February 5, 2015

Transcription

February 5, 2015

WHAT’S HAPPENING
Gala event honors Holly S. Merrill at Marriott Beachside
2015 American Red Cross Florence
Spottswood Humanitarian of the
Year Award
n
Saturday, Jan. 31
Holly S. Merrill was honored with the 2015 American Red Cross Florence Spottswood Humanitarian
of the Year Award at a Gala event held at Marriott
Beachside in Key West.
Named for Florence Spottswood, who in 1917 was
a founder of the Key West ARC Chapter, the award
recognizes Merrill’s outstanding philanthropic work
in the arts, education, the environment and human
and animal welfare.
e American Red Cross is a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides relief to victims of
disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and
respond to emergencies. For more information or
to offer your financial support, call the Florida Keys
office, (305) 296-4033. n
n
More photos on pages 31-32
| CAROL TEDESCO
(Left to right) David Spottswood, Andrea Spottswood, John Spottswood III, Michelle and Billy Spottswood,
Fawni Spottswood, Elena and Robert Spottswood.
2
www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 5 - 1 1, 2015
KEY NEWS
n ONSTAGE
27 RED BARN THEATRE
City settles Eimers wrongful
death lawsuit for $900,000
BY PRU SOWERS
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
Key West City officials have agreed to
a $900,000 settlement to the family of
Charles Eimers in return for dropping a
civil lawsuit against 13 police officers accused by the family of contributing to
Eimers’ death during an arrest in 2013.
City Spokesperson Alyson Crean said
the settlement decision was made by the
city’s insurance carrier, which would
have had to pay any damages awarded
to the family if a jury found police were
responsible for Eimers’ death in 2013,
anksgiving Day.
Despite being cleared by four separate
law enforcement agencies investigating
the death, the insurance company
the routine traffic stop of Eimers and the
subsequent slow-speed chase that ended
with his arrest on South Beach did not
contribute to his death.
“It’s a difficult decision for us to
accept. We firmly contend that we did
not use excessive force or cause the death
of Mr. Eimers. is was a business decision by the insurance carrier,” Lee said
in the press release.
City Manager Jim Scholl said he
agreed with the settlement decision. e
insurance company had told city officials
that if they wanted to go to court to defend the police, it would only pay up to
$900,000 towards legal expenses and any
damages if the officers were found guilty.
“If there would have been a judgment
that exceeded that amount, the taxpayers
decided instead to settle out of court.
“e Insurance carrier for the City
of Key West has agreed to settle on
behalf of Officer [Gary] Lee Lovette on
the civil case alleging the wrongful death
of Charles Eimers. e settlement
indicates no admission of liability or
fault. e city maintains that its actions
were appropriate. However, the insurance carrier made a business decision in
light of potential litigation costs,” Crean
said in a press release issued late Jan. 29.
Key West Police Chief Donie Lee was
unhappy with the decision. e state’s
Department of Law Enforcement, the
Monroe County Medical Examiner, the
Monroe County State Attorney and the
Key West Police Internal Affairs Office
had all found that police actions during
3
would have been on the hook. It’s an
insurance company decision and that’s
okay,” Scholl said.
Despite a grand jury absolving the 13
Key West police officers of any criminal
action during the arrest and death of
Eimers, an internal police investigation
released Dec. 8 disciplined two of the
officers involved and called for review
and possible modification of multiple
departmental policies. e eight-page
report written by Sgt. Joseph Tripp
found several instances of officers not
following standard police procedure
during the incident.
Officer Lovette was subsequently
suspended without pay for five days
for violating four police department
| Continued on page 10
COMMISSION NEWS
february 05-11,2015
Published Weekly
Vol. 5 No. 6
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Guy deBoer
NEWS WRITERS
Mark Howell, John L. Guerra,
Pru Sowers, Sean Kinney, C.S. Gilbert
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Larry E. Blackburn, Ralph De Palma
DESIGN
Dawn deBoer, Julie Scorby
CONTRIBUTORS
Guy deBoer Key News
Mark Howell Howelings
Rick Boettger The Big Story
Louis Petrone Key West Lou
Kerry Shelby Key West Kitchen
Christina Oxenberg Local Observation
Albert L. Kelley Business Law 101
Ian Brockway Tropic Sprockets
C.S. Gilbert Culture Vulture
Ralph De Palma Soul of Key West
Harry Schroeder High Notes
Morgan Kidwell Kids’ Korner
JT Thompson Hot Dish
Diane Johnson In Review
Tim Weaver Bonehead Island
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www.konklife.com
New development throws
curve into sightseeing
tour contract
BY PRU SOWERS
business.
“In the notice of free enterprise and so we don’t
get ourselves into a pickle, I’m going to say there
should not be a proposed number of vehicles,”
Rossi said. “You will stifle competition there and
that could look like anti-trade. We have been down
this slippery slope before.”
But he was outnumbered by a majority of other
commissioners who wanted to explore a vehicle
cap. After a lengthy discussion where no solution
could be immediately found, commissioners unanimously voted to postpone the second reading of
the proposed ordinance and directed Smith to
come back with some legal solutions to the tourversus-congestion conundrum.
“We need to concern ourselves with the safety
of our residents,” said Commissioner Clayton
Lopez. “ere has to be some way to put a cap
without prejudice or without respecting one company over another.”
“I think we’re in a difficult spot here. We’re at
[traffic] capacity. How do we protect the citizens of
the city of Key West from gridlock and too many
vehicles on the road,” asked Mayor Craig Cates.
Attorney Smith agreed to develop some legal solutions but warned that adding a vehicle cap to the
franchise agreement could result in even bigger
problems, such as how to distribute a finite number of tour vehicle licenses. A lottery might be the
fairest way to do that, he said, but it would likely
reduce the number of vehicles currently operated
by HTA, which between the Conch Train and Old
Town Trolley has the largest number of vehicles on
Key West streets.
“You have to ask yourself if you’re willing to
take licenses away from current operators and put
it out to whoever wants to come in and apply for a
franchise,” Smith said. “If the will of the commission is to move toward a cap… then send me back
Coming up with a new sightseeing tour
agreement in Key West is proving much harder
than expected.
City Commissioners were forced to postpone
approving a new sightseeing franchise agreement
on Jan. 28 when they could not agree whether or
not to impose vehicle limits on any company wishing to conduct trolley or train tours around the island. e proposed agreement had been drawn up
by City Attorney Shawn Smith after multiple
meetings with the two current tour operators, Historic Tours of America (HTA) and CityView Trolley, several public meetings where residents voiced
their concerns over the tours’ impact on traffic
congestion and noise pollution, and after a previous vote by commissioners approving the draft
franchise agreement on first reading.
e problem began when commissioners began
discussing a clause in the draft limiting the size
and weight of tour vehicles allowed on city streets.
Commissioner Teri Johnston then introduced the
idea of limiting the number of vehicles allowed to
operate on public roads, as well. at started a
lengthy discussion on whether the city could
legally limit private businesses without being sued.
Johnston said it would be “a missed opportunity”
not to set a cap on the number of tourist trolleys
and trains allowed.
“I think we should be more proactive in what
travels on our streets. We have a traffic study that
says we have congestion,” she said.
But Commissioner Mark Rossi vehemently disagreed, pointing out that the last time the city
tried to control the local tour industry, it resulted
in a 2010 lawsuit that cost the city $8 million
when a jury ruled that the city’s favorable agreement with HTA had forced a competitor out of
Getting It Right
In last week’s Jan. 29 edition of Konk Life, the byline of Roz Brackenbury (book review, “Fail”) and Emily Schulten
(onstage, “On the Rock [Productions] seeks to innovatively support local artsts” were omitted. We apologize for the error.
4
CITY NEWS
Survey to query 1,200 residents
BY PRU SOWERS
Twelve hundred Key West residents will be
tapped shortly to answer the city’s first-ever
scientific survey.
e survey recipients will be randomly selected
by a firm the city has hired to develop and conduct
the evaluation and analyze the results. e five-page
questionnaire will focus on eight aspects of community “livability” and will give city officials not only a
report card on the services they provide, but also
allow Key West to compare itself to other
communities both nationally and regionally.
“We haven’t done a comprehensive, scientific
survey for a long time, if ever,” said Assistant City
Manager Sarah Hannah-Spurlock. “We hope for a
response rate of 400 [out of the 1,200] people.
If we get more than that, it would be fantastic.”
e questions will ask residents’ opinions on the
quality and/or success of community engagement,
education, recreation, the economy, the “built” and
“natural” environment, safety and mobility. Many
of the questions are part of a survey template used
by National Research Center/NRC, the company
the city has hired for $14,225 to manage assessment.
e same survey is used by the International City/
County Management Association and has been used
by more than 300 communities in 45 states. NRC’s
final analysis will allow the results to be compared
to national benchmarks.
“We’re hoping to update our strategic plan” with
the results,” Hannah-Spurlock said. “We’ll be able
to see what residents think are priorities short term
and long term.”
Once NRC has chosen the 1,200 residents who
will be asked to answer the survey, they will receive
postcards by mail in February alerting them that
they have been selected. e survey will then be
mailed twice to each resident at the beginning
of March. e notification postcard and cover letter
to the survey will have instructions in Spanish on
how to complete the survey online in that language.
All of those selected will be able to fill out the survey
online if they wish. A final report on the results
should be completed in May.
IN BRIEF
Road repair OK’d by city commission
BY PRU SOWERS
But commissioners may want to up the
budget ante going forward. Commissioner Teri Johnston suggested instead of
budgeting a flat $1 million each year, she
would prefer that city engineers first come
up with a list of streets needing repair to
determine the necessary budget.
“We’ve just budgeted $1 million and
tried to take care of what $1 million will
take care of. We need to reverse that and
identify the streets in critical need and
budget the correct amount to take care
of those streets,” Johnston said.
e following Key West roads slated
for repair this year: Northside Drive—
14th Street to Toppino Drive; Reynolds
Street—Von Phister Street to Atlantic
Boulevard.; Simonton Street —Southard
to Olivia streets; White Street —Eaton to
Truman streets; 12th Street—North End
to Flagler Avenue; Whitehead Street
(Amelia to United streets) Ann Street
(Front to Caroline streets). n
Key West City Engineer Jim Bouquet
laid out the 2015 schedule for road repair
to city commissioners recently, showing
where $1 million worth of restoration
will take place this year.
For such a small island, Key West has a
lot of streets. And keeping those 65 miles
of roads repaired has been difficult over
the past two years when Key West thoroughfares took a beating caused by traffic
diversions during North Roosevelt Boulevard construction project.
is year’s priority list of road repairs
is based on the 2012 Key West Pavement
Management Analysis Report, which
prioritized city streets in need of repair.
Including $1 million allocated towards
maintenance this year, the city allocated
approximately $2.309 million towards the
annual program over the past three years.
5
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here!
(305) 296-1630
CITY NEWS
New union contract
drawing complaints
BY PRU SOWERS
cantly underpaid, according to a consultant’s report to commissioners in July.
But bringing lower-level staff up to
wage parity has put some of their
wages only slightly below the salaries
of longtime employees, she said.
“I feel strongly it should not come
down on the backs of the senior people,
the very people who have been good,
loyal employees and who have stuck
with the city through thick and thin,”
Zeman said.
Commissioner Wardlow was the lone
vote against approving the contract,
retroactive to Oct. 1 and expires Sept.
30, 2017. e contract gives a minimum raise of 2 percent the first year of
the contract, 3 percent the second year.
Wardlow said city negotiators should
have offered a sliding wage scale, giving
lowest paid workers a 3 percent raise the
first year, mid-level workers a 2 percent
increase and anyone making more than
$100,000 a year would receive no more
e ink on the new three-year contract with Key West City office clerical
and blue collar workers has barely dried
but complaints have already surfaced.
Key West City Commissioners approved the contract by 5-1 vote at their
Jan. 21 meeting but not after some dissent from Commissioners Billy Wardlow, Clayton Lopez and Mark Rossi.
ey were responding to comments
made by Jean Zeman, a shop steward
for Teamsters Local 769.
