Key West

Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
KEY WEST, FLORIDA • JULY 27, 2007
Local Man Who Allegedly SPECIAL REPORT
The Assassination
Stole Thousands of
Dollars From 18-Year-Old Of Dr. Corliss Rupp
OF APPEAL RIGHTS
Boy’s Trust Fund Goes On COURT
TERRIBLE WRONG
Trial August 13
MARIO LOT, A FORMER COACH
AT KWHS, WAS ENGAGED TO THE
BOY’S MOTHER. HE TOLD POLICE
INVESTIGATORS THAT HE TOOK
MORE THAN $100,000 TO PAY
GAMBLING DEBTS
by Dennis Reeves Cooper
A man charged with
stealing more than $100,000
from his fiancee’s 18-year-old
son’s trust fund will go on trial
August 13.
Mario Lot, 35, had a 13year-relationship with Allison
Mayer, a local singer known
on stage as “Baby T”. She was
the founding member of the
Fabulous Spectrelles.
Mayer was married to Jim
Mayer, who was one of the owners of Sloppy Joe’s Bar until his
death in 1991. The couple’s son,
Cole, was born in 1988. After
See TRIAL, page 5
MARIO LOT
by Rhonda Linseman
Dr. Corliss Rupp came to Key West in 2003 and began
offering much-needed psychiatric care to the under-served
through Medallion Health Services. Many were grateful because
psychiatric care for the working class is difficult to come by in
the Keys.
The myth that psychiatrists make a lot of money is as farcical as the notion that college professors make a lot of money.
Compared with other medical specialties, psychiatrists earn
considerably less. On average, a psychiatrist earns $130,000 less
than a radiologist or an anesthesiologist.
Obviously, this makes attracting and retaining psychiatrists
and other behavioral and psychological health care professionals
difficult—especially those willing to work under the condition
that they may not be paid in full or at all.
Clearly, Key West was lucky to have Dr. Rupp. She was the
kind of person who gave tirelessly to our community through
her work with her patients. During Hurricane Wilma, the roof
of the building in which she practiced was destroyed. When she
See RUPP, page 6
page one commentary
Cop Allegedly Uses Patrol Car to Run Down
Suspect; and Then Tries To Cover It Up
by Dennis Reeves Cooper
A Key West cop with a
reputation for using “excessive
force” is now reportedly under
investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
(FDLE). We don’t have all the
STATE ATTORNEY REPORTEDLY SENDS COMPLAINT OVER TO FDLE
details because officials will
not comment on an on-going
investigation, but here is what
we have pieced together from
unofficial sources.
Several weeks ago, Sgt.
Pablo Rodriguez allegedly ran
down a suspect in his patrol car
and then, reportedly, attempted
to coerce a fellow officer to de-
stroy the video from his in-car
camera. Here’s the way we hear
it went down:
Rodriguez was on routine
patrol in his police cruiser when
a BOLO (Be On the Lookout)
call came over the radio. A man
was wanted for something or
the other, but the description
See RODRIGUEZ, page 4
OFFICER MANNY MENENDEZ’ LIE DETECTOR TEST • See Page 10
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
RHONDA
Spectations At the
Hemingway 5K Run
by Rhonda Linseman
I’ve never chosen to run
3.1 miles all at once, but I might,
now that I’ve witnessed the
Hemingway 5K run/walk for
the first time. My sister—the
one who’ll try anything once—
came to town for the weekend
and decided to run the race
on a whim. I think she did it
mostly to rationalize buying a
cute new running skirt and top.
And since navy blue lollies are
completely unavailable in this
town, she was forced to complete the outfit with hot pink
hot pants from Fairvilla (size
microscopic).
My mom, also in town for
a minute, took 73 pictures of my
sister. And that was before the
race even began. As the racers
gathered, I began to feel at ease.
This was not what I’d expected
such an event to look like. I’d
always been intimidated by the
thought. I suppose Anything K
always seemed so official and
reserved for athletic types with
etched abdomens and titanium
biscuits. But these were a bunch
of regular people, of all shapes
and ages, out to have a good
time. Some were alone but
many were in groups of friends
and family. They weren’t stressing or psyching themselves up
for the win. Instead, they were
laughing, joking, and generally
encouraging each other. Touching, really.
The experience inspired
me to think about considering
the possibility of entertaining
the notion that, potentially, a
regular girl like me could do this
without sticking out like, well,
like a clean cop in Key West.
And despite the fact that we
missed half of the awards and
after-fun because the registration form had the Hemingway
House as the location, rather
than the Southernmost House,
we give the event two thumbs
up. Of course, seeing Bill Becker
of US 1 Radio in person made it
all worthwhile. He’s not as old
as you might imagine. He only
SOUNDS like Santa Claus.
And no, “spectations” is
not a word.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page NEWS BRIEFS
Group Wants Charter
Change to Require
Voter Approval For
Annexation
Last week, when four members of the City Commission
voted against putting a non-binding referendum on the ballot
to allow Key Westers to weigh in on whether or not Wisteria
Island should be annexed for the purpose of development, they
were telling the citizens of Key West, in essence: “Butt out. You
have no say in this.”
Businessman Bruce Ritson’s reaction to that was, “Oh,
yeah?! Ritson has put together the Wisteria Island Committee
that will be gathering signatures on a petition to force the Commission to put a binding referendum on the October ballot. That
referendum would call for a change in the City Charter to require
voter approval for any annexation action.
Ritson said that he and his committee members hope to
begin collecting signatures next week. Signatures of 10 percent
of the almost 14,000 registered voters in Key West are required to
get the question on the ballot. About 1400 signatures are needed.
Ritson says the committee has 30 days from Monday to get the
the required number of signatures.
Want to get involved? Contact Ritson at 292-0532 or
ritsonb@bellsouth.net.
Battle Of Bars Next
Weekend
The 14th annual Battle of the Bars is set for next weekend,
Sunday, August 5. There’s still time to register your team. Call
Evalena at 292-3773 or email schoonerwb@aol.com. The envent
benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
www.kwtn.com
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
Rodriguez Allegedly Asked Fellow
Officer To Destroy Evidence
FROM page 1
was very vague. But Rodriguez
reportedly saw a man walking
on the street who seemed to fit
the description.
Rodriguez ordered him to
stop, but that man began running. Rodriguez pursued him
in his patrol car while calling
for backup. Additional cars
responded to the scene.
In many or most Key West
police cars, when the flashing
lights go on, the video cameras
mounted on the dashboards
also go on. More than one of
the in-car cameras reportedly
recorded Rodriguez hitting the
man with his patrol car.
But the suspect was able to
get up and run again, temporarily escaping from the pursuing
officers. He was subsequently
apprehended, but it turned
out that he was not right guy.
He was not the subject of the
BOLO. Reportedly, he was running because he was an illegal
immigrant.
He was reportedly questioned and released— and we
understand that there may not
even be an existing incident
report. The last thing the cops
wanted here was a witness to
the alleged excessive force.
Also, apparently, being in this
country illegally is not a crime
in Key West.
The point here is that
officers are not allowed to use
their vehicles as weapons of
deadly force, not even in the
Key West Police Department.
And, reportedly, Rodriguez
set out to destroy any visual
evidence that he used his car
to run down the suspect. We
understand that the video from
his dashboard camera may have
“disappeared”.
But the video produced
by the camera in Officer Matt
Koslowski’s car reportedly
shows Rodriguez’ car hitting
the man. We hear that Rodriguez ordered (or attempted to
persuade) Koslowski to destroy
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that video. Koslowski reportedly refused to do that.
We understand that it is
well known in the department
that Rodriguez has, reportedly, taunted Koslowski with
gay-related slurs. Could this be
one reason Koslowski may not
have been overly receptive to
Rodriguez’ alleged request to
commit an illegal act? Payback
is a bitch.
Well, somewhere along
the line, somebody— we don’t
know who— sent a complaint
over to the State Attorney’s
Office. We don’t think the complaint was sent by the KWPD.
In fact, Police spokesperson
Christie Phillips tells us that
the department did not even
conduct an internal investigation.
Rodriguez is no stranger
to controversy. One of the biggest files in the office of the
Citizen Review Board is labeled
“Pablo Rodriguez”. At least five
complaints against Rodriguez
are included in that file.
In May of 2000, Rodriguez
was one of six officers involved
in an incident in which a suspect
was allegedly hogtied, repeatedly peppersprayed and beaten
unconscious. The cops claimed
that the suspect’s injuries had
been self-inflicted.
