”
Spearfishing Tournanment was a boatload
of fun, great prizes, great company and
great fish stories!
Photo: Larry
ryy Blackburn• Cover: JT Thompson
28
Keys’ Zarate
Achieves Longevity
Milestone With
Utility
PETER ARNOW | PHOTOGRAPHER
County Commissioner
Heather Carruthers
installs President
Sheila Cantler
PETER ARNOW | PHOTOGRAPHER
ounty Commissioner Heather Carruthers installs President
EY WEST – Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) Erica Zarate will
Sheila Cantler and the new Board of Directors of the Big Pine
celebrate her 10th anniversary with the Utility on July 5th.
and Lower Keys Rotary Club for 2015-2016.
Zarate is the Director of Customer Services and is responsible for
managing the Collections, Customer Services, Customer Programs,
Meter Services, and Cashiers sections in order to provide the maximum
efficiency and benefit to KEYS and its customers.
K
C
29
Hospice VNA 4th of July
Family Celebration
PHOTOS BY LARRY BLACKBURN
Carol Tedesco & Michael Shields.
Is there a doctor in the house!!!
Reef Perkins & Roberta DePiero.
Beth Rooney & Stephanie Hellstrom.
30
Family Celebration
BUBBLES!!!!!!!!
A Sydney the Mermaid sighting at the Casa Marina.
Rebecca Balcer & Tony “Fats” Yanitz.
31
Family Celebration
The Fabulous Spectrelles.
Clayton Lopez.
Janet Hinkle & Perry Arnold.
32
Family Celebration
Rita Linder with Rosi and Jeff Ware.
Derrick Traylor & Terry Paulson.
34
That’s What She Shot Spearfish
Tournament for Womankind
The crew of the “Stormy” show off their prize winning catch.
Colleen Quirk, Womankind Director Kim Romana & Kristina Wellburn.
What she got for what she shot.
35
That’s What She Shot Spearfish
Tournament for Womankind
Kim Romano & Bob Eadie enjoy the festivities.
The “What She Shot Girls” made for a fun filled afternoon.
No shortage of prizes for the category winners.
Willie D. & Kelly Schnute to home the Overall Aggregate
Champions trophies for 2015.
36
Miss Firecracker Pageant
2015 to Benefit AIDS Help
Reigning King & Queen of Fantasy Fest Shane Hall & ML Price.
Michael, Stephanie & Susan Guadagno with Rob.
Scott Fuhriman, Christopher Elwell & Kelly Summers.
Jessica Deveraux & Leslie Steele.
37
Bruce Beckner & Shane Hall.
Miss Firecracker 2014 Beatrix Dixie.
Miss Firecracker 2008 Just Whitney.
Emcee and former Miss Firecracker Lorelei James.
Smyrna Emphazima says farewell to drag.
Randy Thompson aka Victoria Dupris channels
Karen Walker.
38
Verlinda Taylor competes for the crown.
Miss Firecracker 2014 Beatrix Dixie and newly crowned
Tracey Loren.
Contestant Candy Veneer from the 801
Cabaret.
Miss Firecracker Tracy Loren aka Trey Forsyth receives
her crown.
Former Miss Firecracker Elle Taylor.
39
Allison Mayer aka “Baby T” performs.
7KH.H\:HVW
:RPDQ
V&OXE
216$/(
12:
5BMLPGUIF5PXO3FTUBVSBOU5PVS$BSE9
PG"MM4BMFT1SPDFFET(P5P$IBSJUZ
0O4BMF/PX"U5IFTF.FSDIBOUT
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4PVUIFSONPTU1PJOU(VFTU)PVTF-BEZ/BJM
4PEV(BMMFSZ
.BE)BUUFS
'MPX4QB
100 Years of Dedicated Service to Community
319 Duval Street • KeyWestWomansClub.org
)&--*/(4)064&.64&6.03(
4VNNFSMuseum Hours: 8FE-Thurs 10am-4pm, Sat 10am-1pm
TSKW Anja Morias Exibition
Incoming TSKW Board Chair Janet Hinkle tugs on the reins with outgoing
Board Chair Rosi Ware.