Zeman, a technician in the city
police department, emphasized she was
speaking for herself, not the union, but
urged commissioners not to approve the
contract because senior staffers received
only a 2 percent raise the first year while
some junior employees received up to
21 percent.
Zeman said she understood lower
level workers were found to be signifi-
Top planner job offered
BY PRU SOWERS
Craig resigned Nov. 21 after four years
on the job to move back to his home in
Breckinridge, Colo., where his wife lives
part of the year. He is currently still
helping manage some major projects in
Key West—including finding his
replacement—on a $50,000 annual
consulting contract. It is unclear
whether that contract will end once a
new planner is hired.
Kevin Bond, a senior city planner,
has been filling the top planner’s
role since Craig’s resignation.
e ongoing projects Craig has been
working on include Truman Waterfront
Park, the Duval Street master plan, the
creation of affordable housing and
selecting a new location for the
overnight homeless shelter. n
Key West City Manager Jim Scholl
offered the vacant City Planner job to
one of top three candidates who applied
for the position held by Don Craig.
Scholl wouldn’t identify the person
but told city commissioners on Jan. 21
that he hoped the deal would be
completed by the end of January.
“We have formally offered the job to
one of the applicants, and I have verbal
confirmation. I just don’t have written
acceptance of the tentative offer,” he
said.
Ten people applied for the planner
job, one of the most senior and important in Key West. Former Planner Don
7
KEY WEST LOU
COMMENTARY
Greece in the driver’s seat
BY LOUIS PETRONE
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
ised the world so as to be elected. It was
not difficult for him. He promised everything to those who had lost everything.
He promised an end to austerity
which he described as a return to democracy. He promised the rich would pay
their fair share of taxes. He promised to
write off national debt, raise minimum
wage, rehire all public workers laid off,
reduce taxes, provide free electricity and
food to those without, free medical care
for uninsured, return to real property
taxpayers all-rent increases paid since
2008, reduce taxes overall, and more.
e big thing was his promise to
either renegotiate the debt owed the
Eurounion to a more favorable level
or pay the Eurounion nothing.
Germany is going crazy. A rich
Germany loaned much of the money
to Greece through the Eurounion.
ings have changed. Germany is on
the brink of a recession. If Germany
is not paid, it could fall over the edge
Italy and Spain are sitting back and
smiling. ey are in the same position
that Greece has been. ey are making
noises that if Greece gets a better deal
or does not pay, why should they.
I keep mentioning Germany because
Germans have been running the show.
e Germans, as well as the Eurounion,
have not been fair to Greece. In 2010,
economic conditions had been stable.
Austerity was imposed by Eurounion
on Greece. Germany leading Eurounion
he Greek election on Jan. 25 group. Eurounion became the banker. In
was revolutionary. In overreality, Germany. e cry, Pay! Pay! Pay!
whelming numbers, the Greek people
Greece tried. Unsuccessfully. Since
swept into office the Syriza Party. Syriza
2010, unemployment has grown to
is an acronym for Coalition of the Radi27 percent—50 percent of that college
cal Left. e party is led by a 40-year-old graduates, ages 20-30. ree million
firebrand, Alexis Tsipras. Tsipras will
people are living at poverty line or below.
shortly be elected by Parliament as the
Parents cannot feed their children.
new Prime Minister.
Farmers cannot sell food to the stores
Greece has been led in recent years
because there is no one who can afford
by the conservative side of the
to buy what they grow. e
electorate. e group has
stores shut down because no
failed to extract Greece from
one is buying. A wicked cycle.
its problems with Eurounion.
Following is a perfect
e people have gone way to
example of what has been
the left in selecting the Syriza
occurring in Greece. Many
Party. It is as if Republican
women are desperate for
tea party members had been
work. ey beg the brothels
elected. Except from the
to hire them. ey need to
liberal side of the aisle.
earn money to put food on
Greece has been in the
the table for their children.
worst economic shape of any
Greek law prohibits married
LOU
Eurounion member. e debt
women from working in
PETRONE
overwhelming. e Eurounion
brothels. Prostitution is legal.
COLUMNIST
consistently demanded repayese women end up working
ment. Austerity was forced on
the streets in desperation.
the Greek people. ey have had
ings are so bad those who work the
enough. ey opted to be led by the
brothels are coming up short. Services
extreme left. e Syriza Party would
that cost 50-70 euros, now 10 euros.
have had no chance of being elected if
During the campaign, Tsipras prom-
T
8
the Eurounion loaned Greece 240 billion
euros in bailout money. e money was
of no use to Greece. 90 percent had to be
paid back immediately to cover unpaid
interest and fines. e Eurounion, and
especially Germany, were hard-assed
bankers as they continue to this day.
Let’s assume Greece does not pay
back the Eurounion and Germany, what
happens? Greece will leave Eurounion
and create a new currency. Eurounion
will press for payment. Sue Greece?
What Greek court would enforce any
judgement. Germany would fall into
recession. All this triggering what could
be a world-wide depression.
Even worse, I can see a situation
where Germany would go to war with
Greece over the money. Remember,
Germany is in bad shape. It might be the
only alternative left for Germany. Such a
war would include other Eurounion
nations and who knows who else.
Already Tsipras has met with Russian
and Chinese representatives.
ere is also an undercurrent by the
Greeks regarding Germany. World War
II wounds still fester. e Greek people
recall: Germany-occupied Greece and
treated the Greek people poorly.
at is the story. e world is watching.
What is going to happen? n
THE BIG STORY
COMMENTARY
How to drive and party
BY RICK BOETTGER
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
section when the light turns green. At
the worst, you’ll have to wait until the
light turns red to make your turn. Not
he only relation between
only does this guarantee you get to make
these two topics is that you
your turn, it usually makes room for the
might want to drive to a party. But if it’s cars behind you to pass you on the right.
my party, you probably shouldn’t drive
e second is not even a rule, just
home.
common sense. When a light turns
We need to teach Key Westers how
green, and the car ahead of you drives
to drive. Most of our congestion is not
forward, follow him right away. I often
caused by Conch Tour trains or stupid
see people waiting until the car is as far
stoplights, but rather by people not
as 10 car lengths, 100 feet—I stopped
knowing simple rules. e worst, which
and paced it out—before putting the
I’ve seen so many times this
foot on the gas.
week that it triggered this
As a driver, don’t ask your
column, is not pulling
government for more stopforward at a green light
lights. Studies show accidents
to make a left turn.
and injuries drop by almost
For example, some guy
half when a stoplight is
going out of town on
replaced by a four-way stop
Truman wanted to turn left
sign. It’s common sense:
at White. When the light
people actually have to pay
turned green, he just sat
attention, and almost all
where he was, behind the
do stop or at least slow down,
crosswalk, for the entire light
making any intersection
RICK
cycle. at is, because there
intrinsically safer. A stoplight
BOETTGER
was a steady stream of cars
gives half the people the
COLUMNIST
heading into town, he never
illusion they can barrel ahead
made the turn. at meant
without looking. When
the entire string of cars backed
someone fails to stop at the red,
up behind him two blocks to Bare
disaster happens.
Assets also sat and waited as well.
Also, traffic flows much faster. Traffic
Folks, the rule is: drive into the inter- lights keep intersections empty too much
of the time. At a four-way stop, someone
is always moving. When I had an office
overlooking Garrison Bight, I saw how
non-existent the lines were at the busiest
intersection in town, Palm and North
Roosevelt, when the electricity went out
and everyone had to stop-and-go.
Now for how to party. Okay, not like
a wild young’un but for my kind, as at
Cynthia’s big 7-0 last week. It went
so well I now declare myself qualified
to pontificate on party-giving.
First, don’t overplan. My ex-wife and
Cynthia had such high standards for
perfection that they hated the job so
much they threw NO parties. I decided
a week ahead of time for Cynthia’s
b-day, and flew with it.
Don’t expect RSVPs. Key Westers just
don’t, with a very few distinguished
exceptions. I can extort them, by
demanding guests “choose fish or steak”
in order to get either. at works, but I
have to ruin my own fun by actually
grilling both, which I did once for 55
people and vowed never to do so again.
To have the appropriate amount of
food, use the “potluck” trick. When I
first moved here, I thought it was a little
cheesy, asking guests to basically bring
the food for the party. But I realized the
Key Wester’s disinclination to reply
graciously to an RSVP is nicely
T
9
counterbalanced by a generous
willingness to bring excellent food to any
party they care to spontaneously attend.
I refined the potluck technique by
making it optional. is was important
because the socially conscious who don’t
want to cook (or buy food to bring) will
simply not show up. And I want them
to show up.
e good news, amply demonstrated
at Cynthia’s 70th, is that enough people
will voluntarily bring food that everyone,
including the non-bringers, will have
enough to eat. I augmented the potluck
food with three pizzas and gourmet
cheese to match the wine.
And about all the drink that people
care about is wine, so if you’re going to
splurge on anything, go high-end on the
vino. And a handsome sommelier doesn’t
hurt.
Potluckers bring everything from
complex homecooked vegetarian dishes
to chips and salsa. Of all the gourmet
treats at the 7-0, I think better than most
catered affairs, at the end I was in the
mood for the chips and salsa, and finished it off. Someone will bring Dion’s
chicken, which always gets devoured.
I actually prefer potlucks to catered,
for the surprising variety—and, at the
parties I attend, the quality.
CITY SETTLES
| Continued from page 3
procedures. Officer Henry del Valle
was given a written reprimand for two
violations. Ultimately, Tripp concluded
none of the officers acted in a criminal
manner or contributed to Eimers’ death
—county medical examiner ruled accidental—caused by a weak heart and
Eimers’ overall poor physical condition.
But the Key West Citizen Review
Board voted unanimously in December
to ask the U.S. Department of Justice to
review the Eimers case, saying it was
“dissatisfied” with results of four sepa-
rate state and local investigations that
cleared all police officers of any wrongdoing. Eimers stopped breathing while
being handcuffed by officers on South
Beach. He never regained consciousness
and died after being removed from life
support by his family a week later.
e $900,000 settlement is subject
to final approval by the city commission
on Feb.18. n
NEW DEVELOPMENT
to the drawing board. Because that
wasn’t contemplated in the ordinance
that passed a number of years ago or
the current ordinance.”
Commissioner Billy Wardlow agreed
with Rossi that market demand will
effectively limit the number of tour
vehicles on city streets. “I don’t think
either one of the companies is going to
flood the street with empty vehicles. Let
the market decide how many trains
they’re going to have,” he said.
HTA has operated sightseeing tours
here for the past 20 years. City View has
been in business for five years. Current
franchise agreement expires in May, but
commissioners voted at Wednesday’s
special meeting to extend the agreement
with HTA and CityView for three
months. n
Be free, maybe a tiny-bit crazy, and
know the people that you invite are
eager to have a good time with you.
A party is not pressure. It’s freedom
to share your joy. And your friends are
eager to do so with you. n
MARK THE CALENDAR!
SURVEY
“As part of the service provided, the
city will also receive a separate report
showing survey data by district. In addition, people who did not get randomly
selected to be part of the scientific survey, will have the opportunity to complete the same survey questions online,
for contribution to a non-scientific report.” Hannah-Spurlock said in a memo
to the mayor and city commissioners.
City and NRC staffers are working
with Perry Johnston, Vice-Chair of the
Strategic Planning Board, to finalize the
survey questions and removing the ones
that don’t apply to Key West, such the
quality of municipal snow removal.
“We’ll have some tough questions in
there that we will have to address” when
the results are reported, Hannah-Spurlock said. “It’s our report card. But the
questions are about the city in general,
not just City of Key West services.” n
n Feb. 15, 20-21
11 year old
gets debut
Carson Mach, the 11-year-old
who has been dropping jaws around
the Wichita area since he started
playing and singing just before his
ninth birthday.
Children with musical talent
aren’t unique, but Carson’s combo
of technical skill on guitar, vocal
prowess and feel for songs written
decades before he was born is
certainly unusual.
At Wichita Riverfest June 2013,
Carson opened for Montgomery
Gentry.