In July 2001, Rodriguez
was working an off-duty security gig at a Duval Street bar. He
allegedly pulled a handcuffed
suspect down an alley and beat
him bloody. Rodriguez claimed
that he was the victim, accusing
the suspect of resisting arrest.
CONTINUED on next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
2001: Rodriguez Accused Of
Crushing Suspect’s Face— On
Purpose. City Paid $25,000 To
Avoid Lawsuit
RODRIGUEZ, from page 4
In May of 2001, Rodriguez
was involved in another rough
arrest in which he allegedly
crushed a man’s face— on purpose. The City of Key West paid
the man $25,000 to head off a
major lawsuit.
In a bizarre reversal of
roles in July 2005, Rodriguez
arrested and jailed a man who
allegedly bumped into him at
a crowded restaurant. The man
was charged with battery.
We learned this week that
the State Attorney’s Office has
sent the most recent complaint
about Rodriguez over to the
local office of the FDLE. The
FDLE oversees all law enforcement agencies in the state, so
you might think that, this time,
Rodriguez might be in serious
trouble. But you might want to
think again.
You see, in the chain of
command over at the KWPD,
Capt Scott Smith is one of Rodriguez’ commanding officers.
Scott Smith is married to Kathy
Smith, who is the local agent-incharge over at the FDLE.
Got it?
Let’s all watch together to
see if Capt. Smith has enough
influence in the bedroom to
make the allegations against
his boy Rodriguez simply go
away.
On the other hand, we
understand that the guy who
might really be in trouble is Officer Koslowski, for reportedly
refusing to commit an illegal
act. Go figure.
Former Role Model Is Now
An Alleged Thief
TRIAL from page 1
Mayer died, a sizable trust fund
was set up for Cole, which he
could access when he turned 18.
He turned 18 last year.
Allison and Mario developed a relationship in 1993.
Lot is a fourth-generation Key
Wester. His grandfather, Reece
Thompson, was Sheriff of Monroe County. He was a former
math teacher and coach of the
junior varsity basketball team
at Key West High School.
Cole reportedly called
Mario “dad” and Mario called
Cole “son”.
Lot reportedly managed
the finances for the family.
But Mario Lot had some
secrets— like gambling and
other women. Last April, Allison learned that Mario had been
systematically stealing money­­
­­— as much as $106,000— from
Cole’s trust fund to pay gambling debts.
According to the arrest
affidavit, Lot would ask Cole to
sign blank checks, telling him
that he needed the money to
pay household expenses. Cole
told the police that he always
signed the checks because he
trusted Mario and he had no
reason to believe that he might
be stealing from him.
Allison told investigators
that she learned about the alleged theft when she got a call
from Lot’s former roommate.
When she confronted Lot, he
reportedly admitted that he
had taken the money and he
promised to pay it back.
Allison reported the alleged theft to the police and Lot
was arrested last May 15. He
was charged with Grand Theft
over $100,000.
He subsequently pled not
guilty. A jury trial is scheduled
to begin on August 13 in Judge
Mark Jones’ courtroom.
Lot is listed on the website inthezonemag.com as
assistant coach of Team In the
Zone, a Miami-based youth
sports organization.
Perhaps ironically, one
line in his biographical sketch
on the website reads: “He treats
his players as if they were his
own kids . . .”
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
Dr. Rupp Unselfishly Served the
Under-Served In Key West. But, Apparently,
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
RUPP, from page 1
and her office manager, Kate
Jarvela, were finally allowed to
reenter the building to salvage
what they could, a rain storm
sent water pouring through
the roof. They saved patient
records by stuffing them into
huge plastic bags and dragging
them down the unlit and unsafe
stairwell.
Officials finally insisted
they stop. One firefighter said,
“Ma’am if you don’t leave, I’ll
have to carry you out.” To which
she replied, “Could you carry
this last bag instead?”
Dr. Rupp and Kate managed to save every single
patient record that day. What
they didn’t save, however, were
the insurance checks and other
payments for services rendered.
Many of the checks were destroyed or permanently lost
with Wilma. Some were never
rewritten, and others took over
90 days to be reissued. Nonetheless, Dr. Rupp knew her patients
needed care during that crucial
time, so she found a place to
practice. For three months after
Wilma, she saw patients with
absolutely no expectation of
payment. “Like everybody at
that time, we were operating
on nothing, and felt compelled
to keep seeing patients. It was
unquestionably the right thing
to do.” Dr. Rupp told KWTN
this week. She shared her story
calmly but through tears as she
recalled the events.
So why did we lose her?
Why did Key West lose a doctor whose caseload totaled over
500 poor and working class
patients, many of whom still
have no other alternative?
The answer would be
comical, if it weren’t such a
travesty for so many people,
including Dr. Rupp and her
patients. Dr. Rupp left Key West
after the Florida Department
of Health’s Board of Medicine
put her through professional,
personal, and financial hell
because they had not received
notification of an action against
her in Virginia within 30 days
of changing her address.
Before moving her practice to Key West, Dr. Rupp
contracted temporarily with
the firm of Daniel and Yeager, a
company that places physicians
at various locations around the
country. The firm was charged
with facilitating all documentation, including obtaining the
state licenses and notifying each
board when a physician has a
change of address.
But when the Atlanta office of the firm closed suddenly,
the firm’s headquarters made
no provisions for forwarding
addresses. They also didn’t
bother to inform Dr. Rupp that
they had closed, so she was
absolutely shocked to learn that
the Virginia Board of Medicine
had charged and convicted her,
in absentia, of a violation of the
change of address statute.
But the real tragedy occurred with the involvement
of the State of Florida’s Board
of Medicine. In June of 2006,
the Board held hearings, supposedly to conduct a de novo
review of the Record and Recommended Order in Dr. Rupp’s
case. They decided to refuse Dr.
Rupp or her counsel to address
the Board. They reprimanded
her, ridiculed her, and slapped
her with a Final Order imposing
that a damaging letter of concern be issued to her, as well as
See RUPP, next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
Court Chastises State Board Of Medicine.
Sanctions May Be Next
RUPP, from page 6
$10, 118.19 in fines and costs.
The battle took an astounding three years—yes, you
read correctly—it took three
years to resolve a dispute that
was essentially over a simple
change of address. And it was
the now defunct firm of Daniel
and Yeager who failed—not
Dr. Rupp. She had taken extra
steps to ensure this would never
occur.
Regardless, the unwarranted battle took a toll on
Dr. Rupp. She was drained
financially and physically. The
already tiny framed doctor lost
over twenty pounds and developed insomnia. The board had
notified multiple agencies and
governing bodies of this “action” against Dr. Rupp, and all
but destroyed her personal and
professional reputation. And
ultimately, she felt she had to
alternative but to leave town.
Dr. Rupp never gave up
completely, however, and she
finally appealed to the Third
District Court of Appeal. On
July 18th of this year, the Court
released their decision to rule
in favor of Dr. Rupp and completely reversed the Board’s
earlier decision. Not only did
the Court reverse the decision,
they issued several pages of
scathing, direct criticism of the
Board, commenting that “this
case has been a shocking waste
of everyone’s resources.”
The Court further noted
that Dr. Rupp is a physician
“with an unblemished record
providing services to the poor,
who took the step of hiring a
firm to keep her licenses current, and yet was disciplined
for not doing the impossible.”
The Court even went on to say
that the Florida Department
of Health, Board of Medicine,
should be encouraging other
physicians to do what Dr.
Rupp has been doing and that
it should “exercise better judgment in deciding whether to
file such a frivolous case, and
instead, focus its energies on
tracking down and disciplining those physicians who truly
deserve punishment.”
In an effort to minimally
regain some of her losses and
to deter the Board from such
nonsense in the future, Dr. Rupp
is taking action to request that
Florida’s Board of Medicine be
sanctioned and that they will be
responsible for Dr. Rupp’s court
and legal fees.
“This took a tremendous
amount of time and I’m in debt
up to my eyeballs but the worst
part has been leaving behind
my dearest colleagues, friends,
and patients.” Dr. Rupp said.
She also noted that she has
been contacted by some of her
patients whose needs remain
dire. “I can only offer them an
ear and a copy of their psychiatric records that might assist
them in their quest to find good
psychiatric care in the Keys.”
Mick Barnes, one of the
lawyers who represented Dr.
Rupp in this case, commented
that the doctors who sat on
the Board of Medicine claim to
be in a helping profession, yet
“they helped no one and caused
the Florida Keys to lose a fine
psychiatrist. The Board should
be subject to an investigation
into how this occurred and
how it must be prevented in
the future.”