Art lovers review the mixed media creations of Anja Marias.
Incoming TSKW Board Chair Janet Hinkle accepts the accolades from
board member Rosie Ware and Executive Director Jed Dodds.
Patrons of TSKE take in the art of Anja Marias.
41
Key Lime Festival Talent Show
@ Green Parrot
Pirata Louca Knox.
Nicole Nurenberg does her best David
Bowie singing “Life on Mars”.
Sofia Luna and Rio Chavarro.
Erin Uzume-McKenna aka “Cheeky
Derriere” & Cowboy Marky Pierson.
Cowboy Marky Pierson.
Miss Key Lime Pie 2013 HUNNY BUNZ!
42
Key Lime Festival Talent Show
@ Green Parrot
Cheeky Derriere.
Sofia Luna.
Lauren Richardson & Joannie
Sullivan aka “The Scurvey Sisters”.
Sofia Luna shakes her way all the way down from Miami.
43
Aqua Idol for Lower Keys
Friends of Pets
Two time Aqua Idol winner Jodyrae Campbell.
Bernadette Restivo.
KWPD Sgt. Joe Tripp.
Joanie Sullivan and Sue Puskedra.
Michael Stella, Linda Round & Shawn Montgomery. Terry Jarrett, Eric Haley & Ron Sorgen.
44
Aqua Idol for Lower Keys
Friends of Pets
Mikey Hudson, Susan Kent, Mark Ebenhoch Aaron Huntsman.
Jimmy Olson & friend.
Shawn Montgomery.
45
Joanie Sullivan.
Aqua Idol for LKFOP Organizer Mary Piszker.
Shark Key majesty
by C. S. GILBERT
KONK LIFE REAL ESTATE WRITER
he gated development
at MM 11 on Shark Key
is the most exclusive of Key West’s
“suburban” communities and it
boasts quite a number of majestic
properties. Few, however, exceed the
soaring grandeur and truly kingsized dimensions and water vista of
51 Cannon Royal Drive.
Through the gate off U.S. One,
the drive is a delight of artful
tropical landscaping and a lovely
lagoon, at the far end of which is a
beach of Bahamian white sand.
There is also a clubhouse and tennis
courts. At #51—a substantial way
in—the driveway leads to generous
parking in front, beside and under
the “polysteel home with poured
concrete center, concrete floors,”
as the listing states. An artistically
angled set of 16 steps, in
comfortable banks of three or four,
lead to an entrance terrazzo backed
by walls of huge glass windows and
doors. There is also a glimpse of
gulf waters across the street.
Once inside we find that, in
addition to the lofty entrance hall
and porcelain floor tiles
throughout, a formal dining room
and two bedrooms fill the front of
the house. The hall and dining
room open into a sunken (by two
steps) living room the dimensions
of which take the breath away. The
home is unfurnished, which
perhaps contributes to the feeling of
vastness. But majestic it is—by any
standard. The skylighted ceiling
soars 14 feet to the roof and the
T
This home and its grounds are palatial.
Front access is an easy and attractive climb up a series of steps in banks of three or four.
46
space is extended by almost an
entire rear wall of glass windows
and sliders, with a view past
peaceful mangroves to the open
water of the Gulf of Mexico.
To the left, on the waterside, is
a bar/divider separating the huge
living room from, two steps up, a
sleek, gorgeous kitchen (there is a
wine cooler under the bar) and a
breakfast room with that glorious
Gulf view and a built-in sideboard,
with open wine storage cupboards
and cabinets above. This room is
large enough to be a formal dining
room, and the front dining room
could be used as a media room,
Realtor and listing agent Joanne
Allen said. But then so could the
larger bedroom at the front of
the house.