Plays the mid-shift at 5:30 pm,
Feb. 15 and Feb. 20-21, at Hog’s
Breath, 400 Front St.n
IN BRIEF
1000 Atlantic Blvd. Race benefits Anchors Aweigh, the only addiction recovery clubhouse in Monroe County
providing services for 30 years. Proceeds
from the race will help the club pay off
the mortgage of the clubhouse and
funding recovery books and information materials. n
INFO
www.AnchorsAweighClub.com
INFO
www.hogsbreath.com
(305) 295-4222
Key West
Artisan Market
March 1
Free Wheelin’
and Custom Bicycle Show
edition
April 5
Mote Marine Ocean Fest
edition
RICK BOETTGER
I did something right on the entertainment which is probably impossible
to replicate. But I would ask people to
try to be creative, involve the partygoers, and take some chances.
May 3 (tentative)
Conch Republic Days
edition
10
THE BIG STORY
FOOD•COOKING
A sweet, juicy salmon sandwich
BY KERRY SHELBY
SPECIAL TO KONK LIFE
Top with small arugula leaves and top
toast, also covered with mayonnaise. Serve
with assorted vegetable chips (like Terra)
and seedless red grapes. • Makes 2 sandwiches
almon is a very versatile fish.
Not only does it pair with
sweet, salty, pungent and creamy flavors,
it also lends itself to grilling, roasting
baking or poaching. Combine those
features with its abundance of Omega-3
fatty acids, those essential nutrients
of human health and it’s delicious taste
and you have a near-perfect food.
I’ve voiced my opinion before that it
is critically important to know the source
of your salmon and all other fish, for that
matter. Sustainability and healthy farming
must be supported while we avoid markets and farmers that refuse to honor
these common-sense guidelines.
Avoid generalizations, however, that
farmed-this or farmed-that is good or
bad. Instead, buy from markets that
know suppliers and can educate you.
Some farmed salmon, like Alaskan farms,
are reliable sources while farmed salmon
from Chile and Norway are not.
I was flipping through a food email
blast recently and saw an article about a
jazzy Croque Monsieur from Eric Ripert,
renowned chef at Le Bernardin in New
York, featuring salmon and caviar. Now I
like to riff on a theme as well as anybody,
but while this sandwich looked delicious,
I saw little resemblance to the humble
S
Wine pairing
ham and cheese classic. What did catch
my eye was his garnish, alternating
squares of salmon, cucumber and apples.
Why not make that the sandwich?
See what you think!
Salmon
Sandwiches
with Apple, Cucumber,
Dill Mayonnaise
Cut the crusts from four slices if thin
white sandwich bread and lightly toast
the slices. Mix 2 tablespoons good mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon finely chopped
fresh dill and the juice from half a lemon.
Mix well. inly slice half small cucumber (you can peel it if you wish, but if
sliced thin enough, it doesn’t need it).
Sprinkle with salt.
On a small baking sheet, spread a layer
of salt over an area just large enough to
accommodate two small skin-on salmon
fillets (about 1/3 pound each). In 425-degree oven, roast salmon until golden on
outside and mostly firm to the touch.
11
Champagne, brunch; Pinot Grigio, lunch
Slide a thin spatula between the skin and
flesh and like off the flesh, leaving the
salt-encrusted skin behind. Set aside.
Just before serving, thinly slice half a
medium-sweet apple. To serve, slather 2
pieces of toast with the dill mayonnaise.
Place 2-3 slices of apple on each, add 4
slices of cucumber and the salmon.
Kerry Shelby is a food enthusiast, cook,
forager, adventurer and a hungry consumer
of life. He is creative director and host of
Kerry Shelby’s Key West Kitchen, a food and
lifestyle brand appearing at kwkitchen.com
and on the Key West Kitchen channel on
YouTube.
KEY BUSINESS
KEY WEST
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
Other people’s
children
Dear Short Answers: A good friend of mine
has a 12-year child (a girl) who is a complete
pain in the ass. She is snotty, loud and annoying.
No one I know can stand to be around her but,
of course, the parents take her everywhere. How
do I “nicely” tell my friend that his daughter is
not “adorable” and that if she doesn’t straighten
up, she should be left at home? My Space 2
Dear MS2: Although we completely understand your irritation with badly behaved kids in
inappropriate venues, it’s a tough one to take on.
If you are brave, tell the parents that you applaud
their intention to include the child in their lives,
but “membership” in the adult world has responsibilities. Or, you might say that you think she
will elicit a great deal more positive feedback
from the world if she went to charm school first.
Good help is
hard to find
Dear Troubled: It sounds like there are
well-established boundaries with this lady, due
to the language barrier if nothing else. She is not
a friend nor a guest and so it seems to us that her
opinions about your sexual orientation are as
irrelevant as her opinions about home decor.
Having said that, if your partner continues
to be disturbed by her, then you must defer.
Tough love
Dear Short Answers: I found out last week
that my niece (who is 20 years old) has had problems with heroine and has actually been arrested
several times. I have two children,16 and 18, and
I don’t want them associating with this cousin.
is isn’t punitive, it’s just common sense, I
think.
My brother, my niece’s dad, is furious at me.
But I think I’m right. I wouldn’t let my kids be
friends with anyone I knew who was taking
drugs. Why does it matter that it’s a relative?
Upset
Dear Upset: Your decision is
right, but because it’s family, you
must handle it with kid gloves.
Tell your brother that you are very
concerned for him and your niece
and that you will do anything to
help them except putting your own
kids in a risky situation at an age
when they are vulnerable. Share
the problem with him, discuss how
to help, and mean it. It is important that they feel supported —
not rejected by your sensible
choice.
Dear Short Answers: My partner and I have had a wonderful
cleaning lady for the past several
years. She is thorough, reliable
and reasonably-priced. e only
drawback has been that she
doesn’t speak much English, but
we have managed okay in that regard. e problem is that she
recently converted to a religion
that is extremely anti-gay. I don’t
PAULA FORMAN &
mind that much because I don’t reJEFF JOHNSON
ally talk to her but my partner says
that it makes him very uncomfortable to have a
person in our home who disapproves of our sexual orientation and our lifestyle. He says that
Dear Short Answers: How does a
he wouldn’t allow a guest in our home who
psychrometer work? Want to Know
believes that so why should we pay someone to
Dear Know: Interesting question.
come into our home who believes that we would
Have you heard of GOOGLE? n
be better off dead.
What do you think? Troubled
20th century
toolbox
SHORTANSWERS SHORTANSWERS
Life’s complicated. “Short Answers” isn’t. Send questions 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.
12
OUR COMMUNITY
n Anne McKee Artists Fund Auction, Feb. 8
Bid supports Keys’ artists
n
More COMMUNITY, page 14
Attendees choose from work of 65
Florida Keys artists from renowned
masters to emerging talents at the Anne
McKee Artists Fund fine art auction on
Sunday, Feb. 8.
e annual auction raises money for
project-based grants to Keys’ visual, literary and performing artists. is year
the event includes a VIP reception starting at 6 p.m. with special food and wine
tasting by ree Fine Cooks and UVA
Gourmet Shoppe. At 6:45 p.m., doors
open for general admission (open bar,
gourmet hors d’oeuvres).
Under guidance of auctioneer Tom
Luna, attendees bid on original paintings, sculptures, photography, fiber art,
ceramics, mixed media and more. e
auction takes place at Fore East
Martello on South Roosevelt Boulevard.
Preview art Feb. 1-8 at Fort East
Martello Gallery.
“is annual event is unique among
Keys’ fine art auctions because it is supported by artists with the sole purpose
of benefiting artists,” said Roberta DePiero, member of Anne McKee Artists
Fund’s volunteer Board of Directors.
“is results in a blend of work by premier and emerging artists into an unusual auction.”
Each participating artist receives 50
percent of proceeds from sale of his or
her work, while McKee Fund receives
remainder to award to Keys’ artists.
Founded by longtime Key West resident
Anne McKee, not-for-profit fund has
awarded $196,000 since 1994.
Tickets $50 with VIP reception,
$30 for general admission. Advance
tickets at www.KeysTix.org n
INFO
www.mckeefund.org
KWPD fleet
fights cancer
Off-duty members of Key West Police Department gathered on Outer
Mole recently to take a look at the
growing fleet of vehicles sporting the
pink “Putting the Cuffs on Cancer”
logo. e 20 vehicles were photographed with the help of Key West
Fire Department’s ladder truck.
KWDP helps raise cancer awareness
with the campaign, which features pink
lettering “we support a cure” on the
sides of patrol vehicles. A seal on the vehicles’ hoods sports KWPD’s and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office badges.
Decals paid by community donations.
e American Cancer Society
launches several awareness campaigns
over the year, including lung and pancreatic cancer. KWPD does its part to
help with these campaigns. is year,
awareness campaign is close to home as
members of the department rally to
support Sgt. Eric Biskup, battling pancreatic cancer.
| KEY WEST FIRE DEPARMEN
Off-duty members of Key West Police Department on Outer Mole take a look
at the growing fleet sporting the pink “Putting the Cuffs on Cancer” logo.
13
OUR COMMUNITY
n Wrecker’s Race Cup Series
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
‘Drill, baby, drill’
BY ROGERT C. KOSTMAYER
| KEY WEST
Trying to appease political opponents and the oil industry by balancing good and bad environmental
decisions, is exactly the opposite of
what caused the President’s recent
approval ratings to jump above
50 percent.
Banning drilling in the sensitive
Arctic seas was good for future generations and consistent with a rational global climate policy;opening
East Coast Atlantic waters to the
real risk of environmental disaster,
like the BP catastrophe, is short
sighted and dumb. Someone should
First race results are in!
T
he first race of Schooner
Wharf Wreckers’ Cup Race
Series took place Jan. 25 with a fleet of
39 in 1-2 foot seas and a high new moon
tide. ree vessels from Yachting Race
Week competed. It was a downwind race
with a crisp 11-13 knot northwest wind
at race start, rapidly diminishing winds
clocking north toward the finish line.
Next race is Feb. 22. Fair Winds and
Full Holds! n
INFO
(305) 292-3302
FIRST OVERALL
Wicked/ Captain Douglass/1:18:56 time
CLASSIC DIVISION
Turmoil/Geoff Beitner/2:05:09
Moira/Brian Lello/2:05:09
Wenonah/Kayla Lang/2:25:08
MONOHULL
UNDER 24’ DIVISION
Cloud Sourced/Stu Williams/1:35:28
JRhino/Todd Stuart/1:36:19
Freya/Evalena Worthington/1:47:57
Yellow Victoria/Jeep Callilouet/2:19:22
White Victoria/Pete Kosloski
MONOHULL
25-30’ DIVISION
Night Nurse/John Smittle/1:40:37
Last Call/Brad Lockwood/2:22:11 Christine/Dan Ryan/2:50:00
Scallywag/Alyn Christopher/2:55:00
Lady Pearl/Michael Chigas
MONOHULL
30’-39’ DIVISION
Black Ice/Lenn Verreau/1:51:18
Fair Winds/Dave Arnold/2:04:29
Aurora/Gary Gleason/2:05:50
Ardent Spirit/Chris Weber/2:11:31
Chance/Rick Lavoie/2:36:41
Sea Spirit/Brian Harrison/2:38:43
La Bamba/Captain Heather/2:45:11
High Tide/Captain Taylor/2:55:00
MULTIHULL DIVISION
VESSEL
NEW UNION CONTRACT
Daruma/Mark Whitson/2:00:15
Tequila Sunrise/Captain Rios/2:08:30
Miss Jones/Richard Hatch/2:19:45
Goat Rodeo/Tim Flannagan/2:55:00
MONOHULL
OVER 40’ DIVISION
Stella Maris/Patrick Flynn/1:58:13
Wind Dancer/Richard Brown/2:03:52
Atlantica/Jose Pagan/2:11:29
Blue Ice/Bruce Kelk/2:21:26
Breezin’/Captain Dees/2:22:17
Borrowed Horse/Joseph Morrin/2:23:27
Banana Wind/Fred Tillman/2:33:00
SCHOONER DIVISION
America/Andrew Neuhauser/2:01:46
Little Girl/Bernie Geaghan/2:01:52
Freedom/John Zaruba/2:31:58
Appledore II/Dave Kelly/2:55:00
Appledore V/Gil Scott/2:55:00
Jolly II Rover/Chris Martin/2:55:00
n
More COMMUNITY, page 16
than a 1 percent annual wage hike.