Dr. Rupp sums it up best,
calling this action by the Florida
Board of medicine inconceivable. It ruined her reputation
and caused her departure from
Key West. “It is unfathomable
that the Board would waste
such time and taxes to pursue
this vicious attack. This was
about an address change, for
heaven’s sake!”
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
film
What’s On At the Tropic?
Able Body Fitness Center is proudly
registered with the State of Florida as a
Health Studio. Registration No. HS4729
Opens Friday on the big
Carper screen. The summer’s
“magical, beguiling” sleeper
sensation!
ONCE
Everybody loves Once, a
modern-day musical set on the
streets of Dublin, featuring Glen
Hansard and his Irish band The
Frames, plus the wonderfully
appealing young Czech actress
Markéta Irglová. An emotionally vulnerable street musician
(Hansard) meets a Czech immigrant (Irglová) unable to afford
the piano she yearns for. They
are both outsiders, struggling
with their art and their hearts.
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Through music they find a common bond, and over the course
of an intense few days, their
relationship blossoms. Putting
together a band to rehearse
songs and record some demos
brings some much-needed
impetus to their artistic and
personal lives.
Winner of the Audience
Award for World Cinema
(Drama) at the 2007 Sundance
Film Festival, it’s a “a miracle
of a movie that is both fairy
tale and slice of life.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer), and
“a magical beguiling wonder”
(Rolling Stone).. Once “reinvents the movie musical as a
genre of swooning rock ‘n’ roll
realism.”(Boston Globe). “The
music is so rich and completely
satisfying and the characters
so appealing Once makes us
believe that this is all happening right in front of our eyes.
We fall for each of these young
people at the precise moment
they are falling for each other,
and what could be better than
that?” (L.A. Times).
Rated R.
* * *
Held over!
EVENING
This deeply emotional
film illuminates the timeless
love that binds mother and
daughter, seen through the
prism of one mother’s life as it
crests with optimism, navigates
a turning point, and ebbs to
its close. Two pairs of real-life
mothers and daughters --Vanessa Redgrave and Natasha
Richardson, and Meryl Streep
and Mamie Gummer -- portray,
respectively, a mother and her
daughter and the mother’s best
friend at different stages in
life. Co-starring Glenn Close,
Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy,
Claire Danes and Toni Collette.
Screenplay by Pulitzer Prizewinning author Michael Cunningham (The Hours), based
on the best-selling novel by
Susan Minot. English-language
debut for director Lajos Koltai
(Fateless).
“It resonates with gleaming ferocity as it unspools a story
of regret, longing and resolution
in two generations of women.”
Miami Herald
“The film, like the book,
is clear-eyed without being
clinical, reflective but never
maudlin” Chicago Tribune
Rated: PG-13.
* * *
One more week, by popular demand!
PARIS, JE T’AIME
A who’s who of celebrated
filmmakers from around the
world come together to show
CONTINUED on next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page www.kwtn.com
What’s On At the Tropic?
FROM previous page
Paris in a way never before
imagined. Through a kaleidoscope of stories about joy,
separation, unexpected strange
encounters and of course—
love—their films capture both
the reality of contemporary
Paris as well as the enchantment one feels as a visitor. It’s
an omnibus celebrating the joys
and sorrows of love and Paris,
organized by neighborhood.
“Builds into something quite
wonderful,” says the Washington Post. “The result is that after
two hours one gets the sense
of having seen a panorama of
human experience, of having
witnessed a moment of time
in all its true fullness.” San
Francisco Chronicle
Rated R.
* * *
SPECIAL EVENTS
Free Matinee Movies
for Kids! Every Saturday at
12:30pm. Saturday, July 28:
Firehouse Dog
Rexxx, Hollywood’s top
canine star, gets lost and is adopted into a shabby firehouse.
He teams up with the son of
the station’s captain to get the
place back on its feet. Rated PG
for sequences of action peril,
some mild crude humor and
language. Runtime: 1 hour,
51 minutes. Free Admission.
One show only at 12:30pm on
Saturday, July 28.
All Films are provided by
KIDS FIRST! (a program of the
Coalition for Quality Children’s
Media) Doors open at 12:00 ~ All
children must be accompanied
by an adult
ONCE
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 10
www.kwtn.com
OPINION
hal o'boyle
New Report:
Officer Manny Menendez
Broke Down During
Lie Detector Test
Mud Wrestling
With Patriot II
by Dennis Reeves Cooper
Several weeks ago, we told you that Manny
Menendez, the 36-year-old son of City Commissioner
Jose Menendez was apparently given preferential
treatment when he was hired by the Key West Police
Department as a parking enforcement specialist in
January 2005 and, again, when his application to
attend the Police Academy was approved seven
months later.
On his employment application, Menendez
admitted to using cocaine in 2003. According to the
department’s policy on past drug use, that disqualified him for both jobs. But we now know that his past
drug use may have been far more extensive than what
ON THE SONNY SIDE
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here’s another re-run of a
previous column. O’Boyle argues that he actually
has other things to do besides writing for Key West
The Newspaper.
by Hal O’Boyle
The Domestic Security Enhancement Act, (Patriot
he put on his application. In any event, it apparently
Act II) is a secret piece of legislation. Its authors at
helps to have a father who is a City Commissioner.
the Justice Department marked it “Confidential-not
Former Police Chief Bill Fortune waived the drug
for distribution” and sent to Vice President Chaney,
policy to enable Menendez to be hired as a parking
Speaker of the House Hassert, and executive heads of
enforcement specialist. Chief Bill Mauldin waived
several federal law enforcement agencies. No member
the policy to enable Menendez to attend the Police
of Congress got a copy. It is only through the efforts
Academy.
of a reckless liberty mole that a copy was leaked to
Mauldin admits that he did not even look at
and published by the Center for Public Integrity.
the report of Menendez’ pre-employment lie detector
It’s long. It’s scary. You can find it at their website:
test— a Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA). Had
http://www.publicintegrity.org/dtaweb/home.asp
he bothered to review this report (which we here at
under Patriot Act II.
KWTN obtained this week), he would have seen that
It is ominously similar to the Enabling Laws
Detective Dan Allen, who conducted the CVSA exam,
that handed power to Hitler in 1933 Germany. Those
See MANNY, page 24 laws were passed in response to a crisis created by
the Nazis themselves. Patriot II is also being sold as
crisis management. I’ll go over some highlights for
you, but first I want to examine the question, why
this and why now?
I am sure I will never know exactly how the
world works. I am confident, however, that through
system, build marinas, and on and on. One project
bungling trial and error I can discover, idea by idea,
would lead into the next and before I knew it, I had
See O'BOYLE, page 23
served five terms which became the Mayoral record
in the Island’s two century history.
Key West is a natural for tourism and in a short
period of time the Island was once again becoming
an inplace for those seeking an historical, tropical,
Island retreat. Very soon, we will be viewing our keys
T H E
N E W S P A P E R
from a high-span bridge as we enter the keys, and
for those who opposed the building of this bridge, it
might be appropriate now to remind all of us that the
Key West The Newspaper is published every
road approaches to the old bridge will be removed
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Our Key’s infrastructure is slowly coming into Editor/Publisher Dennis Reeves Cooper, Ph.D.
Associate Editor Rhonda Linseman
conformity with the needs and requirements of a
Entertainment Valerie Ridenour
people that may be slowly adjusting to the reality of
Photography
Richard Watherwax
having to live in a fast changing world. And even in
Art
Director
Art Winstanley
our laid back Florida Keys, time is catching up with
Advertising
Byron
Gronvold
us.
Contributors
Michael
Barnes,
Bob Smith,
Sonny McCoy is a Monroe County CommisHal
O’Boyle,
Sonny
McCoy,
Barbara
Bowers,
sioner and a former five-term Key West Mayor.
Meryl Berman, Harry Skevington
On The Road To Recovery
by Charles “Sonny” McCoy
It was a warm summer day in Key West and I
was back in my hometown for a few days and some
old classmates and friends invited me to join them
for a beer at the Mermaid Lounge in the LaConcha.
We were reminiscing about our growing up on the
Island, when they suggested we step outside onto
Duval Street. They said look north toward the Gulf
and the street and sidewalks were deserted; they then
pointed south on Duval Street and again there was
no activity.
My friends had a motive and it was to interest
me in running for political office and to utilize my
practice in architecture and engineering to revitalize the Island’s economy. Since the nineteen forties,
Key West had been one of the main military bases in
the war against the U-Boat menace of WW-2, but by
nineteen seventy, the military was de-commissioning
its presence here. The absence of the military and its
payroll had left the Island devoid of its main source of
income. Whether it was the beer or the challenge, they
ran me for Mayor, and much to my surprise I won and
returned to my hometown to assume my duties.
