PAGE ONE COMMENTARY: Coffin Night Vandals Facing Big Trouble

EGG-THROWING KIDS WERE APPARENTLY UNAWARE THAT THEIR TARGET HAD MULTIPLE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

by Dennis Reeves Cooper

In recent years, however, school officials have discouraged students from participating in coffin night activities.

This year, new KWHS Principal Theresa Axford used her weekly newsletter to parents to ask them to keep their children at home on coffin night.

“There has been some talk at school that next week, students will participate in ‘coffin night’ activities,” Principal Axford wrote in the September 10 edition of her newsletter. “I would like to remind everyone that Key West High School does not sanction or support activities off school grounds, especially those that could become dangerous. Everyone knows a story from the past of a frozen egg being thrown, which injured a person or damaged private property.”

Last Political Forum Set for Monday

Next Monday, October 4, the Hometown! PAC will host the final political forum before the November 2 election. The location is the Tropic Cinema, 5-8 p.m.

At the forum, PAC board members and local pundits will question candidates for Monroe County School Board, the Monroe County Mosquito Control Board, the Monroe County Commission and State Representative.

Here is a listing of the current candidates and what the newspapers reported happened in the August primary.

• Former Coral Shores High School Principal Ron Martin will face 16-year incumbent Debra Walker in November for the District 5 School Board seat. Martin outdistanced Walker by taking 45 percent to Walker’s 30 percent. Retired Coral Shores math teacher Bruce Swango and Hospice nurse Richard Bradley each received about 12 percent of the vote. Because none of the candidates received 50 percent plus one vote, the top two finishers will face off in November. This is a non-partisan race.

BITCHIN’ PARADISE: Just Plane Angry

by Kimberley Denney

Have you ever wanted to stab your airplane seatmate in the eye? I’m embarrassed to admit that wasn’t my first inclination on a return flight to Key West last week, when I texted my friend Scott that I wanted to punch a bunch of someones in the face before takeoff. A group of tourists behind me reeked after apparently spending every last minute of their three-hour Atlanta layover in the smoking lounge, and it really pissed me off.

Then I developed a very strong allergic reaction to the girl sitting next to me in the window seat, who gabbed on her phone until we were about to take off. It didn’t help her case that she was trying to give her puppy away. Then she needed to get up so she could stow her stupid fedora. With dramatic flair I sighed, looked at the lady on the other side of the aisle, rolled my eyes, then stood up quickly in a huff to let her out into the aisle and promptly banged my head on the overhead bin. Hard.

RHONDA: Pain in the Ukraine

by Rhonda Linseman-Saunders

My sister, the globetrotter, has landed herself in a Ukrainian hospital. She was having weird leg pain and, on the advice of a friend in the medical field, went in to get it checked out. They found one blood clot right away and two more blood clots two days later.

In case you’re unfamiliar with it, thrombosis– these blood clots–are kind of a scary deal. Had she gotten back on an airplane, the altitude change may well have caused one or more of the clots to move. If these things move to the lungs, heart, or brain, you’re pretty much a goner. That’s tough to think about, especially since she’s only 29 (this is her real age, not the 29 people hold onto for a decade past the actual milestone).

The care in Kiev has been very good, though. We know this because there is an American medical team monitoring the situation and keeping in touch with the Ukrainian vascular surgeon and then giving my sister updates in English.

BOETTGER: Fair and Balanced

By Rick Boettger

Today’s RANT will be gentle and wishy-washy, full of both sides of the issues, with so many on-theone- hand-and-on-the-other’s that I’ll feel like that Hindu goddess with eight arms palms up. Why? I was accused last week by the estimable Matt Giardi of not only “ranting” but of a naïve lack of insight into the balanced equality of our national political parties.

Esteemed Publisher Cooper has granted me space next week for a fair and reasoned point-by-point refutation of Mr. Giardi (cheekily dressed up as my carving him a new orifice, of course). Leaving the national scene, then, until next week, I must admit that on certain local issues I have rather had my mind very made up, to the extent that I cannot conceive of the case to be made on behalf of the idiots I am attacking. County budgeting? They have no defense against the charge of rat-holing tens of millions of our tax dollars. Locking the cemetery gate? I have actually sued the bastards. And many more.