“I could have saved you $68,000
the first year,” he said about his sliding scale proposition. “A lot of longterm employees are going to be
upset and that’s the problem.”
But City Manager Jim Scholl
pointed out that commissioners had
voted in September to approve the
Fiscal Year 2015 budget, which included giving significant pay increases to 128 of the lowest-paid
city employees, a $1.2 million cost
in fiscal 2015. To change salary increases now, after union employees
voted to ratify the contract by a 2-1
margin, is impossible, he said.
Commissioner Rossi urged
Scholl to give higher raises to city
workers (at least 5-10 years service)
in the next contract negotiations.
“For the time being, to satisfy
14
ask President Obama how this kind
of “balancing” worked for him
over the last six years.
Instead of investing in energy independence through non-petroleum
renewable energy, the Administration is endangering the East Coast
and its own environmental legacy.
Deep-sea drilling off the mid-Atlantic jeopardizes tourism, beaches,
jobs, wildlife, fishing and other local
industries along entire eastern
seaboard. And these dangers are in
addition to threat of climate change.
In case you believe current Congress will protect you, it’s telling
that in the five years since the BP
eruption in the gulf, a much more
progressive U.S. Congress failed to
impose any tighter safety requirements on the offshore oil industry. n
this, go ahead and pass it and then
come back at budget [time] and
revisit it,” he said.
A 2014 survey of Key West government employee salaries showed a
significant gap between paychecks
and market pay for the same job.
Two-thirds of Key West’s 460 city
workers are significantly underpaid
as compared to comparable salary
ranges at other public sector entities, according to Evergreen Solutions, Tallahassee-based company
that conducted the salary survey. As
a result, Scholl and Assistant City
Manager Sarah Hannah-Spurlock
proposed a five-year plan that would
incrementally bring lower salaries
up to par with the market, estimated by Evergreen at $5.6 million.
Teamster Local 769 members
voted on Jan. 8 to approve the contract. “We look forward to working
with you for the betterment of our
members and for the services they
provide for the citizens of the municipality,” said Roly Pina, Teamsters officer, in a memo to Key West
Human Resources Director Samantha Farist. n
THE
HOWELINGS
e other American sniper
BY MARK HOWELL
but managed to get away, clinging to
the
running board of a stolen V8 Ford
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
as an accomplice drove him away from
the scene. Nelson
ow that Oscar nominators
would subsequently die of his wounds
and the movie-going pubat home in bed, but before that, followlic have become thoroughly besotted
ing an anonymous tip, Walsh found his
with a U.S. Army sniper, it’s time for
warm body wrapped in a blanket in a
Howelings to give an FBI sharpshooter,
ditch next to a Roman Catholic cemewho died last year at the incredible age
tery. Nelson’s wife later explained she
of 106, his due.
had wrapped him in a blanket because
Col. Walter Rudolph Walsh was
“he always hated being cold.”
born May 4 1907—year beA few months later, Walsh
fore the FBI was founded—
would apprehend Arthur
and became an FBI agent,
“Doc” Barker, criminal son
then a U.S. Marine Corps
of the notorious “Ma,” who
shooting instructor and,
was wanted for a series of
ultimately, an Olympic
bank robberies, murders and
shooter.
kidnappings.
It was in 1934 that he
In 1937, the FBI got a tip
joined the FBI at the height
that that its public enemy
of the Public Enemy era. He
MARK
No. 1, Al Brady, head of a
took part in many of the
HOWELL
gang responsible for some
showdowns with ProhibitionCOLUMNIST
200 bank robberies and four
era gangs in battles that feamurders, was holed up in Bangor,
tured what the London Sunday Times
Maine, where Walsh bushwhacked him
obituary called “bank heists, store roband his entire gang
beries, running-board shootouts and
in their getaway car outside a gun shop
rub-outs.”
they were preparing to rob. During the
In 1934, it was Walsh who discovfracas that followed, Walsh was shot in
ered the body of Chicago gangster
the chest, shoulder and hand. J. Edgar
Lester Joseph Gillis, better known
Hoover himself fetched Walsh’s
as Baby Face Nelson, a bank robber and
pregnant wife and escorted her on a
murderer who is said to have shot down
plane to Maine so she could visit her
more FBI agents before or since.
husband in the hospital.
In November 1934, Nelson was
It is believed Walsh was responsible
wounded in a gun battle with G-men
N
MARK THE CALENDAR!
‘A Vintage Affair’
n Feb. 7
FRINGE eater hosts “A Vintage Affair” fundraiser Saturday, Feb. 7, in the
historic courtyard at Petronia and Whitehead streets. Vintage Hollywood glam
is the attire. View classic cars of the era from Southern- most Car Club. Sip
cocktails from the open bar. Dine on food prepared by one of Key West’s best
chefs. Silent wine auction includes select vintage wines by wine authorities
priced to be affordable. Tickets: keystix.com, (305) 295-7676. n
INFO fringetheater.org
15
for the shooting deaths of 11 gangsters.
A left-hander, he was said to be able
to hit a bull’s-eye at 75 yards with a rifle
and hit moving targets with a pistol.
During World War II, he served in the
Marines and trained snipers before
himself participating in the invasion
of Okinawa. After the war, he became
a member of the U.S. shooting team at
the1948 Olympics London.
He continued to compete and win
handgun awards into old age and, in
1994, at the age 87, he captained the
U.S. team at the world muzzle loading
championships in Switzerland.
In 1936, he married
Kathleen Barber, who died in 1980.
He is survived by two sons and three
daughters. n
*****
Quote for the Week
“Listen to me everybody! If we want to be
saved, we’ve got to go to the bottom!
“Up to the bottom?!
“Yes, up to the bottom! Because all the
people who are down on top are dead!
We’ve got to work our way up to the
propeller room!’
“Yeah? And what will we get there?’”
“‘e shaft! But it’s a sacrifice God wants
us to make….”
— Mad Magazine, Sept. 1973,
“e Poop-side Adventure,” a spoof of
“e Poseidon Adventure” cited by Rachel
Kushner of e London Review of Books
as a social metaphor for Carnival
Corporation’s Costa Concordia
OUR
COMMUNITY
Miracle Baby benefit, Feb. 13
Aurora Phoenix
SPECIAL TO KONK LIFE
is Friday at 5 p.m. Feb 13, the
Bottle Cap hosts a fundraising event
for the family of miracle baby,
Aurora Phoenix.
e now five-month-old daughter
of local entertainer Rock Solomon and
Michele Muse has already defied incredible odds. Her story has become an
online phenomenon that has inspired
candlelight from around the world.
Born by emergency surgery over
three months premature and weighing
less than a pound, Aurora was not
expected to survive her first night.
TTTS, a rare condition that affects
only identical twins had already claimed
the life of twin sister Aria. Kept alive via
breathing machines and a myriad
of medications, Aurora endured heart
surgery and 11 blood transfusions her
two weeks of life.
After 100 days in the South Miami
Hospital NICU, Aurora now continues
her road to recovery at home in Key
West with weekly trips to Miami to see
specialists. As of this past week, her
cardiologist says she has a small hole in
her heart, but it is normal and should
heal on its own. Her eye doctor says
the ROP that threatened her vision has
continued to recede and surgery
shouldn’t be needed.
Aurora has not only survived but
thrived. e Key West community and
the world has been showing support
online via gofundme.com/AuroraPhoenix and in the Facebook group
“A Candle For Aurora” but the battle
continues. Doctors say she will be a
special needs child for at least two more
years.
e benefit at the Bottle Cap boasts
live original music from Key West songwriters, silent auction, raffles, plus eats
and drinks. e Bottle Cap is located at
1128 Simonton St., Key West. n
INFO
Aurora’s Story:
gofundme.com/AuroraPhoenix
Support Pendants:
rocksolomon.com/Aurora_Phoenix
Support FB Group:
facebook.com/groups/152528752103
8908
Aurora Videos:
youtube.com/watch?v=q_9pI2L7IU&list=UUMWx508TpwXXTXJKx1UGQDQ
16
WHAT‘S HAPPENING
Schooner Wharf Bar
Smokin’ Tuna
Amy McCarley
Smokin’ Tuna Saloon
4 Charles St., (305) 517-6350
n
Thursday 0205
Scott Kirby 5pm
Caffeine Carl & The Buzz 9pm
Friday 0206
Nick Norman 5pm
Caffeine Carl and Friends 9pm
Saturday 0207
Scott Kirby 5pm
Caffeine Carl and Friends 9pm
Sunday 0208
Currie Clayton/Joal Rush 5pm
Rusty Lemmon Band 9pm
Monday 0209
Ann McCarley/Joal Rush 5pm
Singer-songwriter Amy McCarley
has shared stages with artists like
singer-songwriter Kevin Gordon
and bluegrass legend Claire Lynch.
She spent time in Houston studying
classical guitar at Rice University.
Alabama native traveled to Nashville
to make a record. Album Jet Engines
is an engaging journey across the
spectrum of roots music. McCarley
has taken her home state by storm
and goes on to national Americana
music scene.
Caffeine Carl & The Buzz 9pm
Tuesday 0210
Ann McCarley/Joal Rush 5pm
Key Lime Pirates 9pm
The worlds of Clair Finely and Jeff
Clark collided in Boston 2010 and
since have entertained tourists and
locals with their infectious musical
take on living the good life.
Wednesday 0211
Ann McClarley/Currie Clayton
5pm
Joal Rush 9pm
202 Williams St., 292-3302
n
Thursday 0205
Taylor & Clayton 7-11pm
Friday-Saturday 0206-07
The Doerfels 7pm-midnight
Five brothers started out playing bluegrass but branched into other genres
blending contemporary and classic
rock, country, pop and alternative
music. Acoustic and electric instruments. Often joined onstage by sisters Nina and Naomi Newton, as well
as younger members of both families.
Sunday 0208
That Hippie Band 6:30-11pm
Well-known local musicians who have
their roots in the old Woodstock type
of music. Gary Hempsey, Russ Scavelli and Pete Jarvis all on guitar
backed by Tom Conga on bass with
Greg Shanle and Terry Whetmore on
percussion.’60s jam to Grateful
Dead, The Beatles, Crosby, Stills and
Nash. Harmony and mayhem are
constant. No set playlist, just free
flow, unscripted. Psychedelic light
show and videos.
Monday 0209
Joe Moorehead Band 7-11pm.
Tuesday 0210
Raven Cooper 7-11pm
Wednesday 0211
Taylor & Clayton 7-11pm
| Continued on 20
Schooner Wharf Bar
That Hippie Band
18
Coming this month . . .
Amy McCarley
5 p.m. Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday
WHAT‘S HAPPENING
Hog’s Breath
RST
Hog’s Breath Saloon
400 Front St., (305) 296-4222
n
Thursday-Sunday 0205-08
David Mead/Tommy Keenum
5:30-9:30pm
Nashville’s David Mead teams up with
Tommy Keenum. Mead’s music featured in movies like “Boys & Girls,”
“Restaurant,” “The Sweetest Thing;”
TV shows, “Ed,” “Men in Trees.” Past
decade Keenum has lent vocals, sax
and percussion to rock and pop acts
including David Mead, Bobby Bare
Jr., Sara Beck and Guilty Pleasures.
The Coal Men 10pm-2am
Three-piece Nashville smart-rock trio.
CD, “Nowhere’s Too Far,” eclectic
rock record. New release, “Escalator.”
Monday-Wednesday
0209-11
RST 5:30-9:30pm
RST (Geoffrey Rutledge, Lennox
Smith, John Tindel) may call home
Santa Cruz, Calif., but band has its
roots in the Cayo Hueso. Longtime
locals remember Rutledge as a solo
performer, or a duo with singer-songwriter Joel Nelson, or as a member of
the trio “Another Roadside Attraction.”