There were so many needs, that early on I applied for grants from the Federal HUD and slowly
restored the Downtown; two blocks at a time. And
somewhere along the line I won a National Award
for the Island’s recovery. Since there was no money in
the City’s Coffers, it was necessary to write and solicit
grants to create a city bus system, to build the sewer
Key West
West
Key
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 11
www.kwtn.com
ENTERTAINMENT • EATING & DRINKING • NIGHTLIFE • ATTRACTIONS • EVENTS • ARTS • SHOPPING • MAP
Dave Vizard Back Candye Kane Back At the
Parrot! Robert Albury and
At Finnegan’s
Caffeine Carl, Too!
DAVE VIZARD is back
at Finnegan’s Wake
tonight and tomorrow
night, Friday and
Saturday, July 27-28.
Live Music On the
Island! Complete
Listings & Info
Pages 11-20
PLUS-SIZE BLUES AT THE GREEN PARROT— Candye Kane, left, and her band will be in the
house tonight and tomorrow night, Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, starting at 10. Also, TWO
SPECIAL “SOUND CHECKS” THIS WEEKEND: ROBERT ALBURY, above right, brings his own
brand of Key West soul to the Parrot this afternoon, Friday, at 5pm. Note the special time. And on
Sunday afternoon at 5:30, CAFFEINE CARL & the Buzz will be rockin’ the old watering hole.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 12
www.kwtn.com
more more
entertainment
entertainment
Honey Mouth At
Schooner Wharf Bar
RAVEN COOPER and her band, Honey Mouth, will be at the Schooner Wharf Bar tonight and
tomorrow night, Friday and Saturday, July 27-28, 7 ‘til midnight.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 13
more entertainment
Texas Rock & Country
At Cowboy Bill’s
TIM COOPER & THE MIDNIGHT RIDE is at Cowboy Bill’s tonight and tomorrow night, Friday
and Saturday, July 27-28, starting at 10. He-haw!
www.kwtn.com
OILY’S AUTO REPAIR
MIKE YOUNG, CERTIFIED ASE TECHNICIAN
5669 5th AVE, STOCK ISLAND• 296-6656
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 14
www.kwtn.com
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 15
www.kwtn.com
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 16
www.kwtn.com
what’s hot
Southernmost Brass Band
RICHARD WATHERWAX
by Valerie Ridenour
They are hotter than a
two dollar pistol! They play
wonderful music. I’m talking about Mike Emerson’s
Southernmost Brass Band. I
saw them at the Green Parrot,
where they play frequently.
Mike has assembled a super
group, for sure. The players
are saxophonists Marty Stonely
and Les Douglas, trombonist
Joe Dallas, trumpeter Kenny
Fradley, drummer Dave Parker,
bassist Tim McAlpine, and Mike
on lead guitar and vocals. They
are a master class in progress,
each one is a virtuoso.
They began with the ulti-
mate jump tune, “Chattanooga
Choo Choo”. It was marvelous.
Every player shone. Next came
a wonderful number, “Messing
With the Kid”. Mike sang it.
Ken Fradley smoked a solo,
followed by Joe. Then Mike
played killer lead. Tim is perfection on the bass, and Dave goes
into overdrive with the drums.
I can’t emphasize enough what
a standout each man is. I love
Mike’s vocals too.
Now we hear a Chuck
Mangione tune, “Children Of
Sanchez Brilliant. This one
belongs to Mike and Kenny
who were phenomenal. “One
O’clock Jump” was hot. How
long has it been (if indeed you
ever have) since you heard
“Minnie the Moocher”? It is
so soulful, and I loved the band
singing the “Hidee hide ho’s”
This is pure entertainment. We heard great growly
horn sounds. Dave solos brilliantly on this one.
“You Stepped Out of a
Dream” swung back and forth
from Latin to swing. All soloed.
This is real music. They also
play classics from Chicago,
Blood, Swear and Tears and
the like. The last song was
“Caldonia” (what makes your
big head so hard). It was a
total trip. Watch the Parrot’s
schedule. I’ll let you know
about other venues. You’ll
always see other musicians in
the audience. I spotted Bob
Paul and Ellie, Brent Litch and
Nancy, Gary Chase and others,
all either dancing or moving
to the infectious beats. This is
such a fun experience. I hope
you have it soon! And once
again, thanks to John Vagnoni
for booking 5:30 sound checks
so the early risers can hear the
bands. Stay cool.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 17
RIDENOUR REPORT
by Valerie Ridenour
Did you catch C.W. Colt
last week? It’s not too late! You
can turn on cwcolt.com and
hear him live on radio, this
week from Colorado, or from
wherever he’s playing. He’s
number one on the independent charts! He’s one of those
artists who just get better. The
Alien Doug (Raver) was with
him. I hadn’t talked to Alien
since he and I had a gig at Sunshine Key. He forgot his bass.
Kid you not! Fortunately, I had
two keyboards along, so we
got through the night. I hope I
never have to do that again!
Skipper e-mailed me
photos of many things from
our childhoods that were funny
and wonderful. I was thinking
how delightful nostalgia is.
Then I turned on the TV and
there was someone I loved,
Dennis Weaver. Dennis isn’t
with us any more. He told
me all about his underground
house. We were backstage
at country music fan fair. I
introduced him to Barbara
Mandrell, Loretta Lynn and
them. If this group doesn’t impress you I give up. You have
no soul. They are as exciting as
early Beatles must have been.
I hope a record label hears
them and records them doing
originals as well as their very
eclectic repertoire. Irresistible
acts come along rarely. We
have been blessed to have this
one here.
The other band that
has stardom in their future is
Caribe. They have Rolando
Rojas, who is like Raven, brilliant. He’s also great looking,
which Latin ladies love. SomeRAVEN
one is going to make billions
others. He went home to Cali- on these two acts. Trust me. I
fornia and sent me a thank you have a commercial ear. I have
note! Imagine, a thank you note picked acts no one paid any
from a movie/tv star! Barbara attention to who have become
asked me to go on a road trip chart busters. The music biz is
with her, but I couldn’t get stupid, but they will find the
away. Good memories trigger gold eventually.
others. Thanks, Skippo!
Remember last week’s
review of Honey Mouth?
Well your chance to hear them
is now. They will appear at
Schooner Wharf tonight and
tomorrow. Raven will be with
www.kwtn.com
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 18
www.kwtn.com
NOW PLAYING
PLEASE NOTE: Entertainment schedules are always subject to last-minute changes and, sometimes, club schedules are
not available at press time. TBA stands for To Be Announced.
NAPT stands for Not Available At Press Time. Band times are
noted before the names of the bands in each listing. Please alert
Valerie Ridenour to errors and/or schedule changes. 872-1561.
entertainment@kwtn.com NOTE: Schedules are subject to change
without notice. To be sure the band of your choice is playing,
you may want to call the venue before you go.