This bedroom is, in fact, already
wired for surround sound, just in
case, she said. It is very large, close
in size if not equal to the king-sized
master suite, although the latter has
the advantage of the Gulf view and
an equally king (and queen) sized
master bath. The bath features
warm, honey-toned wood, twin
vanities separated by a bank of
drawers and cupboards, a Jacuzzi
tub big enough for at least two and
a party shower with four “body
spray shower arms” and a rainforest
showerhead. Both of these
bedrooms have walk-in closets
approximately the size of small
studio apartments in Old Town.
The third bedroom, also at the
front of the house, is much smaller
but has a lovely ensuite bath as well
as a private balcony. It is at one end
of a hall that then leads to a very
large laundry room—large enough
Beyond the rear terraces, lawn and mangroves is a view of the open water
of the gulf.
Backed by its wall of glass, this picture of the living room includes glimpses of
the kitchen/breakfast room and master bedroom, all with water views.
The kitchen is a beautiful blend of stainless steel, warm wood and sparkling
stone counters.
There's room to install an elevator in the especially large laundry room.
to install an elevator if one desired,
Allen noted. Beyond it is a powder
room, then a pantry with copious
built-ins including a spice cabinet. The
woods used throughout are a variety of
hues but all are handsome, especially
in the kitchen and breakfast room.
Back to that Thomasville custom
kitchen: it is the ten-foot ceiling and
warm wood cabinetry, including a
grand island housing the flattop range,
that enrich the top-of-the-line stainless
appliances, including a super-sized
refrigerator-freezer, a trash compacter
and two ovens, one presumably
convection. The dark granite with
sparkling flecks of crystal appears, with
variations, throughout the house
except in the master and second baths,
the latter a striking exception. There is
featured a striking, very unusual multi-
47
colored marble vanity with hues of
blue, beige, navy blue and even a spray
rust red showing through the clear,
floating glass basin. Stunning.
Space limitation prevent full details
about this remarkable home. Suffice to
say it contains two-zone AC/heat, an
1
2
3
4
5
Shark Key majesty
alarm system, copper roof and
polysteel structure, with all
possible protections against
hurricane-force wind and
flood. And did we mention the
back terraces down to the
ground level, a permit to build
a pool and preparations for a
poolside lanai and a 19x11
foot storage room on the
ground level?
To tour this palatial home
contact Miller, who is not
incidentally nicknamed “the
queen of Shark Key” real
estate, at (305) 923-0239.
Konk Life welcomes subjects
for other articles about Keys
homes currently for sale. Contact
Guy deBoer at (305) 296-1630
or (305) 766-5832 or email
guydeboer@konknet.com.
Continued.
“Majestic” describes the master bath.
Two huge bedrooms have walk-in closets the
size of small Old Town studio apartments.
6
7
8
9
Featured Home Locations
4
6
5
1
3
9
8
Saddlebunch
Keys
Sugarloaf
Key
11
2
Key Haven
7
Stock Island
10
Featured Homes – Viewed by Appointment
Map # Address
2012 Patterson Ave., Key West
1
#BR/BA
3BR/2BA
Listing Agent
Dawn Thornburgh, Beach Club Brokers, Inc.
2
1931 Sugarloaf Blvd., Sugarloaf Key
3BR/2BA
Roberta Mira, Florida Keys Real Estate Co.
Phone Number
305-294-8433
800-545-9655
305-797-5263
Ad Page
48
3
1712 Washington St., Key West
3BR/2BA
305-797-5263
48
4
3708 Duck Ave., Key West
4BR/2BA
305-797-5263
48
5
2800 Staples Ave., Key West
4BR/2BA
305-797-5263
48
6
65 Sunset Key Dr., Key West
2BR/2BA
Mike Caron, Compass Realty
49
7
29 Evergreen Ave., Key West
3BR/2BA
49
8
1709 Washington St., Key West
2BR/2BA
Tommy Gomez, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Knight & Gardner Realty
Kirksten Irick, Preferred Properties Key West.