Rutledge joined forces with Tindel in
mid-’80s to form “Beyond the Reef”
playing Duval Street. Later Rutledge
relocated to Santa Cruz and formed
“Two Left Hands” with vocalist and
composer Lennox Smith. When the
duo next swung through Key West,
Tindel (who was playing across the
street) jumped up and sat in. As the
three locked into three-part harmony
for the first time, sparks flew and they
knew they’d have to form a band. So
ever-fertile Key West spawned RST.
Heartfelt three-part harmonies,
propelled by acoustic and electric
guitars and piano, form the center of
their sound with forays in Americana,
rock ‘n’ roll, country and tropical
influence.
Jessie Brown Band 10pm-2am
Singer-songwriter heartland Indiana.
Her family a touring southern gospel
group. Southern gospel and country
music have threads of the same
roots; writing/performing her own
country songs feels like home to her.
Hog’s Breath
Jessie Brown
20
WHAT‘S HAPPENING
Sunset Pier
Sunset Pier
Ocean Key’s Sunset Pier
Zero Duval St., (305) 296-7701
n
Thursday 0205
C.W. Colt 1-4pm
Rolando Rojas 5-7pm
Saturday 0207
The Doerfels Concert 5-7pm
The Revivalists Concert 8pm
Sunday 0208
Nina Newton Band 1pm
Robert Albury 5-7pm
Monday 0209
C.W. Colt 1-4pm
Robert Albury 5-7pm
Tuesday 0210
Tony Baltimore 1-4pm
Robert Albury 5-7pm
Wednesday 0211
Love Lane Gang 4:30-7:30pm
Mick Kilgos
| RALPH DE PALMA
BY RALPH DE PALMA
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
“Music is the glue that holds
this town together.”
ick was raised
45 miles south
of Chicago in Kankakee, Ill. e
train “e City of New Orleans”
starts in Kankakee and ends in
New Orleans. e song, written
by Steve Goodman and made
famous by Arlo Guthrie, is a great
rendition of what the old Blues
players like Muddy Waters used
to experience on the trip from
New Orleans to Chicago. Mick
started playing drums at 14. He
M
Mick Kilgos
La Te Da
came down to Key West to take a
break from being out on the road.
Several months after he arrived
in 1984, Mick had a regular gig
with Bill Blue and the Nervous
Guys. e Full Moon Saloon,
across from the bank on Simonton, where Camille’s is now located, and the Green Parrot would
switch bands between the Nervous
Guys and the Survivors almost
every week. In the ‘80s, Sloppy
Joe’s was the only bar in town
that could afford to bring in
touring bands.
1125 Duval St., (305) 296-6706
n
Thursday 0205
Piano Bar
• Black & Skabuddah, 4-7pm
Acoustic duo originally from New York
City. Laura Black, throaty vocals, also
plays guitar and percussion. Repertoire, classic rock and original music.
• Dave Bootle, 8:30-11:30 pm
Big sound and hilarious antics.
Cabaret
Christopher Peterson EYECONS,
9pm
Christopher Peterson is a master of
impersonations, and his comic timing
is impeccable. The show is All Live,
no lip-sync, and audiences will be
thrilled with his characterizations of
Joan Rivers, Better Midler and more.
MUSIC KEY WEST
22
Friday 0206
Piano Bar: Fabulous Spectrelles,
8:30-11:30pm
Key West’s Divas of ‘60s swing.
Cabaret
Randy Roberts LIVE! 9pm
Randy Roberts Show is an all live
tribute to some of the world’s most
loved performers—uncanny impersonations for 20 years.
Saturday 0207
Cabaret
9pm
Piano Bar Boyz, 9pm
Sunday 0208
Tea Dance 4-7pm
Key West’s infamous tea dance with
music/dancing by resident DJs Rude
Girl and Molly Blue every Sunday!
Piano Bar
Dave Bootle, 8:30-11:30 pm
Monday 0209
Cabaret
9pm
Piano Bar
Dave Bootle, 8:30-11:30 pm
Wednesday 0210
Cabaret
9pm
McConnell’s Irish Pub
n 900 Duval St., (949) 777-6616
Mondays
8-11pm — Eric from Philly
Tuesdays
8-11pm — Fiona Malloy
Wednesdays
8-11pm — Tom Taylor
Thursdays
7-9pm — Trivia Mania
9pm-1am — Chris Rehm/Open Mic
Fridays
8pm-Midnight — Love Lane Gang
Saturdays
9pm-1am — Eric from Philly
Sundays (Brunch) 11am-2pm
Rick Fusco/Oscar Deko/Kerri Dailey
9pm-2am — Industry Appreciation
Pinchers
n 712 Duval St., (305) 440-2179
Carl Hatley 1-5pm
Bobby Enloe 1-5pm
Carter Moore 7-11pm
COMMUNITY
Life’s a blast!
BY VAL EDGINGTON
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
VAL
EDGINGTON
COLUMNIST
CHARLIE
MAC’S
ere are some things that I
thought I would really miss when
I moved from Detroit.
Slows was one of them. ey
are famous for their BBQ. Can you
imagine my excitement and delight
when I found Charlie Mac’s on
Southard Street?
I would have to say that Charlie
Mac’s surpasses Slow’s BBQ in
CULTURE
VULTURE
OMG!
BY C.S. GILBERT
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
MG. As a reward for
filing this column and a
bunch of other stories by 7 p.m. Friday,
Jan. 23, Culture Vulture rewarded
herself with a night on the town. e
result was a pulsing, pounding concert
by venerated singer-songwriter-guitarist
Patty Larkin, sponsored by e Studios
of Key West borrowing the wonderfully
transformed Eaton Street eater,
followed by a high-volume second set
by the ever-delightful Love Lane Gang
further uptown at McConnell’s.
e Eaton Street eater, the old
building at the corner of Eaton and
Bahama streets, has undergone myriad
transformations over the years. It started out as a church, long ago, but by
the mid-1990s was known as Club
Chameleon and was home of a series—
the Vulture can recall at least two—
O
every way!!
Charlie Mac’s is run by Andy
Ferguson, who is one of the nicest
guys you could ever meet. Andy
came to Charlie Mac’s from Hog’s
Breath, where he worked as a bartender/manager and is a great addition to Charlie Mac’s. He told
me their secret is the hickory wood
they use for smoking their meat.
Andy named the brisket as his
favorite menu item for its savory
smoked flavor. Mine, too, I said,
until I tried the pork belly sliders
that melt in your mouth. Seriously,
wildly popular and elaborate musical
shows titled Flamingo Follies. e Dr.
Jerome Covington’s delightful younger
brother was one of the stars.
Circa 2010 there was an attempt to
create a dinner theater in the space; the
proposal was strenuously opposed by
nearby St. Paul’s and United Methodist
churchesm and as near as we can recallm never got off the ground. e
property fell into disrepair. If it were
used for other shows over the years,
we missed them.
the sliders are amazing!!
To compliment your meal,
you can choose from a variety
of different BBQ sauces. For each
bite, I used a different sauce. Each
table is equipped with standards:
Sweet BBQ, Mango Jerk and Carolina Mustard. Additional BBQ
sauces are ranked by numbers 1-10
based on “heat” and available upon
request.
I have decided that Pink Unicorn BBQ sauce is my absolute
favorite. It’s sweet with a spicy kick
at the end!
Now playing at Key West eater is
“Bones and Pie,” a selection of short
plays by Key West authors Bradbary
(Key West Burlesque’s Frankie, a playwright? who knew?); Marrero (think the
Tropic’s 72-Hour Film Challenge); Jon
Rhoads and Eric Weinberger.
e show opened Jan. 29 and runs
through Feb. 14. Look for a review
in this issue. Tickets available through
keystix.com
*****
At last, as reported in last week’s
paper, came On the Rock Productions
co-founded by Landon Bradbary, Juliet
Gray and Mike Marrero. e new
producers leased the neglected Eaton
Street eater, renamed it Key West
eater and the rest, we hope, will
be history.
e almost naked stage (as of
TSKW’s fairly recent Zoe Lewis
concert) has been elegantly furnished
by four banks of curtains, a rich blue
fronted by royal red teasers and tormenters. A fully professional light and
sound system has been installed. If,
when TSKW opens its large theater,
there are competing one-night shows a
block from each other, the Vulture plans
to schedule a nervous breakdown due
to the difficulty of making a choice.
INFO
(305) 295-7676
ontherockkeywest.com
*****
Turning back to fine arts and crafts,
SoDu Gallery announces a “Call to
Artists” for the seventh annual From
A Woman’s Hand show, which will be
held April 3-12, with champagne and
chocolate reception on Friday, April 3.
Continuing the tradition set by the
Custom House with a show for Keys’
women artists, SoDu is looking for
submissions of art by women residing
in the Keys in any media for this juried
and judged show.
Work must be new (completed in
2014 or 2015) and previously not
exhibited in the Keys and not created
in a workshop or class.
Prizes will be awarded at the artists’
reception. ere is a $20 entry fee;
applications available at the gallery,
23
Charlie Mac’s has become one
of my favorite places to be! After
eating, if you want to continue the
night, stop in next door at the
Green Parrot for great friends and
great music, but that will have to
wait for another story.
Charlie Mac’s is almost at the
corner of Southard and Whitehead
next to the Green Parrot. You can’t
miss it really, since Southard only
runs one way. Life’s a Blast!! n
INFO
Charlies Mac’s, 404 Southard
St., (305) 320-0204
1102B Duval St. or by emailing:
sodugallery@gmail.com
Deadline for submission is March 1.
Notices of acceptance will be sent out
by email to the artists after March 9.
INFO
(305) 296-4400
*****
Also opening Feb. 6, 6-9 p.m., will
be a show of new works by the everpopular and lauded Impressionist
William Welch and the recovering
elementary school teacher and swiftly
emerging local potter Marc Hacker.
Hacker, a student of the late Jay
Gogin, “is well known for his creative
ceramics and Raku work. His new vases
push Raku to the limit,” wrote Fran
Decker, artist/owner of the hosting
Frangipani Gallery.
INFO
(305) 296-0440
*****
e opening is in conjunction with
the First Friday Art Stroll on Upper
Duval, and we suggest visiting SoDu
next door and then crossing the street
to check out the work at Cocco and
Salem Gallery as well. Opening
Tuesday was a show featuring the
glass mosaics of Mia Tavonatti.
at’s all for now. Gotta fly! n
LOCAL
OBSERVATION
Bench press
BY CHRISTINA OXENBERG
CHRISTINA
OXENBERG
LEiGH VOGEL photo
avid Wolkowsky’s annual party
was the usual roaring success
with the best of Key West from artists and
authors and poets to the elite conchs with
streets named after them. And, of course,
D
there are the “guests” who never received a
cream-colored embossed invitation in the
handwritten matching envelope, but crash the
party each year. David notices everything.
I, on the other hand, notice very little these
days as I’m in the middle of swimming across
the Atlantic Ocean, metaphorically speaking.
Only two reasons are good enough for me to
tear away from my current project—one
being anytime David Wolkowsky calls, and,
the second being anytime Xperimento
performs at the Green Parrot, the Ozymandias
of watering holes.
Another not on David’s party guest list is
the new most popular personality in town.
is personality has their own Facebook page
and “friend requests” are blowing up.
is fresh personality can reliably be found
outside the Green Parrot. To be precise,
directly across the street. Because it is a bench,
it is: www.facebook.com/courthouse deli
bench, the bench outside Court House Deli.
is bench by day hosts coffee drinkers
and newspaper readers and by night stringy
strung-out hippies and snoozing drunks.
Some nights it is host to me and pals with
parrots for chatting smoking drinking
| Continued om page 28
COMMUNITY
Civil War Heritage Days recreate past, Feb. 6-8
SPECIAL TO KONKLIFE
istory fans can experience a
battle between land and sea
forces, the staged court trial of a blockade runner and living history encampments of Civil War re-enactors Friday
through Sunday, Feb. 6-8, at Key West’s
Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park.
e festival re-creates the Civil War
era when Key West was the only Deep
South port to remain in Union hands.