AQUA: SAT, 3:30 – 6: 30,
Mike Emerson Trio * TUES – MON,
the Aquanettes
BEAR BOTTOM BEACH
CLUB: FRI & SAT, 6 – 10, Randy
Mac; 10 – 2, Matt Avery * MON
& TUES, 5 – 9, Acoustic Johnson
* WED, 5 – 9, Taz; 9 – 1, Matt
Avery
BLUE HEAVEN: FRI, Mary
Spear * SAT, Mary Spear * SUN,
brunch, Mary Spear
B.O.’s FISH WAGON: FRI,
6pm, Barry Cuda & the Sharks
BOONDOCKS: FRI & SAT,
Howard Livingston & MM24*
SUN, Gillis & Gordy * MON, Barry
Cuda & Friends
BOTTLECAP: FRI, Michael
Dixon Band * THURS, Beef Chili
& the Con Carne Brothers
THE BULL: FRI, 1 – 5, Yankee Jack; 6 – 10, Jeanie Falcone; 10
– 2, Caffeine Carl * SAT, 1 – 5, Yan-
kee Jack; 6 – 10, Jeanie Falcone; 10
– 2, 40ft. Sharpie * SUN, 1 – 5, Yankee
Jack; 6 – 9, Jeanie Falcone; 9 – 1, 40ft,
Sharpie _ MON, 1 – 5, Yankee Jack;
8 – 12, Baby T * TUES, 1 – 5, Yankee
Jack; 8 – 12, Dawn Wilder * WED,
1 – 5, Jeanie Falcone; 8 – 12, Dawn
Wilder * THURS; 1 – 5, Yankee Jack;
10 – 2, Jeanie Falcone
CAPTAIN TONY’S: FRI &
SAT, noon, Rob Sweet; 4:30 Gary
Hempsey; 9 – 2, Carl Peachy Band *
SUN, noon, Bed Taddiken; 4:30, Tim
Bender; 8:30 – 12:30, Gary Hempsey
* MON, noon, Liz O’Connor; 4:30,
Rob Sweet; 8:30 – 12:30, Carl Peachy
Band * TUES, noon, Rob Sweet;
4:30, Gary Hempsey; 8:30 – 12:30
Gary Hempsey * WED, noon,
Ben Taddiken; 4:30, Tim Bender;
8:30 – 12:30, Carl Peachy Band *
THURS, noon Liz O’Connor; 4:39,
Gary Hempsey; 8:30 – 12:30, Carl
Peachy Band
CHEESEBURGER: FRI,
Nick Norman; SAT, Hershel Lester;
* SUN, Alphonse * TUES, Jim Wist *
THURS, Jim Wist; Rob & Tom
CONCH REPUBLIC SEAFOOD RESTAURANT: FRI, 2 – 6,
Joel Nelson; 7 – 11, Black & Skabuddah * SAT, 2 – 6, Joel Nelson; 7 – 11,
Zack Seemiller * SUN, 6 – 10, Melvin
Newton * MON, 6 -10, Zack Seemiller * TUES, 6 – 10, Melvin Newton
* WED, Din Allen * THURS, 6 – 10,
Black & Skabuddah
COWBOY BILL’S: FRI &
SAT, Tim Cooper & the Midnight
Ride * WED & THURS, Rick
Monroe
DANTE’S: FRI, 4 - 8, Yvon
Agbo * SAT, 1:30 – 5:30, Bubba
System THURS, 7pm, Open Mic
Night with Anthony * SUN, 1:30
– 5:30, Injade
DURTY HARRY’S: FRI
& SAT, 8:30, Durty Rita * MON
& TUES, Duo * WED & THURS,
Durty Rita
FINNEGAN’S WAKE: FRI,
SAT, & THURS, Dave Vizard
GARDEN OF EDEN: FRI
– THURS, DJ’s Timber & Lars
GRAND KEY: FRI & SAT,
Bobby Pazo * Weekends on the
deck, Jim Wist
GREEN PARROT: FRI,
5pm sound check, 10 – 2, Mike
Emerson’s Southernmost Brass
Band * SAT, 10 – 2, Caribe * SUN,
noon – 7, Off the Wall sidewalk
art show
GUY HARVEY’S ISLAND
GRILL: FRI, 9 – 1, Prime Movers
* SAT, 9 – 1, Michael McCloud *
SUN, 9 – 1, Chris Case * MON, 3
– 7, Alphonse * TUES, 3 – 7, Crazy
Eyed Jimmy * WED, 3 – 7, Chris
Case * THURS, 3 – 6, Jimmy
HALF SHELL RAW BAR:
FRI, 5 - 7, Caffeine Carl * WED, 5
– 7, Caffeine Carl
HOG’S BREATH: FRI &
SAT, noon - 4, Kenny & Cuda
Show; 5 – 9, Delboise; 10 – 2, Carter
Brothers * SUN, noon - 4, TBA; 5
– 9, Delboise; 10 – 2, Carter Brothers
* MON & TUES, noon – 4, Corey
Heydon; 5 – 9, Debloise; 10 – 2,
Haydn Vitera Band * WED, Joel
Nelson; TBA ; Haydn Vitera Band
Brothers * THURS, noon – 4, Joel
Nelson; 5 – 9, Debloise; 10 – 2,
CONTINUED on next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 19
www.kwtn.com
NOW PLAYING
FROM previous page
Haydn Vitera Band
HOGFISH : FRI, Larry
Baeder * SAT, Dora * SUN, Moose
Boles
IRISH KEVIN’S: FRI, 11 – 3,
Dan Ligouri; 3 – 7, John Solinski; 7
– 11, Matt Quinton; 11- close N.Y.
Pauly * SAT,11 – 3, George Victory; 3
– 7, Nick Norman; 7 – 11, N.Y. Pauly;
11 – close, Matt Quenton * SUN,
12 – 3;30, Zack Seemiller; 3:30 – 7,
Nick Norman; 7 – 10:30, NY Pauly
10:30 – close, John Solinski * MON,
10:30 – 2:30, TBA; 2:30 – 6:30, Nick
Norman; 6:30 – 10:30, John Solinski;
10:30 – Close Matt Quenton * TUES,
10:30 – 2:30, Reddawg; 2:30 – 6:30,
Nick Norman; 6:30 – 10:30, N.Y.
Pauly; 10 -30 – close
LA TE DA: Cabaret, FRI &
SAT, Broadway Three Ways Piano
Bar, FRI – SUN, Debra & Patrick
* MON, Bobby Nesbitt * TUES
– WED, Black & Skabuddah *
THURS, Debra & Patrick
LAZY GECKO: FRI, Parachute Adams * SAT, John & Red *
TUES, Parachute Adams * WED,
Zack Seemiller * THURS, Nick
Norman
MARGARITAVILLE: FRI
-SUN, Nikki Bar * MON, Tim Bend-
er; TUES – THURS, Nikki Bar
REDFISH/BLUEFISH: FRI
& SAT, Brian Roberts * THURS,
Tony Roberts
RICK’S: FRI, 11 – 3,Pete
Frazier;4 – 8, Ben Taddiken 8 – 12,
Uncle Bob * SAT, 12 – 4, Alphonse;
4 – 8, Ben Taddiken; 8 – 12,Uncle
Bob * SUN, 8 – 12, Ben Taddiken *
MON, 11am, Pete Frazier; 8 – 12,
Ben Taddiken * TUES, 11 - 4, Alphonse; 4 – 8, Uncle Bob * WED,
8 - 12, Uncle Bob * THURS, noon,
Alphonse; 8 – 12, Uncle Bob, Every
night, Karoake
RUM BARREL: FRI, 4pm,
Zack Seemiller; 8 – 12, Queen &
Yvon * SAT 4pm, Philo Logrande;
8 – 12, Moose Boles * SUN, 4pm,
Vinnie Mustache; 8 – 12, Corey
Heydon * TUES, 8 – 12, Raven
& Bubba * WED, 7 – 11, Moose *
THURS, 4pm, Yvon Agbo; 8 – 12,
Larry Baeder
SCHOONER WHARF: FRI
& SAT, noon – 5, Michael McCloud
& friends; 7 – 11, Honey Mouth with
RavenCooper; 9 – 1, Magic of Frank
Everhart * SAT, noon – 5, Michael
McCloud & friends; 7 – 11, Moose
& the Bulletproof Blues Band; 9
– 1, the magic of Frank Everhart *
SUN, noon – 5, Michael McCloud &
friends; 7 – 11, Calypso Latin Party;
9 – 1, magic of Frank Everhart
* MON, noon – 5, Michael McCloud & Friends; 7 - 11, Caffeine
& Pepper; 9 – 1, Magic of Frank
Everhart * TUES, noon – 5, Raven
& Bubba;7 – 11, Corey Heydon,
9 – 1, magic of Frank Everhart *
WED, Michael McCloud & friends;
7- 11, Gary Hempsey; 9 – 1, magic
of Frank Everhart * THURS, noon
– 5, Michael McCloud & friends, 7
– 11, Unpaid Bartabs, 9 – 1, magic
of Frank Everhart
SLOPPY JOE’S: FRI 12 – 4,
Black & Skabuddah; 5:30 – 8:30,
Fremont John Trio; 10 – 2, Poptart
CONTINUED on next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 20
www.kwtn.com
Behind Bars
RICHARD WATHERWAX
BARTENDER
OF THE WEEK
This week’s featured
bartender is JAN at B.O.’s
Fishwagon. She’s serving a
Bud Light.
Tell us who your favorite
drink server is. PO Box 567,
KW 33041. Fax 292-2108.