508-269-8565
305-296-7078
305-393-5156
305-923-1744
49
9
1005 Seminary St., Key West
4BR/2BA
Frank Kirwin, Preferred Properties Key West
49
10
1220 Von Phister St., Key West
3BR/3BA
Doug Mayberry, Doug Mayberry Real Estate
305-294-3040
305-304-5253
305-292-6155
51
11
2601 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West
2BR/1BA
Doug Mayberry, Doug Mayberry Real Estate
305-292-6155
51
48
Key West Association of REALTORS®
keywestrealtors.org
Listing Agency
Lower Keys
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
Seaport Realtors
Keys Commercial Real Estate
Century 21 Schwartz
BHHS Knight & Gardner
Waterfront Keys Realty
Century 21 Schwartz
Engel & Voelkers
Robinson Real Estate
Key West
Seaport Realtors
Compass Realty
At Home in Key West
Sellstate Island Properties
Bascom Grooms Real Estate
Tropical Properties
Century 21 All Keys
Truman & Co.
Preferred Properties
RE/MAX All Keys
Century 21 Schwartz
Truman & Co.
Keys Commercial Real Estate
Compass Realty
Compass Realty
Truman & Co.
Engel & Volkers
Beach Club Brokers
Selling Agency
Sold Date
Seaport Realtors
Century 21 Schwartz
KeyIsle Realty
Ocean Sotheby's International
Century 21 Schwartz
Century 21 Schwartz
Robinson Real Estate
6/26/15
6/26/15
6/29/15
6/25/15
6/23/15
6/29/15
6/30/15
6/30/15
6/26/15
6/23/15
6/30/15
6/26/15
6/24/15
7/1/15
6/30/15
6/30/15
Seaport Realtors
Seaport Realtors
Engel & Voelkers
Seaport Realtors
SBX Real Estate
Key West Realty
Datashare Office
Dolberry Realty
Key West Properties
Truman & Co.
Key West Real Estate Sales
Century 21 Schwartz
KeyIsle Realty
Compass Realty
Compass Realty
Compass Realty
Engel & Voelkers
Beach Club Brokers
6/26/15
6/30/15
6/30/15
7/1/15
6/30/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
7/2/15
6/26/15
6/26/15
6/26/15
6/30/15
6/26/15
6/26/15
6/30/15
6/30/15
6/30/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
6/25/15
6/26/15
6/29/15
6/30/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
7/1/15
7/2/15
Phone (305) 296-8259
List Price
Sold Price
$ 99,500.00
$ 86,500.00
$ 62,000.00
$ 259,000.00
$ 195,000.00
$ 529,000.00
$ 479,000.00
$ 280,000.00
$1,729,000.00
$ 329,900.00
$ 369,000.00
$ 315,000.00
$ 310,000.00
$ 400,000.00
$ 409,000.00
$ 140,000.00
$ 85,000.00
$ 35,000.00
$ 62,000.00
$ 300,000.00
$ 140,000.00
$ 498,000.00
$ 475,000.00
$ 280,000.00
$1,681,500.00
$ 317,500.00
$ 361,900.00
$ 315,000.00
$ 310,000.00
$ 400,000.00
$ 402,000.00
$ 140,000.00
Street #
1668
30935
29859
31167
29245
529
27371
27319
855
701
701
0
19622
305
5438
6000
Fax (305) 296-2701
Street Address
Island
Built
Description
Bogie Rd
Witters Ln
Overseas Hwy #32
Avenue G Ave
Oleander Dr
Pirates Rd
Saint Croix Ln
Old State 4A Rd
E Shore Dr
Spanish Main Dr #160
Spanish Main Dr #589
Vacant Sawyer Dr
19622 Tequesta St
Overseas Hwy
5th Ave Stock Island
Peninsular Ave
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Little Torch Key
Ramrod Key
Ramrod Key