Fort Taylor, located on the island’s Atlantic Ocean shore, played a major role
in the Union blockade of Confederate
shipping.
Presented by the staff and volunteers
of Fort Zachary Taylor, the festival is set
for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Sunday,
and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Events take place in the fort, the surrounding state park and the waters bordering the park.
H
During the family-friendly festival,
scores of re-enactors in period costume
are to depict Union and Confederate
military personnel, merchants, craftsmen, musicians and civilians of the era.
Both Union and Confederate camps will
MARK THE CALENDAR!
n Marathon, Feb. 7-8
Pigeon Key festival
Artists and craftspeople share their wares at one
of the largest winter art festivals in Marathon, when
the Pigeon Key Art Festival returns to the Marathon
Community Park on Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 7-8.
Festival’s tropically themed oasis of artwork in-
be established on the grounds of the fort
and park.
Planned highlights are to include a
parade down Key West’s Duval Street to
the historic fort, a battle between land
forces and schooners portraying block-
cludes pottery, paintings, glass, sculpture, photography, jewelry and more. Each year artists demonstrate
skills during the show. Now in its 21st year, the event
is named for Pigeon Key, a small island by Old Seven
Mile Bridge that housed workers constructing
Over-Sea Railroad in the early 1900s. Today Pigeon
Key is an iconic Florida Keys cultural landmark.
e open-air park at mile marker 49 hosts food
and beverage booths, music and children’s crafts.
Marine artist Wyland plans to create ink paintings
to be auctioned live as part of the annual fundraiser.
24
ade runners at sea and the staged trial of
a blockade runner based on an 1862
court case.
Festival visitors can learn what soldiers’ lives were like at the fort in the
1860s, experience living history and artillery demonstrations, watch land skirmishes and tour the campsites.
e fort and park can be accessed
from an entrance on Southard Street past
omas Street. Daily entrance fees,
which include a pass allowing visitors to
leave and return, are $2.50 per person on
foot or bicycle, $4.50 for a single-occupant motorized vehicle and $7 for a vehicle carrying two people with a 50-cent
charge for each additional passenger.
Children ages 5 and under are admitted
free. n
INFO
www.floridastateparks.org
(305) 292-6713 or (305) 292-6850
Attendees can purchase tickets to win one of among
50-plus pieces of artwork during Sunday’s art raffle.
Tickets available through 2 p.m. Sunday.
Festival hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $7
adults, free for children under 12. Parking free at
Marathon Community Park.
Patrons, retain ticket stubs and redeem for halfprice ferry trip to Pigeon Key within one week of
show admission. Proceeds support Pigeon Key
Foundation. n
INFO www.pigeonkeyfestival.com
ONSTAGE
AT THE WATERFRONT
‘Next Fall’
he Waterfront Playhouse
presents one of the most
celebrated plays in recent Broadway history with “Next Fall” by Geoffrey
Nauffts. is witty and provocative look
at faith, commitment and unconditional love, directed by Murphy Davis,
features outstanding cast of imported
and local actors.
Opening night is Feb. 12 with two
low-priced previews, Feb. 10-11. All
performances at 8.m. Opening night
gala after-party sponsored by Blake
Hunter. Production sponsored by
WLRN, Public Media.
“Next Fall” is about two gay men
who have been together for five years.
Adam is older, neurotic and an atheist;
Luke is a struggling young actor and a
devout Christian. Despite obvious differences, they try to make their relationship work. When the unthinkable
happens, family and friends descend
upon the couple and longtime differences collide and emotional fireworks
erupt. e play reveals the fundamental
truth that we love peopl because—and
in spite of—who they are.
e pedigree for “Next Fall” is
impressive. It won the Drama Desk and
Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best
Play and was a Tony nominee for Best
T
Play. Producers of original Broadway
production were Elton John and his
husband, David Furnish.
Director Murphy Davis was one
of the founders of Bay Street eatre on
Long Island. He became artistic director
and directed many acclaimed productions. Locally he has directed “e
Price” and “Cock” for e Fringe.
Playing Adam and Luke will be
two outstanding actors from New York.
Adam play Adam McLaughlin, who has
appeared with Manhattan eater
Club, Naked Angels and the Ensemble
Studio eatre, as well as in film and
television. Luke, played by Trey Gerrald, is currently in the hit television
show “Orange Is the New Black” as well
as television and web series and film.
Bob Bowersox (“Twelve Angry
Men,” “August: Osage County”“ plays
Luke’s opinionated and devout father,
Butch. Annie Miners (“e New Century” “God of Carnage”) plays Luke’s
mother, Arlene, who has a past. Nicole
Nurenberg (“August: Osage County,”
“Home Exchange”) plays the witty and
devoted best friend, Holly. Kaleb Smith
(“e Last Night At Ballyhoo”) makes
his Waterfront debut as Brandon, Luke’s
devout friend.
25
HIGH NOTES
‘Classical Jam’
n IN REVIEW
COMMUNITY
Awareness campaigns and fund drives
help support research aimed at finding a
cure for cancer. Today, 14 million cancer
survivors live in our country, according
to American Cancer Society. Research
funding and education are aimed at raising that number. n
Special needs
registry opens
In accordance with Florida Statute
252.355, Keys Energy Services\KEYS
notifies residential customers with
special needs of Special Needs Registry
available through Monroe County Social
Services Office. e registry helps Monroe County Emergency Management
Personnel identify residents in need of
assistance during evacuations and sheltering due to physical, mental, cognitive
impairment or sensory disability.
Residents with special needs are asked
to call Monroe County Special Needs
Registry or go online by May 31 to
ensure they are accounted for in advance
of hurricane season. n
INFO
305) 292-4591
monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=148
Buddy Pass 5K, KEYS
buddy up for donation
Keys Energy Services/KEYS donated
$250 to Anchors Aweigh Club, Inc.
to help underwrite expenses for its annual Buddy Pass 5K. eme Runs host
this third year 5K run/walk event scheduled 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Higgs
Beach, 1000 Atlantic Boulevard. e
race benefits Anchors Aweigh, the only
addiction recovery clubhouse in Monroe
County, providing services for 30 years.
Race proceeds help the club pay off the
BY HARRY SCHROEDER
KONK LIFE COLUMINIST
Utility Board Chair Peter Batty, left,
Vice Chair Mona. C. Clark, Member
Charlie Bradford, Theme Runs
President Beth A. Moyes, and Utility
Board Members Tim Root and Barry
Barroso.
he Impromptu Concert
series opened its season,
its 44th, with a performance by a
brilliantly inventive quintet, the
“Classical Jam.”
e group consists of Marco
Granados, flute; Chern Hwei Fung,
violin; Katie Kresek, viola; Wendy
Law, cello; and Justin Hines, percussion and piano. eir repertoire is
based on an apparently unlimited
variety of musical interests and influences, which gets even more various
by what they do with it.
e title of their last concert here
three years ago was “Hybrids and
Adaptations” which could have
served to describe the program on
Sunday. ey seem to have ranged
across the entire world of music to
see what combinations would work.
e result was always something
more than mere novelty: while one
wouldn’t want to claim that they
always improved upon their musical
source, they did provide an interesting perspective on it. And sometimes
what they came up with was a joy.
ey start from great strength. All
five are accomplished classical musicians, with appearances with orchestras like the New York Philharmonic
and in venues like Carnegie Hall.
Everything they played, they played
very well.
e flutist, Mr. Granados, had all
the technique of the instrument
under control: he could play accurately at top speed while making no
compromise of tone. He got out of
the horn all the sound that’s in it.
e three strings played together
T
mortgage of its clubhouse and funding
recovery books and information
materials.
INFO
www.AnchorsAweighClub.com
MARK THE
CALENDAR!
n Feb. 16-22
Winter Star Party
Amateur/professional astronomers, view
southern constellations, comets and
stars in Lower Florida Keys during 31st
annual Winter Star Party, Feb. 16-22, at
Camp Wesumkee, a Girl Scout camp at
mile marker 34.5 off U.S. Highway 1 on
Scout Key. Lower Keys’ southern location with region’s relative absence of
large-scale artificial lighting at night create conditions for great viewing. Some
600 astronomy aficionados world wide
participate. Registration required in advance. Florida Keys among the only
places in the contiguous United States
where those celestial objects can be seen.
Nightly stargazing, participants attend lectures and presentations by nationally recognized astronomers and
guest speakers; display skills in photo
contests, attend binocular and laser
“tours” of sky and network with fellow
astronomy aficionados.
Gathering hosted by Miami’s Southern Cross Astronomical
Society. n
26
in excellent time and tune. All of
them have fine sounds individually,
and they know how to blend them
into something much larger.
Mr. Hynes’ playing on percussion
was accurate and with authority.
eir experience is not limited to
classical music: in their credentials
there is also mention of backgrounds
in many other kinds of music, including such as jazz-rock fusion, Malay
dance music, and Chinese pop.
eir playing of two pieces by
Bach illustrated their eclecticism.
In one, from the “Art of the Fugue,”
they played it straight, and beautifully, for a few moments before moving into a swing rhythm, where both
the violinist and the violist played
with a genuine jazz feel—a real rarity
on those instruments—while the cellist supported them with a strong
pizzicato bass line.
In the other Bach piece, there was
a nice union of two very disparate
traditions: the flute played Bach’s
melodic line while other four backed
him up with a complex Latino
rhythm on several percussion instruments. During the concert, there was
a good deal of emphasis on that tradition, which is always welcome in a
culture not noted for rhythmic
sophistication.
e skill of their playing enabled
them to make unlikely choices. At
one point in their first number, Payton McDonald’s “Devil Dance,” they
played a four-note phrase over and
over, with greater and greater
intensity; unlike with today’s pop
music, which is often built on similarly restricted melodic resources, one
never lost interest.
Another very repetitive piece was
an arrangement of Philip Glass’ “e
Hours;” what they did with it was
ONSTAGE
AT THE RED BARN
‘Clark Gable Slept Here’
n Hollywood doesn’t
stand a chance!
A naked, good-looking corpse lies
face down on the rug at the foot of the
bed in a lavish Hollywood hotel suite.
A tough-enough situation, but compounded considerably when it’s revealed
that the suite has been rented by one
of Hollywood’s top macho action stars,
who is off at the Golden Globes hoping
to collect a statuette for his muchneeded, career-changing performance in
a “serious” film. en we find out the
dead guy is a male prostitute. Oops.
us begins “Clark Gable Slept
Here.” Michael McKeever’s side-splitting latest. Opening Tuesday, Feb. 3, at
Red Barn eatre, the play will have a
five-week run. As funny as this play is, it
will probably take that long to satisfy
the demand for tickets.
“Clark Gable” brings back Carbonell
award-winning actor Tom Wahl—last
seen in “I Am My Own Wife” last season at Red Barn—in the role of Jarrod
“Hilly” Hilliard, super-manager/agent
of movie star Patrick Zane whose suite
we now stand in. Realizing this is the
Tom Wahl returns to Key West along
with George Dibraud and a stellar
ensemble cast for “Clark Gable Slept
Here” playing at the Red Barn Theatre.
absolute worst moment for paparazzi
and TMZ to catch wind of a dead
hooker in his client’s suite, Hilly
begins the hilarious and ill-fated process
| LARRY BLACKBURN photographs
George Dibraus, Tom Wahl, Mook J and Myra Negron star in “Clark Gable Slept
Here” at the Red Barn Theatre. (Not shown: Matt Hollis Hulsey).
27
CLARK GABLE SLEPT HERE
HIGH NOTES
MIKE KILGOS
somewhat reminiscent of Pachelbel’s “Canon,”
but they played it so well that one could
forgive that.
One of the happiest aspects of the concert
was the mood they generated in the hall. e
best single detail which describes the relaxed
atmosphere of the concert came when we were
informed that Katie Kresek, the violist, had
made a bet that she could quote, during her
improvisation, a phrase from “Margaritaville.”