Email: TheBluePaper@kwtn.
com
now playing
Monkeys * SAT, 12 – 4, ZackSeemiller; 5:30 – 9:30 Fremont John Trio;
10 -2, Poptart Monkeys * SUN, 12
– 4, Barry Cuda; 5:30 – 9:30, Bubba
System; 10 – 2, Pop Tart Monkeys
* MON, 12 – 4, Barry Cuda; 5:30
– 9:30, Black & Skabuddah 10 – 2,
Candiflyp * TUES, noon – 4, Brian
Roberts; 5:30 – 9:30, Black & Skabuddah; 10 – 2 Candiflyp * WED,
12 – 4, Terry Cassidy; 5:30 – 9:30,
Chris Case; 10 – 2, Candiflyp *
THURS, 12 – 4, Terry Cassidy; 5:30
– 9:30 Zack Seemiller Band; 10 – 2,
Candiflyp
SUGARLOAF LODGE:
TIKI: SAT, Gary Hempsey
SUNSET PIER: FRI, 1 – 5,
George Victory;6:30 – 8:30, Robert
Albury; 8:30 – 10, Raven Cooper
* SAT, 1 – 4, Caribe; 6:30 – 10:30,
Raven Cooper * SUN, 1 – 5, George
Victory; 6:30 – 8”30, Robert Albury;
8:30 – 10, Raven Cooper * MON, 1
– 5, George Victory; 6:30 – 8:30, Joel
Nelson * TUES, 6:30 – 8:30, Rolando
Rojas; 8:30 – 10:39, Joel Nelson *
WED, 1 – 5, George Victory; 6:30
– 8:30, Robert Albury; 8”30 – 10:30,
Raven Cooper * THURS, Robin &
James
TURTLE KRAALS: SAT,
Dave Aaron Band * THURS, 5 – 7,
Brian Paul
VIRGILIO’S: FRI & SAT,
Larry Baeder Band * MON, Marty’s
Party * TUES, Skipper’s League
Of Crafty Musicians, FRI & SAT,
Caffeine Carl * Quatro Caballeros
with Marty Stonely, Din Allen, Tim
McAlpine, & Skippo; WED, George
Victory * THURS, Caribe
WILLIE T’S: SAT, 5 – 8,
Barry Cuda
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 21
www.kwtn.com
Local Favorites
meryl berman
All the Rage
Dear Dennis,
“Show me a woman who
doesn’t feel guilty and I’ll show
you a man.” The headline of
the week(ley victory): Mayor
McPherson mauls public referendum in the asterisk with
the bight of “special privilege.”
Apparently, real(ty) men don’t
ask for direction(s); heir apparently, at least not from the
voters. I’m betting on the people
to understand the (in)difference
between special interest and
special privilege, sunshine and
sunset claws; and yes, the last
g(r)asp of audit(ory) tables of
(in)justice. The mayor’s handlers appear to be gambling on
a transient licensed attention
span from scatter sited voters.
Will the will of the people mean
an end of an error?
“It is the city of mirrors,
the city of mirages, at once
solid and liquid, at once air
and stone.” Mayor, what part
of “thou shalt not” abridge the
rights of the voting public don’t
you understand? I do not blame
the mise-en-scene created by
developers and staged by their
attorneys as default campaign
managers; it is in their nature to
have and to hold a comprehensive plan. I do nurture the concept of personal responsibility
for officials who are supposed
to represent the people and
choose to miss-represent the
issues. Try to silence our voices
and we will use hand signals;
and yes, the political end game
is pull the lever-age. Is good
government an oxymoron?
“Advice is what we ask for
when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.” The
latest pavlovian role over had
the mayor in public attack mode
with a jack russell-in-the-box
pop up quiz for the city attorney.
Morgan yipped and yapped
aweigh his own(ed) bone island
cirque de sole before depositing
(t)his paraphrased chew toy on
the astro-turf floor: Isn’t the
non-binding referendum about
Wisteria Island an end run
around the existing annexation
process? Is it legal? Wouldn’t it
confer a “special privilege” to
the public and the issue?
“You see a lot of smart
guys with dumb women, but
you hardly ever see a smart
woman with a dumb guy.” Yo,
Morgan, a non-binding referendum is nick-named due process
by the people and can be lost
and found in a charter for the
people; and yes, it resembles
an election by the people. Feel
free to think of it as a city contract for inclusionary zoning
with morality, pragmatism,
and a known expiration date.
Morgan, your retrofit to cit(i)ed
priorities should have remained
vague; you pushed the bet-hell
returned envelope with your
special interest spin cycle. The
Wisteria Island issue isn’t dead;
and no, the people aren’t brain
dead. Will Christmas Tree Island convert the swing vote?
“If you don’t risk anything you risk even more.”
People want parity . . . not
parody (from their elected officials). Let my people go . . . to
the voting booth with waste to
energy pooper scooper power
and leash laws for politicians.
And yes, maybe Jimmy would
have picked up a few votes on
the issue and Bethel lost sum;
maybe the truth(s) about the
plans would be out(ed) ahead
of their time; and maybe, the
plant(ed) people were(wolfed)
in denial about an afterlife for
annexation. Harry, what is the
feasibility of a feasibility study
on malfeas(t)ance and selective
amnesia? And yes, Dan K, we
understood(!) the so-called affordable housing referendum
and voted no(!) And please,
don’t insult card me, again, by
saying you don’t want Wisteria
Island to become a political
football. It was, and it is. And
yes, Jose, your no comment,
no priority delivery offers no
dirt(h) of a-synaptic coinage for
lingual treat(ist)s; who pulled a
menendez? How many sitting
duck (tour) commissioners
think the voters are a ship(yard)
of fools?
“There can be no transforming of darkness into light
and of apathy into movement
without emotion.” And yes,
Morgan, I expected mor(ality)
from you; the people should
not be viewed as your personal
hydra(nt). You spurned our
more blissful advances; and
yes, you fumbled the special
interest foot(ball)-in-mouth
take-out delivery strategy. Will
the coaches find a knew quarterback who can read the script?
I love good improv. And yes,
there is a 10% solution. Jimmy’s
campaign supporters and crossover utility players should be
out gathering signatures for a
people’s referendum by now.
Thank you, Mayor Weekley,
for your redemptive point(ed)
of view. Guess who’s coming
to (a kosher) dinner?
“It all depends on how we
look at things, and not on how
they are themselves.” Thank
you Lopez, Rossi, and Verge for
a belief in annexing the voice
of the people. And yes, it was
a pleasure to talk with a wellinformed Teri Johnston at the
well-named Pearl’s Rainbow.
“The pendulum of the mind
alternates between sense and
nonsense, not between right
and wrong.” And yes, Morgan,
the KISS of death wasn’t annexation; it is your hot dog stance
on the referendum of “special
See MERYL, next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 22
www.kwtn.com
Meryl: The Referendum Is Dead! Long Live
the Referendum!
FROM page 21
privilege” and GPS directional
toward digging a southernmost
hole for yourself and renaming
(sh)it buried treasure. And yes,
your bight is worse than your
bark(er). Got PRopaganda?
“In all chaos there is a
cosmos, in all disorder a secret
order.” And yes, Morgan, your
sermon on the mount trashmore of “special privilege”
sent me hunting and pecking
after the city’s code of ethics
to find a separate but equal
voiceover. And yes, I am left
foaming at the mouth: Why has
the code of ethics disappeared
from the city website? Was it
under-the-tabled indefinitely
or ms.filed with the code enforcement audit and exoneration of Jim Young? How many
more lawsuits will you permit
with your failure to embrace
affirmative actions? When will
you examine the good patronage book(ie)s publicly housed
from here to paternity? And no,
Morgan, you don’t need to hire
a consultant to answer these
not-so-rhetorical questions; and
no, feelings aren’t facts. Bumper
sticker wisdom teeth continue
to ask: Is incest best?
“Nothing worse could
happen to one than to be completely understood.” And yes,
commish, there is such a thing
as a bad blow(n) job. And yes, I
am a woman who has expectations for the men in her life. I
think cops like Ken Hock should
be honored before their retirement. I think rapists should be
drawn and quartered and privatized by the people. I wonder
(b)read a kenilworth to see(r) if
anyone’s plantation operation
clean-up conveys the right of
eminent domain to the people.
And yes, my zen-scape is a zip
zone in progress. And yes, I am
tired of the gang bangers and
their galleon of contempt for
anyone’s cerebral cortex but
their own. Does political time
wound all heels?
“All art intuitively apprehends coming changes in the
collective unconsciousness.”
This week’s guess quotes of
columny are either Jung or Jong
in nature and nurture; they were
chosen to match make the yin
and yang of my moody blue
truth and beauty quest for more
than a zipless f*ck relationship
theory between elected leaders
and leadership by an electorate.
And yes, my Stengelese mixed
metaphor of sporting choice is
a case(y) en pointe: “The secret
of managing is to keep the guys
who hate you away from the
guys who are undecided.” The
referendum is dead! Long live
the referendum! Piece out.
Meryl Berman (merylb@
bellsouth.net) is a freelance
writer and realtor. All the Rage
will appear in print every other
week-- until (l)it does not.
