PAGE ONE COMMENTARY: KWTN’S POLITICAL PICKS

HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE
FOR GARDI, PTOMEY, COLL,
BOWERS, MARTIN, RUDELL,
DOMBROSKI AND BRIDGES—

AND WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE
“YES” ON THE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT
REFERENDUM

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

Until the introduction of early voting a few years ago,
newspaper endorsements were not published until the last
minute, just before election day. But now, we are told by elections
officials, that as many as one-third of all voters vote before
election day— either with absentee ballots or by voting early at
the supervisor of elections offices.

Although election day for the upcoming primary election
is August 24, absentee voters already have their ballots, and
early voting at the three elections offices in the Keys starts this
coming Monday, August 9.

Having said that, why do newspapers endorse candidates
anyway? Here at Key West The Newspaper, we ask ourselves
that question every year when we sit down to write our endorsements.
The best answer comes from our readers. You have told
us that you expect us to endorse candidates for local offices.
The assumption is that those of us who put out newspapers
probably spend more time than most citizens paying attention
to the issues and how current and would-be elected officials
address those issues.

More Than 30% of Key Westers May Vote Before Election Day

PRIMARY ELECTION DAY IS
AUGUST 24. BUT EARLY VOTING
STARTS MONDAY AND CONTINUES
THROUGH SATURDAY, AUGUST 21

KWTN Staff Report

Increasingly, Key Westers are not waiting until election day
to cast their ballots. More than 30 percent of those who vote are
now using absentee ballots or voting early in the Supervisor of
Elections office.

Many voters here have been using absentee ballots for
years to avoid standing in line at the polls on election day. But
in 2004, the Florida State Legislature, in an effort to increase
the percentage of registered voters who actually vote, passed
the Early Voting law. Registered voters can now vote up to two
weeks early by going to their local Supervisor of Elections office.
Early voting dor the upcoming primary election will start this
Monday, August 9.

The Supervisor of Elections office in Key West is located
at 530 Whitehead Street. Hours for early voting are 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., including Saturday. Early voting will continue through
Saturday, August 21.

The Legislature is also attempting to reduce voter fraud
by requiring that a photo ID be presented when voting. Voters
without photo IDs will be given a provisional ballot. These ballots
will be processed a few days after the election and will be
included in the certified count— but not in the results announced
on the evening of the election.

In addition to a Florida drivers license, the following
forms of photo identification may be used to vote: A United
States passport, an employee badge or ID card, buyer’s club
ID, a debit or credit card with a photo, military ID, retirement
center identification, neighborhood association ID, or a public
assistance ID.

BITCHIN’ PARADISE: Diggin’ the Deals

by Kimberley Denney

So, I’m not alone in my
love of a good deal. And because
you asked, I went out
(well ok, I made a lot of phone
calls from the comfort of my
air conditioned home) and
tracked down even more locals’
and summer discounts around
town. I want you to know it was
especially difficult this time
around, because for some crazy
reason I decided to try going on
the wagon for a week. I made
it two days.

I got bombed in the name
of research, and I blame it all
on you.

My all-time favorite places
won’t be mentioned since
they were already covered in a
previous column you can check
out online: http://www.kwtn-blue.com/2010/07/bitchin-paradise-out-on-the-cheap.html.

And also because
Orchid Bar is so popular now
that I can barely get a seat these
days. But really, you should go
in and try a Pimm’s Cup, or
Gin n’ Juice, or any cocktail on
the menu. A designated driver
wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

RHONDA: Making It

by Rhonda Linseman-Saunders

As I’m sure is normal for people who spend an
inordinate amount of time together (on purpose, because
they like it), my husband and I have developed
our own method of communicating with each other.
If you have a partner, you’ve probably developed
similar systems. It’s just a way to adapt and survive.
You’ve got to figure out how to really get each other
and love each other anyway, you know?

As part of our system, my husband and I have
learned to accept that a lot of what we do for each other
is simply understood, and does not always require a
nightly rehashing of events and sacrifices. It’s kind
of like our own verbal shorthand, I guess.

For example, if mine was a typical school day
and his day included wishing more people were
able to talk AND work simultaneously, our evening
conversation might go something like this:

Me: Hey, how’d it go today?

Him: Ah. Blah-blah, yack-yack, you know,
same-same. You?

BOETTGER: Back to School

by Rick Boettger

Hello, School District! Long time no write. Time
to catch up on what’s happening. Elections are a’ comin’
on, and We the People have our brief window of
opportunity to do something more than just complain
about the idiots in office.

Of course, no one on the School Board is an
idiot. In fact, they are all smart and working as hard
and sincerely as they can for what they think is the
common good. But this isn’t pee-wee soccer, and not
everyone who tries really hard in public office gets a
trophy and more time on the field.