She won.
roughout the afternoon they all seemed
to have a healthy disregard for the musical
sanctities. And they were clearly having a very
good time. As were we. n
LOCAL OBSERVATION
laughing. One local told me, “I post on Bench’s
Facebook wall if I’m coming out, so it’s like
a date!”
e bench is the latest subject under
observation at L.A.R.S.(Large Animal
Research Station).
Since David is unlikely to invite this bench
to his party, perhaps I can persuade him
to come sit on the bench with me, next time
Xperimento are in town.
In the meantime, I’ll content myself with
the memories of a couple of great nights. And
now it’s back to the Atlantic for me, for the
long, cold home stretch to gold. Diana Nyad
watch out for your record! n
TRAVEL TIPSTER
More flights!
Silver Airways flies to Key West from five
Florida cities now: Fort Lauderdale for four
weekday flights; second flight from Fort Myers;
four daily flights from Tampa and increases
from Orlando for three nonstop and two onestop daily flights; daily one-stop flight from
Jacksonville. Delta adds two daily flights from
Atlanta for five daily nonstop flights. n
When asked about the impact of Jimmy Buffett on Key West
music, Mick was quick to say Buffett is a great songwriter andhelped put Key West on the map. He took the Key West lifestyle
and brought it to the masses all over the country.
Key West is a great place for live music. ere is nowhere in
the world you can hear this much live music in such a concentrated area. Music and musicians are appreciated and respected in
Key West. To Mick there is more original music here today than
when he arrived.
e One Human Family is alive and well in the Key West
music scene. According to Mick, “. . . music is the glue that
holds this town together.”
Mick played every Friday for eight years at BO’s Fish Wagon
with Barry Cuda. e gig with the band Barry Cuda and the
Sharks was always the most fun for him.
Mick returned to Key West in 2005 after a hiatus of several
years living and playing on the West Coast. He plays frequently
with Bill Blue and Barry Cuda, as well as with other Key West
musicians.
One his favorite musicians and friends in Key West recently
passed away after a long illness—fellow drummer Richard
Crooks. Mick loved sitting in with Richard.
When Richards health began to fail last year, Mick and Barry
Cuda invited Richard to sit in for a couple of songs on his
72nd birthday. It was a special night with several hundred
crowded into the Green Parrot.
Crooks was clearly having difficulty getting on the small stage,
but once set and the first song began, he played effortlessly. After
five songs, it looked like poor Mick was never going to get his
seat back. It was one of the last public performances for his friend
and mentor. Richard Crooks passed away in December 2014.
Mick Kilgos helped organize a celebration of Life for Richard
Crooks that took place this past Sunday, Jan. 25. It started at the
Hog’s Breath Saloon with Bloody Mary’s. A 20-piece, New
Orleans-style funeral band then marched down Duval Street
with a second line of friends and family estimated at 300.
e celebration ended with three hours of great music at the
Green Parrot. Many in attendance said this was the best day
of music in Key West—ever.
It’s hard to say that with certainty, but one thing is certain,
Mick’s friend Richard would have loved it. n
More photos of Mick and the Celebration of Life for Richard
Crooks available online: www.rwdepalma.com/richard_crooks
28
| LARRY BLACKBURN photographs
Tom Wahl and Mook J head an ensemble
cast in “Clark Gable Slept Here” at the
Red Barn Theatre.
of damage control. Twists and turns come
machine-gun quick, leaving the outcome
in serious doubt.
Into Hilly’s whirlwind plans come a
group of classically funny characters spewing laugh-out-loud lines so fast it’s hard to
catch a breath. George DiBraud plays Morgan Wright, the smart Hollywood “fixer”
Hilly hopes will make the whole thing disappear. But her job is made increasingly
difficult by Estella, a non-English-speaking
hotel maid played by Myra Negron, and by
Gage Holland, the overwhelmed hotel
manager brought to comical life by Mook
J. And then there’s the dead gigolo, played
dead perfectly by Matt Hollis Hulsey. e
prospects look grim.
McKeever, arguably one of the finest
playwrights writing for Florida stages, if
not the country, displays an uncanny understanding of today’s Hollywood fears and
foibles as well as a healthy respect for the
golden age of Hollywood. He skewers both
unmercifully. His characters are larger than
life, but while their lines are fall down
funny, they have the ring of truth to them.
Honored as one of the 10 top plays of
last season, Florida eatre on Stage called
the play “…simply one of the funniest offerings on stage all season.”
Play directed by Joy Hawkins, artistic
director of the Red Barn. Special Opening
Night party in the Zabar Courtyard of the
theatre after the Tuesday performance,
where ticket holders for that evening mingle with cast and crew and ewith catered
repast and cocktails. n
INFO
Tickets: (305) 296-9911
www.redbarntheatre.com
TROPIC SPROCKETS
FILM IN REVIEW
Best Movie Oscar nominee
Inherent Vice
BY IAN BROCKWAY
KONK LIFE COLUMNIST
nherent Vice” by auteur Paul omas
Anderson (e Master) and based on
a omas Pynchon novel, seems to try
too hard to be all things at once. While
its scope is kaleidoscopic in keeping
with the author’s whirling prose, on film
it feels noisy, loose and all over the
place.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as Doc
Sportello, a hippie private detective who
spends his days rolling around in a horizontal position with a haze of pot smoke
that hovers around him like a Cheech &
Chong Peanuts cartoon. As a caricature
or stereotype, he is quite compelling,
speaking in an offhand stream of consciousness mumble a bit like Marlon
Brando. In a droopy hat and maroon
shirt, Doc is a noodle in paisley, his legs
and arms seeming to bend and sway like
asparagus.
Doc is knocked into action by his
ex-girl Shasta (Katherine Waterston)
who tells him of a plot to derail real
estate mogul Wolfmann (Eric Roberts)
by institutionalizing him. e tycoon,
for some reason is associating with
neo-nazis, despite being jewish. While
this is played for laughs, it isn’t all that
funny.
Doc agrees to check it out. e next
day, he is approached by Tariq ( Michael
K. Williams) a Black Guerrilla family
member who wants revenge on a Aryan
Brotherhood bodyguard, one Glen
Charlock (Christopher Allen Nelson).
Doc agrees to investigate that, too.
Finding himself near a massage
parlor, Doc ventures inside in the hope
of finding a lead, after a masseuse
emerges from the mural depicting the
genitalia of a naked lady, our man
mañana is knocked unconscious.
I
TROPIC CINEMA
416 Eaton St. • 877-671-3456
Week of Friday, Feb. 06, 2015
through Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
2015 Oscar Nominated
Animation Shorts (NR)
Fri - Thu: (2:00), 6:25
2015 Oscar Nominated Live
Action Shorts (NR)
Fri - Thu: (4:00), 8:30
Inherent Vice (R)
Fri - Thu: (2:15), 5:30, 8:20
Two Days, One Night (Deux
jours, une nuit) (PG-13)
Fri - Thu: (4:10), 6:10
The Imitation Game (PG-13)
Fri - Sun:
1:30), 3:50, 6:15, 8:40
Mon: (1:30), 3:50, 9:00
Tue & Wed:
(1:30), 3:50, 6:15, 8:40
Thu: (1:30), 3:50, 9:00
Birdman (R)
Fri - Thu: (1:45), 8:15
Ghost (1990) (R)
Mon: 6:30 PM
Tropic Cinema
Four Screens in Old Town.
Rated Best Cinema in Florida.
www.TropicCinema.com
(877) 761-FILM
29
He wakes up next to the body
of a mutilated Charlock.
What emerges is a kind of picaresque
tale with lots of odd babble, quirky
characters and silliness. If that’s your
bag, you’ll have a good trip. But with
so many pipes and cogs in such a big
hallucinogenic wheel, fitting it all
together proved too taxing an acid test,
especially at two hours and 30 minutes.
Owen Wilson is a strung out rock
musician who mumbles about Golden
Fang, a heroin-smunggling ship. Josh
Brolin plays Bigfoot, a cement faced
rival detective. Reese Witherspoon is a
district attorney girlfriend who despite
some amorous talk doesn’t seem to have
much chemistry with Phoenix’s slurred
verbiage.
Last, but not least, Martin Short is
thrown in as a horny Dr. Feelgood.
Every character does silly things
without much motivation, and while
this would be appropriate matter in
illustrating a psilocybin-stitched ’70s,
it feels slow and labored, akin to the
COMMUNITY
‘Following the Fish’
n Hemingway’s Key
West angling exploits
exhibited
INHERENT VICE
NEXT FALL
Michael Boyer creates the constantly
shifting set as the play moves from location to location. David Bird designs the
lighting, Carmen Rodriguez the costumes and props, and Rebecca Porter
acts as stage manager.
Tickets for opening night, $50; tickets for the two previews, $25; all other
performances, $40. Discounts for students, military and seniors and the Friday night special (two tickets for $60).
Also, go to the website to buy memberships or individual tickets. Season sponsors for 2014/15 season are Digital
Island Media, Royal Furniture and Key
West Web Design.
Cheech Marin films in the ’80s. Bigfoot
eats an entire bowl of pot after demolishing an apartment door.
Such antics have a cold deja vu feel.
What the film does do well is its encapsulation of the ’70s as a period.
Everyone is socked in a heavy lethargy as
the waxen face of Nixon, a scary cavefaced man is ubiquitous. e film’s most
comedic moments are the instances of
Bigfoot’s oral fixation and the idea that
this harsh drill sergeant of a man is ruled
by his dominatrix wife along with everyone referring to Doc as a poor or cute
“little hippie” in the mode of an animated Robert Crumb comic.
“Inherent Vice” could be a cult film as
the post modern decades go by with its
madcap episodes that roll out of
nowhere, but as a noir tale it feels too
reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen to have
some of the original pop and bang that it
appears to aim for at its end. n
Write Ian, ianfree1@icloud.com
INFO
WaterfrontPlayhouse.org
(305) 294-5015
Tropic Cinema
Four Screens in Old Town.
Rated Best Cinema in Florida.
www.TropicCinema.com
(877) 761-FILM
Ernest Hemingway, who lived and
wrote in Key West throughout 1930s,
immersed himself in Florida Keys’
game fishing and did much to popularize it among writers, readers and
sportsmen. His angling exploits are
showcased in a new exhibit titled
“Following the Fish: Hemingway in
Key West” at the Custom House Museum, 281 Front St.
e exhibition also spotlights the
late author’s conservation activities,
an intriguing counterpoint to his passion for boating giant marlin, tuna
and other prey in a pursuit likened to
oceanic big game hunting.
“What the exhibit endeavors to do
is show that while Hemingway is
perceived as an aggressive personality,
he did have a vested interest in safeguarding fish populations in the
Straits,” said Cori Convertito, curator
at the Custom House. “He invited
Academy of Natural Sciences scientists to visit and study marlin, tuna
and other species demonstrating his
preservationist disposition.”
When not penning literary classics,
Hemingway plied the waters between
Key West and Cuba aboard his 38-
foot fishing boat, Pilar. Encounters
with finned prey found their way into
his books (“To Have and Have Not”
and “e Old Man and the Sea.”
A model of Pilar is among the
items on display at the Custom
House, as are Hemingway’s detailed
fishing logs and field notes that illustrate his quest to understand the science of fishing. A 1937 letter to the
author from Belmar Fishing Club
states he has been awarded a “Glory
of the Sport Fraternity” pin
recognizing his “outstanding catches
and activities in promoting angling.”
Among other exhibit highlights are
examples of antique fishing tackle
used by big game fishermen during
the 1930s and 1940s like a Greenheart rod with a Pflueger Atlapac reel,
South Bend marlin teasers designed
by Western writer and Keys’ fishing
aficionado Zane Grey,
a Pompanette six-inch flying gaff.
Also learn about Keys’ angling
legacy and its environmental effects
through additional exhibit modules.
