Issue #82 — Friday, October 3, 2014
AUDIT: County Administrator and Three County Commissioners / Misuse of County Purchasing Cards
Sometimes top County officials buy stolen County iphones. And sometimes, after they get caught with the iphones and the scapegoat has gone off to jail, they take County issued credit cards and pay for personal items and entertainment and … well, they get caught again. Let us explain. Monroe County issues Purchasing Cards [P-Cards] to Read More...
Did You Miss Hometown PAC's Final Candidate Forum? Watch it Now…
JOIN HOMETOWN PAC Hometown! Mission Statement, Policy and Goals The mission of Hometown PAC is to promote free expression and exchange of political viewpoints and ideas. To accomplish these goals, Hometown will provide opportunities to educate its members and the voters in Key West and the surrounding environs through candidate lectures, forums, debates and other Read More...
Did You Miss Hometown PAC’s Final Candidate Forum? Watch it Now…
JOIN HOMETOWN PAC Hometown! Mission Statement, Policy and Goals The mission of Hometown PAC is to promote free expression and exchange of political viewpoints and ideas. To accomplish these goals, Hometown will provide opportunities to educate its members and the voters in Key West and the surrounding environs through candidate lectures, forums, debates and other Read More...
Remarkable laws exist so ‘We The People’ can detect and avoid abuse from our government officials. Unfortunately, too many media and political action groups have abdicated their watchdog roles, keeping themselves and the public in the shade of ignorance. Florida’s 1967 Sunshine Law was a remarkable accomplishment, influencing the rest of the states and even Read More...
GUEST COMMENTARY: Grinder Pump Attacks Get Personal
In a recent posting to the BigPineKey.com “Coconut Telegraph” an anonymous writer, using a fake e-mail, initiated a personal attack against a number of the activists opposed to the extensive use of grinder pumps in the Cudjoe Regional System. The posting was lifted from a five page diatribe that Randy Bell, the Grinder Pump salesman, Read More...
NO AMERICAN BOOTS ON THE GROUND
With the advances of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist army in Iraq and Syria, America is once again reacting to the argument that we have to confront the bad guys over there or we will have to fight them over here. So our anti-war president has reluctantly authorized the use of American air strikes on Read More...
When I read a report on Jefferson County Colorado high school students walking out in protest over proposed changes to the school’s history curriculum, I rejoiced. Anyone that pays attention to current events knows there is a concerted attack on common sense being administered by conservative ideologues and their corporate sponsors. The kids in Colorado Read More...
In Case You Have Nothing Better to Do
While watching Vi Hart’s short film “Twelve Tones” (I recommend it if you have 30 minutes to spare), I was introduced to the word “Oulipo.” It denotes a group of French-speaking writers and mathematicians who thought it would be fun to create works using “constrained writing.” (All of my writing seems constrained. I’ve convinced myself, Read More...
WHY I BELIEVE IN CLIMATE CHANGE
The fact that something so having to do with science has become such a political issue is not only surprising but significant. We live in a world where the issues proven or debunked by scientific investigation — rationally and patiently proven through an objective set of criteria and methodology — are generally accepted with some Read More...
DEATH IN PARADISE: A YEAR LATER [CHARLES EIMERS MEMORIAL] NOWHERE TO RUN: NEW VIDEO DEVASTATING TO KWPD CREDIBILITY [CHIEF LEE DEPOSITION VIDEO] EIMERS IN-CUSTODY-DEATH UPDATE: MISSING VIDEO SURFACES KATHY SMITH, LEAD FDLE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARLES EIMERS CASE PUT ON ADMINITRATIVE LEAVE KWPD & FDLE, PARTNERS IN CRIME? CHARLES EIMERS UPDATE: Police, Death, and Missing Videotapes Read More...
NOWHERE TO RUN: NEW VIDEO DEVASTATING TO KWPD CREDIBILITY [CHIEF LEE DEPOSITION VIDEO] EIMERS IN-CUSTODY-DEATH UPDATE: MISSING VIDEO SURFACES KATHY SMITH, LEAD FDLE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARLES EIMERS CASE PUT ON ADMINITRATIVE LEAVE KWPD & FDLE, PARTNERS IN CRIME? CHARLES EIMERS UPDATE: Police, Death, and Missing Videotapes THE BURGLAR, THE VIGILANTE, AND THE AXE OF Read More...
MOSQUITO CONTROL: In Response to FKMC Chairman Stephen Smith’s Editorial
The editorial by Stephen Smith, Commissioner, Chairman, Florida Keys Mosquito Control, was a fascinating read, and it was a perfect example of why we so desperately need term limits for all elected officials. Mr. Smith, who has been a FKMC board member for 18 years missed the mark. He seems to forget that FKMCB has Read More...