So today I think I need to establish my credibility as the kind of opinionated analyst who can get just as bewildered and undecided about major questions as, say, Matt Giardi is. (Snip!) Fortunately, a number of hugely important local issues have avoided my sharp pen because I still haven’t made up my mind. I haven’t written about them because I don’t like reading opinion pieces that, in the end, inoffensively have no opinion.

IT'S THE LAW: Mortgage Fraud— Part 3

by S. Brandon Dimando & Michael R. Barnes

This is the third and last in a series of “It’s The Law” articles on the subject of Mortgage Fraud. With the permission of our State Attorney, Dennis W. Ward, we draw from the information found in that pamphlet, for which full credit to the State Attorney is given.

In our previous two articles we discussed several types of mortgage fraud. You may want to seek out a copy of them or just go to http://www. kwtn-blue.com/ and look on the left panel for a search box.

You can type in “mortgage fraud” and it will take you to a Google Custom Search link that will give you both articles. So, now that you’ve read up and caught up here’s a checklist to help protect you and your home:

1. Study the market. Do your own research. You need to know what are the details of the deal.

2. Get referrals and interview several real estate and mortgage professionals. Check out their credentials with State and County regulatory agencies. Look for someone with a track record.

WomanKind Forum: When Diets Don’t Work

What should you do when diets don’t work? You can find out by attending this WomanKind health forum on Saturday, October 9, 4 ‘til 6 p.m., at the Eco-Discovery Center (at the entrance to Fort Zachary Taylor). If you have ever had questions about healthy eating, this forum has your answers. Hosted by local author, dietitian, and radio talk show personality Donna Shields, MS, RD, LD, the forum will focus on an intutive approach to healthy eating and give you practical tools that you can easily incorporate into your busy life.

The session will include a sampling of foods that are delicious, packed with nutrients, and take little time and effort to prepare. She will also share eating habits that help prevent illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. $10 suggested donation to WomanKind. Info: (305) 294-4004.

 

NEWS BRIEF: Golf Tournament on the Water

Wesley House Family Services ,along with co-benefactor The Wyland Foundation, will be hosting The Conch Life Scramble, on Saturday, November 6. This golf tournament on the water consists of nine hole locations around the island of Key West. Tournament players will drive around on their boats to each of the nine holes, and hit a bio-degradable “fish food” golf ball from locations such as Hurricane Hole, Hogfish Bar & Grill, Key West Harbor Yacht Clubs and Ocean Key House into floating rings in the water.

Info: Lissette Cuervo at (305) 809-5000 X228 of visit www. conchlifescramble.com.

 

ENTERTAINMENT: The Improvables Set to Strike again

Hey! If you haven’t been to a performance of The Improvable Comedy Troupe (or even if you have)— tonight, Friday, October 1, is your opportunity to howl!

The Improvables will be cutting up “Downstage” at 8pm. “Downstage” theater is located at 3340 N. Roosevelt Blvd. (next to Wendy’s).

It’s just a $5 cover at the door and proceeds benefit The People’s Theater of Key West. Beer and Wine available— full bar next door at Conch Town Liquor Lounge.

MUSIC ON THE ROCK: Pato Banton in Concert November 20

Great news for Reggae and live music fans, as The Rotary Club of Key West has another great festival coming, “REGGAE MOON-SPLASH”, aptly named because it will coincide with a full moon on November 20th. The festival will benefit The Rotary Club’s “College Scholarship Fund” a charitable fund that specifically creates scholarships and funding for local Key West High School students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to go to college.

The Rotary Club were responsible for The Original Wailers show at this same location (Truman Annex Waterfront) in May. That event was a big success, so they’re back at it, and just like The Wailers show, The Rotary Club has enlisted TroProd Productions to produce the event.