• . . * " ' • • ' ! • • • • . ' • . • ! i 1 1 i'~\ 3 • i ' • > »V !. : , ^ If ; ' j if ~ :-1J l ; . ! • : 141 •:••] s* REMEMBER MOTHER - MAY 13 TRACKING GREYHOUNDS Page 3 DAVID WOLKOWSKY: PRINCE OF KEY WEST Page 10 RESIDENTS FAVOR SLOWER .GROWTH Page-14-. • SOUND ORDINANCE ISSUE STILL HOT Page 16 TATTOOS: LIFE'S BLUEPRINTS Page 26 SPECIAL CENTER'. PUtLOUT: 1 . SOLARES HILL I M#NEY I A. 'Speeiai Stiritois on Key West Business an: "• ' KEY W E S T • •• ; BUSINESS & FIWANCE Page 2 • May 1990 • Solares Hill If ̂ bu Knew WhatThey Kit Like, You'd Be Wearing Them Now. Birtcenstfock ...footprints 610 Duval Street Old Town Key West t SUBSCRIBE I * iRflf B j «| SBifiw B $&« IHLJIB BIMMMU 9 SI Ss 3 s 9 ^ 5 . JJ EDITORIAL The sound and the fury. These are the results of Key West's latest, greatest sound ordinance. As mentioned in Christine Naughton's "The Sound of No Hands Clapping," on Page 16, our city has been battling the bands for at least a decade. About four years ago, the city commis- sion hired attorney Roberta Fine to write up a sound ordinance. The language of that ordinance was rewritten until the city had one which seemed solid and enforceable. Why didn't that ordinance work? The primary reason, as was pointed out several months back at a sound ordinance com- mittee meeting, was that no police officers were certified to use the decibel meters the city used to measure the volume of sound at its source. Consequently* the otherwise enforceable ordinance went uhenforced. A small group of citizens who live near Duyal Street and who claim the quality of their lives and the amount of sleep they are able to catch each evening is reduced to the point of unbearability remained unsatisfied. It is primarily for these individuals that the city has a new noise ordinance. These people have rights, and those rights should be protected. That's where the problem with the new ordinance comes in. Code enforcement, which is now determining what is and isn't too loud by standing 150 feet from the sound source and listening, is enforcing the ordinance based on complaints — many times from their own officers. If code enforcement officials (who say they give the sound ordinance a high priority) and the police (who say they give it a low one) would respond only to Solares Hill is a community news- paper published monthly by Key West Publications, Inc., 1217 White Street, Key West, FL 33040. Phone: (305) 294-3602. Thomas Geyer, President Frank E. Taylor, Vice President Geddy Sveikauskas, Secretary-Treasurer Editor AnnBoese Resident Artist Marko Fields "Sales Manager Michele Grahl Sales Richard Weiner, Jack Snodgress Typesetting/Editorial Assistant Christine Naughton Accounting Patti Anthony Contributing Photographer Kevin Crean Member of Key West Chamber of Commerce © 1990 Key West Publications, Inc. With a little help from our friends complaints called in from the outside, the city would eventually single out and quiet . those sources that are causing citizens distress. Why cite an establishment for sound that is not bothering anybody? Even if a sound level exceeds that which is man- dated by the ordinance, is it not the main thrust of the law to protect not to punish? Some bars will.be hit harder than others; and, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on one's perspective, they will need to comply with the ordinance or suffer the consequences. Should they feel unjustly treated in relation to their equally loud com- petitors, they have every right to call and complain, which could create a domino effect. But if bars and musicians consider what's best for them as industries, and if law enforcement officials consider what's best for the city as a tourist town, Key West may be able to transcend a potentially petty, bitter and ugly mindset. With all the problems — social and economic -- that Key West faces today, doesn't it make sense to use code enforce- ment resources on an as-needed basis? It seems wasted time for a code enforcement officer to stand on a mark 150 feet from a bar and seek sound levels that bother nobody but that officer. The idea behind the ordinance is to make peace, not war. Let's implement it that way. Ann Boese On the cover: "Mother and Child" is an original acrylic on canvas painted by Key West artist V.K. Gibson. His work is exhibited and sold at the Lane Gallery, at Truman and Duval Street. Solares Hill • May 1990 JAPANESE CUISINE 722 DUVAL KEY WEST 294-2288 NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH TUES-SAT* 12:00-2:30 PM DINNER DAILY 6:00-11:30 PM TAKE OUT AVAILABLE --•> Greyhounds: Life and Death on the Fast Track by Gregg Lasky Ahe grounds are quiet at Berenson's Key West Greyhound Track on Stock Island, the 37-year-old institution having closed its doors for the season April 14. Gone are the sounds of yelping dogs and cheering crowds that rang out since early November. Now track officials face another kind of noise: opposition from animal rights activists who claim too many dogs are needlessly killed each year because they don't run fast enough to earn their owners a profit or because they are too old to race. In addition, activists say, the greyhounds live in cramped quarters and are transported north at the end of the season with three or four other dogs in cages designed to hold one or two. But state and track officials and others involved in the industry paint a different picture of their sport, saying that it is for the most part an honest business that is increas- ingly and sufficiently regulated by state law and national industry groups. In Key West, the issue of how grey- hounds are treated came to a head last month after a local man placed a public service announcement in the April Solares Hill. Running in paid advertising space, the announcement claimed the dog racing industry kills "300,000 dogs annually ... because they don't earn enough money for those who exploit them." "Whether it's 300,000 or 3,000 or 300 [dogs that are killed annually], it still is wrong," says Thompson, an animal rights activist who works at Solares Hill Design Group, a Key West advertising agency. "The public would never sit still if they were cute little beagles or Afghans that were being killed. Greyhounds are viewed as disposable because there is a profit industry behind it." Thompson's charge has caused an up- roar among industry officials, who call the claim "impossible" and "absolutely not true." The American Greyhound Council, an association of track operators, tagged the charge "absurd, false and libelous." Based in Abilene, Kansas, the group estimates greyhound deaths at 37,874 in 1988 and 38,443 in 1989. The industry has made "great strides," the council says, in finding homes for retired greyhounds and in limit- ing the number of dogs killed each year. But, says Thompson, "the figures reflect what the Greyhound Racing Council wants America to see. That's just common sense." O, Uncertain destiny: A racing greyhound. J.T. Thompson, who ran the advertise- ment, says he based his claim on a report he heard on either CBS News or 60 Minutes, though he could not remember which one. /thers disagree. "It's impossible," says Starr Patik, who works as a veterinary assistant at Berenson's. "I'm not trying to promote the sport — it can be a dirty business - but people do give a damn" about the dogs. Since Stephanie Harris took over as the track's chief inspector in November, Patik p i l l - : - w w - ..: ..•••• •:•,-.-••• l l i l i •WrJWM IteiitesiiiiSisl 5 2 4 FRONT ST. & 540 GREENE ST., KEY WEST MM S2.S OVERSEAS HWY.. ISLAMORADA CALL TOLL FREE 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 4 5 - 2563 Moisturizes AH Day or All Night (ALOEGENETIC! ALOE- THERA@ with Vitamin E therapeutic moisturizer for abused extra dry skin CD C it 10) Til II i IS ILL \E it Free Developing Free Del FREE DEVELOPING Offer Good Until June 1 Coupon Must Be Presented With Film COLOR PROCESSING ONLY OPEN 7 DAYS - 9A.M.-9 P.M. jo) 2 f l 31 CD i oi CDS 8 i \%. ONE HOUR PRXESSINGif ISIS Pro 1 Hour Photo i 335 Duval Street - Duval Walk Lt 294-9331 iFree Developing Free Developing Free & Q A ILTffWIt M M it I1-U-JWBJJWTOI M M ftWB«ert Lee looked tired as he took the podium at the Key West City Commission meeting April 23. He and about 20 other musicians had been waiting since 5 p.m. for commissioners to address amendments to the controversial sound ordinance passed in late March. It was now 9 p.m. "We seem to be stiiving to answer the classic question: 'If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?' Does anyone care? Code enforce- ment cares ... especially if he doesn't like the way I do Otis Redding," quipped Lee. He was referring to citations code en- forcement served the Rooftop Cafe, a Front Street establishment where Lee and partner Leanna Collins play, the week after the new ordinance became law. The Rooftop received two citations that week; in