MOSQUITO CONTROL: In Response to FKMC Chairman Stephen Smith's Editorial
The editorial by Stephen Smith, Commissioner, Chairman, Florida Keys Mosquito Control, was a fascinating read, and it was a perfect example of why we so desperately need term limits for all elected officials. Mr. Smith, who has been a FKMC board member for 18 years missed the mark. He seems to forget that FKMCB has Read More...
Speaking For Monroe County's Most Vulnerable Kids
Dear Editor, The Key West Golf Course community of 350 members is screaming to the City of KW that they will do whatever it takes to stop the possible construction of a nearby homeless shelter. In a published letter the KWGC expressed that it would be reckless and dangerous to create the shelter near their Read More...
Speaking For Monroe County’s Most Vulnerable Kids
Dear Editor, The Key West Golf Course community of 350 members is screaming to the City of KW that they will do whatever it takes to stop the possible construction of a nearby homeless shelter. In a published letter the KWGC expressed that it would be reckless and dangerous to create the shelter near their Read More...
A Challenge to Both Mr. Garcia and Mr. Curbelo…
To the Editor, [Response to “Garcia, Curbelo Trade Insults Again” Key West Citizen, September 30, 2014 p1a] Conspiracy of silence At Monday’s Hometown pac political forum at FKCC Key West Citizen publisher and panelist Mr. Paul Clarin made the statement about halfway through the rehashed candidate questions that: “This is like Groundhog Day” (the movie). Read More...
TUNATOONS: ISLAND OF BONES – PART TEN: THE WITCH, THE DEVIL, AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Back in 1521 , Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the Island of Key West. The island had been used as a communal graveyard by the Calusa Indians so he named the island Cayo Hueso (Island of Bones). Since that time this tiny island has produced so many interesting and crazy stories. This story is about Key Read More...
Jackhammers, saws, and drills: now that’s the sound of progress! We’re thrilled to (loudly) report, that we’ve secured our final contract with D.L. Porter Construction, and work is speeding along at 533 Eaton. Back at the office, we’re cooking up all sorts of plans for the 2015 season, including Studio Artists to fill the nine Read More...
Reef Relief Hires New Education Coordinator
Reef Relief recently hired a new Education Coordinator, Carly Shabo. She is a graduate of the College of Charelston with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Marine Biology. As Reef Relief’s Education Coordinator, she will be organizing and presenting Reef Relief’s Discover Coral Reefs School Program to the Monroe County School District, also coordinating activities Read More...
United Way President Margie Smith Resigns To Join Family Investment Firm
Margie Smith, President of United Way of the Florida Keys since January 2010, will leave the agency at the end of this year to join her husband’s investment management firm in Islamorada. Smith said she is excited about her new position but sad to leave a job that has been so much a part of Read More...
Sgt. Pablo Rodriguez Recognized for 15 years of service to KWPD
Key West Police Chief Donie Lee recently recognized Sgt. Pablo Rodriguez for 15 years of service to the Department. Rodriguez was hired in 1999 and started out patrolling the downtown and Bahama Village area. As a patrol officer, he made numerous drug arrests that led to convictions as well as the seizure of drugs and money. Read More...
Florida Keys Council of the Arts Cultural Calendar Thursday, November 6 thru Wednesday, November 12
Visit keysarts.com, Cultural Calendar for more listings and events throughout the Keys. Key West Happenings ARTISTS RECEPTIONS / EXHIBITIONS Thursday Polar Opposites Opening Reception, 6 PM Lucky Street Gallery, 540 Greene St. 294-3973. Luckystreetgallery.com James Barr-Nobles, B. Lucy Stevens. (more…)
FANTASY FEST 2014 KING AND QUEEN CANDIDATE EVENT SCHEDULE
TROPICAL ESCAPADES AND TRANCES WWW.AIDSHELP.CC Ongoing Events: Aqua Idol every Tuesday beginning August 26 – October 14, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – come support the candidates’ singers at Aqua Nightclub, 711 Duval Street. 75% of the monies collected will be split among the candidates and 25% would go to the campaign for which the Read More...
Conch Poet J.M. Varela Featured Oct. 5 at Blue Heaven
The wit and wisdom of popular Conch poet J.M. Varela takes the stage upstairs at Blue Heaven during the first Sunday monthly meeting of the Key West Poetry Guild on Oct. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. There is no admission fee and all are welcome. Varela, author of the eclectic collection “Inside the Head of Read More...
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