Summerland Key
Cudjoe Key
Cudjoe Key
Cudjoe Key
Sugarloaf Key
Big Coppitt
Stock Island
Stock Island
1965
N/A
N/A
2005
1975
1981
1986
1980
1963
N/A
1991
N/A
1990
1958
N/A
N/A
1995
1996
1958
2005
1996
1953
1958
1985
1983
1905
2000
1933
1996
1948
1933
1989
1990
1933
1918
1935
2008
1991
1958
1990
1991
2001
1928
1997
1949
$ 329,000.00
$ 315,000.00
48 Merganser Ln
Key West
$ 365,000.00
$ 360,000.00
159 Golf Club Dr
Key West
$ 749,900.00
$ 730,000.00
1507 18th Terr
Key West
$ 649,000.00
$ 698,200.00
52 Seaside South Ct #C
Key West
$ 449,000.00
$ 401,900.00
3350 Pearl Ave
Key West
$ 374,000.00
$ 350,000.00
2433 Harris Ave
Key West
$ 375,000.00
$ 357,500.00
2828 Patterson Ave
Key West
$ 459,900.00
$ 471,921.00
3000 Venetian Dr
Key West
$ 395,000.00
$ 385,000.00
3301 Duck Ave #K
Key West
$1,995,000.00
$1,900,000.00
1311 Truman Ave
Key West
$ 990,000.00
$ 940,000.00
911 United St
Key West
$ 480,000.00
$ 481,000.00
1201 Pearl St
Key West
$ 479,000.00
$ 435,000.00
1901 S Roosevelt Blvd #305W
Key West
$ 519,000.00
$ 490,000.00
720 Simonton St #LR
Key West
$ 599,000.00
$ 595,000.00
1026 Howe St
Key West
$ 349,000.00
$ 320,000.00
1618 Dennis St
Key West
$1,326,000.00
$1,920,000.00
107 Front St #317/8
Key West
$1,900,000.00
$1,900,000.00
1013 Southard St
Key West
$1,229,000.00
$1,150,000.00
306 Peacon Ln
Key West
$ 299,900.00
$ 293,000.00
806 Florida St #5
Key West
$1,250,000.00
$1,250,000.00
1506 Petronia St
Key West
$ 317,995.00
$ 308,400.00
3930 S Roosevelt Blvd #105W
Key West
$ 449,000.00
$ 472,000.00
1501 George St
Key West
$ 529,000.00
$ 500,000.00
102 Southard St
Key West
$2,499,000.00
$2,300,000.00
113 Front St #206-7
Key West
$1,895,000.00
$1,750,000.00
1017 Margaret St
Key West
$ 859,900.00
$ 859,000.00
1019 Whitehead St
Key West
$ 349,000.00
$ 335,000.00
156 Golf Club Dr
Key West
$ 425,000.00
$ 375,000.00
2012 Patterson Ave
Key West
Based on information from the KWAR MLS for the period of 06/25/15 through 07/02/15
Good Deeds sponsored by
10
Bdrms
Wtrfrnt
MM
Single Family
Lots
Lots
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
3-4 Units
Single Family
Lots
Mobile Home
Lots
Single Family
Commercial RE
Single Family
Boat Slip
0
0
0
3
2
2
3
2
4
0
2
0
3
0
3
0
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
31
30
30
30
29
28.5
27.5
27
25
23
23
21
20
10
6
6
Townhouse
Townhouse
Single Family
Townhouse
Townhouse
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Townhouse
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Condo
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Condo
Single Family
Single Family
Condo
Condo
Condo
Single Family
Condo
Condo
Single Family
Single Family
Townhouse
Single Family
2
2
3
4
3
2
3
3
2
7
2
2
2
1
2
2
0
3
3
1
3
3
3
1
3
4
3
2
3
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
5
5
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
11

July 9, 2015

Transcription

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