“Following the Fish” presented by
Key West Art & Historical Society
with support from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Mote
Marine Laboratory. Exhibit remains
on display at the Custom House
through July. n
INFO www.kwahs.org
30
Holly S. Merrill honored with the 2015 AmericanRed Cross
Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year Award
CAROL TEDESCO | PHOTOGRAPHER
(L to Rt) John Spottswood III, photo-bomber Richard
Grusin, 2013 Honoree Rosi Ware, TSKW Executive
Director Jed Dodds and Molly Ross-Dodds
Holly Merrill with Dianna Sutton, President and CEO,
Community Foundation of the Florida Keys
(L to Rt) Jeff Baumgartner, American Red Cross Community
Executive, Florida Keys; Holly S. Merrill, recipient of the
2015 American Red Cross Florence Spottswood
Humanitarian of the Year Award; George Fernandez, 2014
Honoree; Robert Spottswood, grandson of Florence
Spottswood, for whom the Award is named.
Holly S. Merrill reacts to a standing ovation that occurred
Saturday night when she was formally announced the
Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year.
31
www.konklife.com • FEBRUARY 5-11, 2015
Holly (center) with sisters (L to Rt) Dani Merrill and Kyle
Converse, bother Frank Merrill and Frank’s wife Robin.
continued on next page
Holly S. Merrill honored with the 2015 American Red Cross
Florence Spottswood Humanitarian of the Year
CAROL TEDESCO | PHOTOGRAPHER
Kim Romano, Executive Director, Womankind; artist
Jon “Tosh” McIntosh; Kristina Welburn, Vice
President, Womankind.
2008 Honoree Matthew Helmerich with 2015
Master of Ceremonies Tom Luna.
Holly’s Goddaughter’s Caitlin and Effie Ford
Michael Halpern, 2009 Honoree Ed Knight, and Gail Lima.
Holly (center) with friends (L to Rt) Liz Lear, Wendy Gerber, Dani Merrill, Nancy
Freund, Kathy Forte, Rita Troxel, and Kyle Converse.
32
2008 Honoree Matthew Helmerich with
2015 Honoree Holly Merrill.
Accessible Luxury
by C. S. GILBERT
KONK LIFE REAL ESTATE WRITER
he gated townhome
development at the very
top of South Roosevelt overlooking
Cow Key Channel, said the coconut
telegraph while it was being built ten
years ago, would be the height of
luxury for the island. (They might not
have been counting Sunset Key in that
analysis.) But there would be
impervious, concrete construction.
Breathtaking water views. Elevators.
Elegant appointments. Well, as usual,
the telegraph was just about right.
The home at 76 Seaside Court
North is tucked in among its
handsome brethren, turning its tidy,
grey and white, balconied exterior
toward the heated, freeform pool
nestled amidst lush landscaping.
Outside, the driveway leading to the
garage is roomy enough for two small
cars or one large vehicle. The garage
itself is currently configured to provide
storage space on both sides, but
without the shelving could fit two cars.
Offering access directly into the
house, of course, the garage also
contains a garbage chute that reaches
all three levels and empties directly
into the ubiquitous large green
receptacle; its twin laundry chute
empties into the ground floor laundry
room.
Both garage and laundry room
open off a generous-sized hall that
angles its way to a totally private,
walled back garden. Most of it is
covered for outdoor living space rain
or shine, but a corner is open to the
sun. At the moment it’s all garden and
patio, but that corner would be perfect
Lots of
balconies and
lovely,
established
landscaping
highlight the
attractiveness
of these
handsome
townhomes.
T
The entrance level beyond the elevator contains generous, covered outdoor living
space and at the back a lovely garden.
Just across the street is a large pool/spa complex.
33
for a spa or dipping pool.
Stairs angle around a storage closet
and the elevator shaft, but it was a
pleasure to step into the wood-paneled
elevator which easily holds four,
perhaps five people. The living area is
located on the top level, and both the
living room, facing the boulevard and
that lovely water view, and the dining
room/kitchen facing the courtyard
open onto lovely balconies letting in
lots of light. All rooms are of a
generous size.
When the units were built, realtor
Mike Petro said, each had pull-down
attic stairs leading to space that could
be furnished as a rooftop patio, with
an even more spectacular view. This
owner, however, removed that stairs
and installed a skylight, creating an
alcove perfect for the display of a
special work of art. Most notable of
these, however, are on the walls:
paintings by famed local artist Sal
Salinero. All furniture, accessories and
art are negotiable, Petro said.
The furniture is handsome and
massive, he noted, explaining that the
rooms were really larger than they
might appear. This is especially true of
the living room’s entertainment center.
On the opposite wall, however, is the
most stunning, largest Salinero
painting: his lush, trademark foliage,
including monstera and elephant ears.
To the right is the balcony overlooking
the water.
The kitchen is of course top of the
line, with the dark, black and brown
granite that has become so popular on
counters and a large island containing
room for serving and dining as well as
a flattop range. A walk-in pantry runs
Continued on next page.
Accessible Luxury
Continued
The master bath
is huge, with a
roll-in shower
adequate for a
wheelchair.
There’s lots of room to maneuver in the accessible kitchen/dining room.
Both large
bedrooms
feature private
balconies.
behind one whole wall of the room.
There is, in addition, a generous
dining area large enough to be a
dining/sitting area, and again that
lovely balcony, this one, when the
foliage is trimmed, with a view of
the pool.
There is also on this level a full bath
off the connecting hall and twin doors
in the wall that open to the laundry
and garbage chutes.
The middle level houses the
bedrooms. It is the front bedroom that
has the water view. It also has a small
ensuite bath. The master bedroom is
on the courtyard side. It has a large
closet (directly over that pantry) with
mirrored French doors and has, just
around the corner, a majestic,
accessible bath—so totally accessible a
wheelchair can be rolled in to reach
the shower and toilet. The bath has as
well a large, oval tub, a double sink
vanity and, above the tub, a lovely
Suzie dePoo painting of orchids on her
trademark tiles.
Floors and bathrooms throughout
are travertine and doorways and
hallways are wide enough for a
wheelchair, as is the elevator, of
course—truly rare features in island
homes. As mentioned, the entire
structure is poured, textured concrete; a
modest monthly fee covers all outdoor
maintenance and almost all insurance.
This extraordinary property is
offered by Engel & Völkers Florida
Keys. Reach Mike Petro at
(305) 896-7300.
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.
The living room, with its water view, comfortable holds oversized furniture plus
the wall-filling painting by famed local artist Sal Salinero.
The mangroves are due for a trimming, but the direct view of the water is lovely.
34
1
Two office locations
to serve you:
1824 Flagler Ave., Key West, FL 33040
Office: (305) 296-4422
507B South St., Key West, FL 33040
Office: (305) 292-1922
Toll Free: (866) 715-4422
E-Mail: info@flkeyshome.com
JUST LISTED
MLS #120947 – Key West Condo
2 Bed/2 Bath, 806 S.F. – $299,000
STACY STAHL 305-292-1922
JUST LISTED
MLS #121005 – Sugarloaf Key
3 Bed/2 Bath, 1,587 S.F. – $350,000
HEATHER BENNET 305-923-1451
See more on our Website: F LORIDA K EYS R EAL E STATE C O . COM
2
3
4
5
Open House and Featured Home Locations
7
Little Torch
Key
1
6
4
3
Sugarloaf
Key
2
Saddlebunch
Key
5
Featured Homes – Viewed by Appointment
Map # Address
#BR/BA
Listing Agent
Phone Number
Ad Page
1
1101 & 1103 Petronia St., Key West
4 Units
+ Cottage
Ronald McGregor, Beach Club Brokers, Inc.
305-294-8433
800-545-9655
35
2
1931 Sugarloaf Blvd., Sugarloaf Key
3BR/2BA
Roberta Mira, Florida Keys Real Estate Co.
305-797-5263
36
3
1317-A Catherine St., #A, Key West
2BR/2BA
Frank Kirwin, Preferred Properties Key West
305-294-3040
305-304-5253
36
4
347 Blackbeard Rd., Little Torch Key
3BR/3BA
Mary Bourgraf
954-907-1324
36
7
308 Margaret St., Key West
1BR/1BA
Doug Mayberry, Doug Mayberry Real Estate
305-292-6155
38
#BR/BA
Listing Agent
Phone Number
Ad Page
37 Blue Water Dr., Saddlebunch Key
Open House - Sunday 2/8/15, 11-4pm
2BR/2BA
Leigh Ann Roach, Preferred P:roperties Key West
305-587-4535
36
846 Olivia St., Key West
Open House - Sunday 2/8/15, 12-2pm
3BR/3BA
Doug Mayberry, Doug Mayberry Real Estate
305-292-6155
38
Open Houses
Map # Address
5
6
Key West Association of REALTORS®
keywestrealtors.org
Phone (305) 296-8259
Listing Agency
Middle Keys
RE/MAX Keys
Coldwell Banker Schmitt
Lower Keys
Rose Dell & Assoc
Rose Dell & Assoc
Island Group Realty
Outside Of MLS
American Caribbean
Sellstate Island Properties
American Caribbean
Key West
Florida Keys Real Estate
Preferred Properties
Truman & Co.
Selling Agency
Sold Date
List Price
Sold Price
RE/MAX Keys
Island Breeze Realty
1/26/15
1/29/15
$ 762,500.00
$ 389,000.00
$ 762,500.00
$ 380,000.00
Rose Dell & Assoc
American Caribbean
Rose Dell & Associates,
Internet Realty
Florida Keys Real Estate
KeyIsle Realty
American Caribbean Real Estate
Shoreline Properties
1/22/15
1/26/15
1/28/15
1/28/15
1/29/15
1/22/15
1/26/15
1/20/15
1/26/15
1/27/15
1/28/15
1/22/15
1/29/15
1/27/15
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Banyan Resort Realty
Keys Commercial Real Estate
Doug Mayberry Real Estate
Prudential Knight & Gardner
1/26/15
1/26/15
1/28/15
1/28/15
1/23/15
1/26/15
219,000.00
429,995.00
190,000.00
239,560.00
399,900.00
184,900.00
43,000.00
432,000.00
525,000.00
264,900.00
439,900.00
489,900.00
99,000.00
735,900.00
195,000.00
400,000.00
190,750.00
220,000.00
375,000.00
179,750.00
40,000.00
432,000.00
500,000.00
265,000.00
420,000.00
475,000.00
99,000.00
660,000.00
Street #
868
500
31481
31017
1632
30342
1657
2351
29859
28564
651
3993
27331
23054
17
17086
Fax (305) 296-2701
Street Address
Island
Built
Description
Bdrms
Wtrfrnt
MM
E Copa
43rd Gulf
Marathon
Marathon
1988
1967
Single Family
Single Family
3
4
Yes
No
49.5
49.5
Avenue F
Hibiscus Dr
Bogie Dr
Hibiscus Ln
Watson Blvd
Palm Beach Rd
Overseas Hwy #18
Le Grand Rd
Carolyn Ave
Mary Rd
St Croix Ln
Wahoo Ln
Port Royal Ln
Bonita Ln
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key
Little Torch Key
Little Torch Key
Big Pine Key
Ramrod Key
Cudjoe Key
Cudjoe Key
Sugarloaf Key
1970
2011
1994
1969
1970
1982
N/A
1995
1994
1983
1989
1977
N/A
2005
Mobile Home
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Lots
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Lots
Single Family
2
2
2
2
3
2
0
2
3
2
2
3
0
3
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
31
31
31
31
30.5
30
30
28.5
28.5
28
27.5
23
23
17
1985
1958
1954
2008
1866
2009
Condo
Duplex
Single Family
Single Family
Single Family
Condo
2
2
3
2
3
1
No
No
No
No
No
No
3
2
2
2
1
0.5
$ 199,000.00
$ 196,000.00
3314 Northside Dr #35
Key West
$ 350,000.00
$ 350,000.00
2002 Seidenberg Ave
Key West
$ 479,000.00
$ 435,000.00
1724 Rose St
Key West
$1,195,000.00
$1,150,000.00
1513 Pine St
Key West
$1,289,000.00
$1,100,000.00
717 Southard St
Key West
$ 450,000.00
$ 420,000.00
617 Fleming St #6
Key West
Based on information from the KWAR MLS for the period of 01/22/15 through 01/29/15
Good Deeds sponsored by
6
7
38

February 5, 2015

Transcription

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