O’Boyle
FROM page 10
metaphor by metaphor how
the world does not work. For
instance, I know the world is
not like an ATM machine where
I can punch in a few secret
numbers and walk away with
cash. I also know the world does
not work the way most people
think it does.
I prefer metaphor to dry
facts and statistics. Facts cry
out for interpretation like fresh
baked brownies calling to a
fat girl. There are no calories
in the small pieces, no facts so
firm a trial lawyer can’t reshape
them.
Think of economic and
political life at the turn of this
new century as a tag team match
between voluptuous lady mud
wrestlers, Fear and Despair
vs. Greed and Confidence. It’s
appalling and unseemly, but
somehow you can’t take your
eyes off them.
The ninety’s saw Greed
and Confidence nearly toss their
opponents from the pit. They
surfed in on a viscous tidal wave
of faith in the “New Economy.”
Credit cards, home equity debt
and 20% returns on stocks held
Fear and Despair face down in
the mud till they were gasping.
Now in the naughts, Fear and
Despair have struggled gamely
to their feet and are hammering
back like Chinese iron workers
banging out cheap steel lawn
ornaments.
The problem is that even
the best metaphors become
hackneyed and false when they
are finally picked up by the majority. Real truth is too complex
to be knowable by large groups
of people. Only the simplest
ideas can be grasped en mass
- to become common wisdom a
good idea is diluted to the point
where it approaches a lie. Once
large numbers of people come to
believe the lie, they adjust their
own behavior to accommodate
it. Thus does the world change.
Soon, it is no longer the same
world which gave rise to the
original insight. The common
wisdom looks dumb and a crisis
develops.
See O’BOYLE, next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 23
www.kwtn.com
O’Boyle On the Patriot Act
FROM page 22
Buy and Hold, an idea
that could have made you rich
in 1982 or even as late as 1995
became a formula for ruin in
2000 that is now embraced by
millions. By the time a majority
of people realize the world has
changed, many will be ruined.
People who are guided by a lie
suffer the consequences. They
get, not what they expect, but
what they deserve. Then they
look for a new metaphor.
Governments are power
seeking organizations. In the
rounds when Fear and Despair
are scoring points governments
can harvest power by the truckload. We are in one of those
rounds now. The political class
speaks in the simple language
of emotion. It speaks to our fear.
It speaks to our pride. It speaks
to our greed. It speaks to our
envy. Politicians peddle the
simple ideas that vast numbers
of people can understand. Such
ideas are often lies and even
when true are so simple as to
be nearly lies. Our confusion
at the failure of the common
wisdom makes us fearful and
susceptible to simple lies. Before we know it we are ready
to send men to kill thousands
of strangers thousands of miles
away based on paranoid logic
like this: Saddam is a bad man.
He has dangerous weapons. We
need to attack him before he attacks someone, maybe us.
Before we know it our
elected representatives have
gutted the Constitution without so much as reading the
document that did it. The Patriot Act and The Homeland
Security Act have granted
the president near dictatorial
powers. The Domestic Security
Enhancement Act will finish
the job. A critical element of the
DSEA is its link to a section of
the USA Patriot Act, section 802,
which defines terrorism as “any
action that endangers human
life that is a violation of any
Federal or State law.” The new
law expands the “enemy combatant” definition to anyone
who has violated section 802 of
the first USA Patriot Act. With
this definition just about any
crime could be called terrorism
and any criminal an “enemy
combatant.” Once you are an
“enemy combatant” you have
no rights. You can be picked up
off the street. Your arrest can be
kept secret. You have no right to
a trial, to a lawyer, to a phone
call or to know what you are
being charged
with if anything. You can
be detained indefinitely. It will
be a crime to look for you or
information about you.
The DSEA authorizes
secret arrests, creates national
DNA identification database,
gives immunity to law enforcement agents for violations of
civil rights, makes newsgather-
ing a “clandestine intelligence
activity,” allows federal martial
law without congressional
approval, grants immunity
to agents for illegal searches,
authorizes secret courts to issue contempt charges against
those who refuse to incriminate
themselves or others, removes
the sunset clauses to the extraordinary powers granted by
the first Patriot Act, federalizes
local law enforcement, allows
extradition of American citizens where ever they may be,
greatly expands crimes that are
punishable by death. The list
goes on and on.
It’s no wonder Baby Bush
wants to keep it a secret. The
only way DSEA would pass is
on the heels of another spectacular attack, an attack that
this administration seems to
be actively seeking. The new
law is a scientifically crafted
federal power grab. Our next
“Reichstag Fire” crisis will assure its passage. It will allow
any federal agent to do anything to anyone without fear
of reprisal.
Frederick Douglas wrote,
“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of
those whom they suppress.”
Now is the time for all of us to
decide what we will endure.
Hal O’Boyle writes from
the suburbs of San Jose, Costa
Rica. hal@kwtn.com
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 24
www.kwtn.com
In Approving the Hiring of Manny Menendez Without
Even Looking At the Results of the Lie Detector Test,
Both Fortune and Mauldin Were Clearly Negligent
FROM page 10
recommended that Menendez
not be considered for employment as a police officer. The report also shows that Menendez
broke down and started crying
when Allen continued to ask
him questions about his past
drug use.
Allen observed that
Menendez seemed to be “overwhelmed with stress”. Allen
also reported, “It is my opinion that Menendez has an inability to cope with stress and
anxiety.”
But, hey! Isn’t this exactly
the kind of guy we want running around Key West in a blue
suit carrying a gun?! Apparently Bill Fortune thought so.
And apparently Bill Mauldin
thought so.
Menendez’ CVSA exam
was also video recorded, as are
all CVSA exams. But the video
of Menendez’ exam has mysteriously disappeared. A source
close to the Police Department
suggested that someone inside
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the department had made that
video disappear. We asked
Chief Mauldin if he planned to
conduct an investigation to find
out how an official police record
could just disappear. He has not
answered that question.
In his written report,
Detective Allen wrote that
Menendez seemed to be deceptive when answering questions
about his past drug use. In fact,
Allen was so concerned at what
the CVSA results were showing
him that he asked two other officers to look at the results and
give him their opinions. Both
concurred with his analysis.
Allen also reported that
“Menendez provided pre-test
admissions which were not
consistent with his job ap-
plication.” In other words,
Menendez may have lied on
his application.
Menendez reportedly
told Allen that he had used
cocaine for many years in the
past. But on his application, he
said he had only used cocaine
in October of 2003.
Menendez reportedly
told Allen that he used to
provide money to friends to
buy drugs, but that he did not
remember how many times he
did it. On his job application,
however, he said that he never
purchased drugs.
Allen noted in his report
that Menendez told him that he
had “a problem” with Paxil and
that he used the drug to control
stress when he lived in the Mi-
ami area. Paxil is a prescription
drug used to treat depression,
social anxiety disorder, panic
disorder, obsessive compulsive
disorder, and post traumatic
stress disorder.
“He said he used it two
times a week for the last five
years,” Allen wrote in his report. Menendez left that off his
job application.
“Menendez said he knew
of several pharmacies in the
Miami area that would sell
him Paxil or other prescription
drugs without a prescription,”
Allen reported. “Menendez
said he made multiple purchases at these pharmacies”
But on his job application,
Menendez said that he never
purchased any drugs.
Both Chief Fortune and
Chief Mauldin would probably
both defend their waivers of
the departmental drug policy
to allow the hiring of Manny
Menendez and adamantly
deny that this preferential treatment had anything at all to do
with the fact that Menendez’
father is a City Commissioner.
But we doubt that they could
do it with straight faces.
Menendez failed the lie
detector exam, for God’s sake!
He lied on his job application!
And, according to Detective
Dan Allen, he may have “an
inability to cope with stress
and anxiety”! And everybody
knows that police work is often
stressful.
In approving the hiring
of Manny Menendez without
even looking at Detective Allen’s pre-employment report,
both Fortune and Mauldin were
clearly negligent. If Manny is
ever involved in an “incident”
where somebody gets hurt because he gets stressed out, both
Fortune and Mauldin could
be, and should be, personally
named in the lawsuit.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 25
www.kwtn.com
BARNES LAW: Q&A
Adopting a Child
What About Adopting?
- Part One
by Michael Barnes
The act of adopting a
child establishes a legal parent-child relationship between
a child and the adult or adults
who are not the birth parents.
The adoptive parent or parents
and child acquire the same relationship and the same rights
and responsibilities as the birth
parent-child relationship.
A successful adoption is
probably one of the happiest of
all legal proceedings. There can
be complications and pitfalls,
however, and because of this,
anyone thinking about adoption should be fully aware
of any problems that may be
encountered along the way.