The fact is, this School Board has made profound
mistakes. Avoidable mistakes. Mistakes for which we
the taxpayers shall pay for years. To start to fix things,
heads must roll. If we could vote them all out and start
with a clean slate, we should, but we can’t.

If Debra Walker gets re-elected, I’ll give up on
the voters of this county making school-related decisions,
and never write on the schools again. The critical
choice is in District One, down here where know the
folks. Board member Steve Pribramsky honorably
fell on his sword, voting himself out by choosing not
to run. The choice to the electorate, then, is which of
the candidates offers more change from the way the Board was to the way the Board
should be?

Free Basketball Clinic for Kids

Key West girls and boys will have a chance to take basketball
pointers from the best on Aug. 7 when University of Miami
Head Coach Katherine Meier heads up a basketball clinic at the
Douglass Gym. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Coach Meier will be
working with kids in 8th grade and under to improve their game.
The clinic is open to kids of all skill level, and it’s free.

Head Coach Meier came to the University of Miami with
the reputation as one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the
Atlantic Coast Conference. Now in her fifth years with the Hurricanes,
Meier continues toward her goal of making the team one
of the premier women’s basketball programs in the country.
The clinic is sponsored by the Key West Police Athletic
League.

Skateboards Banned on Duval Street

Skateboards, roller skates and inline skating have been
banned from Duval Street sidewalks for years, but some skaters
seem unaware of the law. The Key West Police Department wants
to remind skaters that riding on any part of Duval Street— the
sidewalks and the street itself— is strictly prohibited.

In other parts of the city, skating is allowed on most sidewalks,
but Duval Street poses a problem because of the heavy
foot traffic. The City Commission solved the issue by passing
a city ordinance that bans any sort of skates on the sidewalk, a
law that dovetails with state statute and makes the entire street
off limits for skaters and skateboards.

Anyone violating the city’s ordinance by rolling on Duval
Street’s sidewalks faces a fine up to $50. In addition, violations of
the state’s law prohibiting skates, skateboards and inline skates
on the roadway is subject to a fine up to $64.

Wedding Planner Saves the Day

It was an exciting time
for Jannet Nguyen and her
husband-to-be, Tuan Pham.
Originally from Viet Nam, they
now live in Tampa with their 2-
year-old daughter, Jordan. They
were on-board the Destiny, one
of Carnival Cruise Line’s most
beautiful ships.

The ship was scheduled
to stop in Key West for the day
on Friday, July 23— and Jannet
and Tuan had arranged to
be married on the beach that
morning.

The wedding was indeed
going to be special. They had
contacted wedding planner
Laurine Laxer, of FantaSea
Weddings, weeks earlier and
she had arranged for chairs with
plush velvet covers, a flowered
arch, a bouquet of white roses
for the bride and a boutonniere
for the groom.

What's On At The Tropic?

by Phil Mann

The Tropic is living up
to its sultry name right now.
Not the temperature in the
theaters, which remains as cool
as ever, but the hot, hot selection
of movies. DINNER FOR
SCHMUCKS is the #2 movie
overall at the national box office.
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
is the #1 independent movie
in America (#12 overall), and
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED
WITH FIRE is the top foreign
film (#18 overall).

Of course it’s a long way
from #2 ($23.5 million gross
2,911 theaters), to #12 ($3.5
million in 847 theaters), to #18
($542 thousand in 174 theaters),
but that’s the great thing about
having a local independent theater.
You get a choice, not just
what Hollywood pumps into
the malls of America.

Since I’m a devotee of
character and story, I’d recommend
The Kids, which also
manages to pull off a good deal
of comic relief as it tells the story
of a sperm-donee family gone
somewhat awry.

EVENTS: Midsummer’s Night Dream

The 4th Annual Midsummer’s Night Dream &
Spectacle will unfold at the
Key West Tropical Forest and
Botanical Garden, 5210 College
Road, Stock Island, Monday,
August 9 from noon till late
night.

Centennial Bank invites
everyone in the Keys to this
wonder-filled Midsummer ’s
Night Dream party— a night
of artistic expression, feasting,
dancing, singing, and theatrical
antics celebrating the art and
artists of Key West.

Admission is $10 for
adults, and children under the
age of 12—and all Centennial
Bank customers—are admitted
free.

“We’re fans of the Botanical
Garden and we are excited to
be part of this unique community
event,” said Teresa Condas,
President of Centennial Bank,
Florida. “It’s a great way for
us to welcome our Whitehead
Street Branch customers to the
Centennial Bank family, and to
give a value to our Key West
customers that is as unique as
Key West, itself.”