Basic adoption policy is that
the first concern is always for
the natural parents and then
the best interest of the child.
The interests of anyone else
connected with the case are
secondary.
Who may adopt a child?
With very few exceptions, any
couple married and living
together or any unmarried
adult may adopt a child. A
homosexual person may not
adopt in Florida . If you are
petitioning to adopt a child,
the court will need to know the
kind of person you are, your
mental and physical health,
your background, and your
ability to provide a child with
a good home, both emotionally
and financially.
There are four types of
adoption. First, the agency
adoption; second, the independent adoption; third, the
step-parent adoption; and
fourth, the adult adoption. Each
different method of adoption
has its own particular procedure, but certain procedures
are alike. Generally, a petition
for adoption must be filed first.
Consents must be obtained
from the birth parent or parents
unless abandonment of the
child by the parent or parents
can be proven, or if an agency
is involved, the consent from
that agency. After the petition
is filed,a period follows during
which the child lives with the
adoptive parent or parents,
and a representative of a court
authorized agency visits to
assure the child’s needs are
being met. When the child’s
new home situation is found to
be satisfactory, a court hearing
is held in private in which the
qualifications of the adoptive
parent or parents are reviewed
by the court, and if satisfactory,
a permanent decree of adoption is granted. In the case of
an agency ad option, a petition
for adoption is filed only after
the probationary period is satisfactorily completed.
An important decision
for most people who want to
adopt a child is whether to go
through an agency or whether
to arrange an independent
adoption. There are important
points to consider before de-
MICK BARNES
ciding.
Adoption agencies are
responsible to find the best
possible home for each child
entrusted to their care. The
agencies obtain as much information as possible about the
birth parents and the physical
condition of the child. Often
there is a long waiting period
for a problem-free infant.
Independent adoptions
may cause difficulty for the
adoptive parent or parents if the
birth parent or parents change
their mind about the adoption
after the child is born. In cases
where the child has been placed
and consents signed, and then
there is a demand for the return
of the child, the court must
decide if the consent has been
legally obtained and if waivers
were knowingly executed.
Step-parent adoption is
very common. A husband or
wife may want to legally ensure
the relationship that already
exists with a child from the
spouse’s previous marriage.
This gives the step-child the
same name and same rights as
other members of the immediate family. Often a step-parent
has lived with the child for a
number of years, feels a closeness to and a responsibility for
the child, and wants to make
the relationship legal and
permanent. Adoption may
seem a mere formality, but it
is necessary if the step-parent
wants the step-child to have all
the same rights his or her birth
child would have. In step-parent adoptions, as with all other
adoptions, if the child is twelve
years of age or older, he or she
must give his/her consent to
the adoption. The divorced
birth parent of the child must
also give consent, and care must
be taken to find that parent if
he or she has not been in the
child’s life for some years.
In the case of adult adoptions, which are rare, any adult
may adopt any other adult. The
legal procedure is similar to that
involved in other types of adoptions, but is much simpler.
Because of the complicated procedures involved in
adoption, it is very important
to consult an attorney if you
are contemplating any kind of
adoption.
Michael R. Barnes practices law in Key West , Florida
. His comments are provided
as a pro bono community
service and are not offered as
legal advice for a particular set
of circumstances. The law is
continually changing. If you are
concerned that you may need
a lawyer, you are encouraged
to contact one about your legal
rights and responsibilities and
follow his or her advice for your
individual situation.
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 26
www.kwtn.com
MILITARIA WANTED
Civil War, Spanish American,
WW1 & 2, swords, medals,
helmets, daggers, uniforms,
old guns, any country. Silver
dollars, too. Cash, Collector.
Contact John 296-9899.
Help Wanted For
Busy Kitchen
OILY’S AUTO REPAIR
MIKE YOUNG, CERTIFIED ASE TECHNICIAN
5669 5th AVE, STOCK ISLAND• 296-6656
Line Experience with
Knowledge of Grill
& Sautee.
Apply at Finnegan’s Wake
320 Grinnell St.
the community
If your club or organization has something
special happening, let us know:
• community@kwtn.com
• PO box 567, Key West FL 33041
• Fax 305-292-1882
To help us help you, try to get the
information to us by noon on Tuesday before
Friday publication.
15th ANNUAL JESSE
HOBBS MEMORIAL GOLF
TOURNAMENT--hosted by Marathon Jaycees. Sept. 8 at Sombrero
Country Club. 9:30 am. 4-person
scramble, $100 per person. Info:
Steven, 305-240-1102 or Joann,
305-731-9568.
BOATING SKILLS & SEAMANSHIP COURSE—Aug. 4 &
5 at Florida Keys Community College. $55 fee for course materials. To
register call Elsie at 305-745-8355.
SURVEY SEEKING
HEALTH CARE ANSWERS—
WomanKind is seeking volunteer
to log on to www.womankindkeywest.org to complete a brief survey
that will help determine ways to
design diagnostic and wellness
programs to benefit employees of
businesses and individuals without
health insurance. Survey takers’
identity will remain confidential.
KEY WEST POPS NEEDS
VOLUNTEERS FOR 9TH SEASON—all different skills can be
utilized. To volunteer or for more
info: 305-296-6059 KWPopsInfo@
comcast.net
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
AT TROPIC CINEMA—All areas
of operation. Flexible schedules,
free passes, pop-corn, and t-shirts.
Info: Lori Reid, 305-433-4183 or
volunteer@keywestfilm.org
CITIZENSHIP CLASSES-Literacy Volunteers offers free
Citizenship classes for intermediate English as a Second Language
students. Info: 294-4352.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
AT WILDLIFE CENTER--Key
West Wildlife Center has reopened to accept injured animals.
Volunteers and donations are
needed. Questions and info: 305292-1008.
WANT TO BE A LITERACY VOLUNTEER? More than
100 students waiting to be tutored.
You do not have to speak another
language to be a tutor. Info: Mary
at 305-294-4352.
GRANTS AVAILABLE
TO WRITERS, MUSICIANS,
ACTORS, ARTISTS--Contact the
Florida Keys Council of the Arts,
305-295-4369.
BOATING COURSES--The
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts boating courses throughout
the year. Info: 1-888-470-5566
LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS--The Florida
Keys SPCA spay/neuter clinics
are held at the FKSPCA Animal
Shelter, 5230 College Road , Stock
Island. Microchips for $5 and free
rabies vaccinations are available
for all pets. Cats and dogs in heat
CONTINUED on next page
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 27
www.kwtn.com
the community
FROM previous page
or pregnant and puppies and kittens as young as eight weeks can
be spayed or neutered. Appointments are required for rabies and
for spay/neuter. Call 292-4600 to
register. The clinic is sponsored
by Key West Kritter Patrol and the
Florida Keys SPCA.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-AIDS HELP, INC. needs volunteers to help with transportation,
office work, special events, etc.
Call 296-6196.
THE YMCA of Key West
offers a variety of programs for children, adults and families, including
skating, bocce, computer classes
and more: The YMCA Center is
located at 1011 Virginia Street .
Call for info: 305-295-YMCA.
LA LECHE LEAGUE—
Free monthly meeting for pregnant and breastfeeding moms;
mother to mother support with
accredited volunteers who give
current information and encouragement in the art of breastfeeding.
Non-denominational, non-profit.
Held 5 - 6 p.m. the second Tuesday
of the month in the auditorium at
the Key West Library, 700 Fleming
Street . Info: Liz 294-4463 or Eva
295-8597.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-The local unit of the American
Cancer Society seeks volunteer
drivers to provide transportation
for cancer patients to treatments
and licensed cosmetologists, or
hairdressers, to help cancer patients
feel good about their appearance
while undergoing cancer treatment. Info: 292-2333 x 112.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE-To find out when the bloodmobile
will be at a location near you, call
your Community Blood Center at
305-294-7668.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS--on Tuesdays at 6pm ‘til 7
and Saturdays 10-11am, at United
Methodist Church (Old Stone),
600 Eaton Street. Info: Mary at
305-294-6931.
WOMEN’S SUPPORT
GROUP--Facilitated by counselors
in confidential, safe environment.
Relax with a cup of tea while helping yourself and others with problem solving stress reduction. Free,
5:30 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday;
for location and information, call
WomanKind, 305-294-4004.
LOCALS SONGWRITERS
NIGHT—every Wednesday 7pm,
upstairs lounge at Hard Rock Café.
Open to all ages. Free admission.
Info: 305-360-2398.
Garden View
Key West THE NEWSPAPER July 27, 2007 Page 28
www.kwtn.com