both cases the Survivors were playing. Prior to these citations the Rooftop had never received a complaint about noise. What bothers Bert Lee and other musi- cians is that no outside complaints were lodged before code enforcement issued the citations. Originally, the ordinance was written to protect citizens who were disturbed by amplified music. But here it was only code enforcement officials who "complained." The statement is clear: the city intends to enforce the new, restrictive ordinance whether it receives outside com- plaints or not. Dubbed "Week From Hell" by local musicians and club owners, the first week the ordinance, was enacted, 12 citations were issued to Key West bars. In addition to the Rooftop, these included Sloppy Joe's, the Bull and Whistle, Portside Key West, Hog's Breath Saloon, Green Parrot and Peek-A-Boo Lounge. The citations carry fines of $400 each; two citations may result in suspension of a club's liquor license. Owners may appeal the citations. "We were directed by the city manager at that time to let offenders know the ordi- nance would be fully enforced," said Gary Addleman, director of code enforcement. "We were highly visible; we did not operate secretively. We went out during the day on March 30 and clearly marked off the 150- foot boundaries around all the bars. That night, we began issuing citations as we had been directed to do. "It's no different than the enforcement of any other code on the books," Addleman explained. "If an officer sees unauthorized building going on, he issues a citation. He doesn't wait for a complaint. Why should this be any different?" ut musicians say an outside complaint should precede any investigation and subsequent citation from code enforcement, and they want the ordinance language changed to read that way. A number of people support the ordinance as written. KEY WEST PLAYERS 50th ANNIVERSARY BY RAFAEL LIMA A searing and timely high voltage drama about a group of journalists caught up in a country torn apart by cMI war. DIRECTED BY RAE COATES ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR NIKN WEAVERS-HOLT WATERFRONT PLAYHOUSE AT MALLORY SQUARE . MAY 16-20, 23-27 • TICKETS $12 • 294-5015 SfiM CURTAIN * BOXOFRCE HOURS NOON-4 PM; NOON-8 PM SHOW DAYS During the commission meeting Com- missioner Sally Lewis asked City Attorney Bob Gray's opinion on altering the ordi- nance. Gray expounded about setting pre- cedents and administrative policy. The com- mission tabled the issue. Tired and disap- pointed, musicians filed out of the city com- mission chambers. "I'm sorry it's come to this," said Com- missioner Harry Powell, a few days later. "Both sides have valid complaints — a few bars do display flagrant disregard for others by continuously playing loud music. On the other hand, music is an important attraction in Key West. I'd hate to see the place be- come New Orleans. But I'd hate to see the sidewalks rolled up at 10 p.m., too. "This ordinance, as it stands, has a couple of problems," said Powell. "The issue of whether or not a complaint needs to be received before a citation is served is one. Another is a loophole in the ordinance that affects people living within the 150-foot distance of a bar — they have little recourse if they are bothered by sound that,does not go beyond 150 feet." "If I lived within 150 feet of the Chicago Stockyards," said a police officer who pre- fers to remain anomymous, "I shouldn't complain about the smell." Along with code enforcement, the police play a role in this drama. It's their job to enforce the ordinance, as well. During a meeting of the sound committee — appointed to advise the commission before the ordinance became law — Major Lew Mertz pointed out that, by the very nature of what a police department does, enforcement of the sound ordinance cannot be a top priority. Too many other priorities face the department on a daily basis for it to devote valuable time and personnel to following up sound complaints, said Mertz. Lieutenant Bill McNeill agrees. "If we've got calls coming in about a couple of strong- arm burglaries, a bar fight and a domestic dispute on any given night," he says. "The call about a sound complaint is going on the back burner." Addleman says the ordinance has top billing in his office. "We have many priori- ties, and they change daily. Recently we have been directed by the city manager to wait for a complaint before issuing a citation for excessive sound - that's the current administrative policy." But, Addleman says, the ultimate deci- sion to issue a citation is still code enforce- ment's. "Citations are issued at our discre- tion," he says. lVJlcNeill says Key West has been grap- pling with the sound issue for ten years, and that the dynamics behind the problem are the same. Residents feel the music invades their privacy; musicians and club owners fear their livelihoods are threatened by an ordinance that is overly strict. Tempers have flared on both sides more than once. But the issue extends beyond personal gripes. The music and atmosphere on Duval Street are major tourist attractions in Key West: hush Duval Street and tourism suffers. If that happens, virtually every business in Key West's, tourism-based economy will experience the financial pain. There are those who say life has im- proved for everyone since the new ordi- nance took effect. But musicians and club owners are gun-shy at best, and a number of musicians are talking about packing it up and heading North to what they consider more receptive towns. Likewise, word of Key West's new low- volume status has worked its way to the mainland. "Margaritaville Sells Its Soul" ~ an article in the April 8 edition of Sunshine, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel's Sunday magazine - reads: "A noise ordinance will soon close in second-story, open-air bars and muzzle raucous street-level music." The rest of the article documents how ordinary Key West has become, labeling it as gentrified, sold out and an illusion. Flip Ferrari, bass player for the Southernmost Blues band, says news is out among Fort Lauderdale musicians that Key West is not the place to come for gigs. The island's larger establishments, such as Sloppy Joe's and Rick's, regularly import known bands to draw crowds. If no reasonable solution is found to this dilemma soon, we here in Key West may learn the unfortunate answer to a variation on another classic question: "What is the j Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 17 j sound of no hands clapping?" It's the same ' sound as that of no cash registers ringing] | | FREE ONE WEEK FREE PRO FREE Hours: Weekdays 6 am-9 pm; Sat. 9 am-7 pm; Sun. 10 am-5 pm 294-1865 _ _ _ . , _ 1111 12th St. In the Professional Bldg. Behind DePoo T?T>Tr iI7 F XV hthj Good for 1st time Members. Must have Local I.D. Must be 18 or Older. Expires 5-31-90 r M. J i l L K YOUR ONE-STOP SERVICE CENTERS iiheGRAND OPENING of their SECOND LOCATION DUVAL SQUARE 294-4999 SAME DEPENDABLE SERVICES FAST AND EFFICIENT Plenty of Free Parking at Both Locations NEXT DAY AIR LETTER DELIVERY $8,50 (1 Ib. Limit) Opening Special Available Thru May 10, 1990 AMERICAN EXPRESS MONEY ORDER FEE ONLY 590 During the Month of May, 1990 HOME .OF 101 SERVICES ... AND KEY WESTS ONLY 24 HOUR PRIVATE MAILBOX RENTALS £\elaxed casual waterfront dining. Fresh fish, lobster, shrimp and the largest selection of imported beers in Key West lANDi ENDViLtiil Across from Half Shell Raw Bar • Open 11 sum. to 1 a.m. • 294-2640 Page 18 • May 1990 • Solares Hill Political Whispers from the Birdcage Study Restructures County Pay Scale by Bud Jacobs on A., two-volume, highly detailed and com- prehensive review of Monroe County's organizational structure and pay policies for its 510 employees is complete. The $25,000 study by Cody & Associates, issued in February, is the focal point for considerable discussion — official and unofficial. County staff members, who will speak only on the condition that they not be identi- fied, point to the hottest part of the study — the pages dealing with wages and salaries. "What touches my pocketbook is what concerns me," remarked one worker. "The charts and big words they can keep." The study classifies 211 jobs and positions, listing present pay grades and ranges from minimum to maximum. The study also lists the grades and ranges "proposed" for the future. (The commission must agree on these figures for them to go into effect.) In 114 of the 211 classifications, the pay grade suggested for the future is lower at the minimum (or starting) level and, in some cases, at the maximum, as well. One way to look at the results is in terms of the old game of Chiefs-and-Indians. The study, to over-simplify only slightly, decided that the Indians were being paid at competitive rates, although a higher maximum pay was suggested for the veteran warriors. The chiefs were being underpaid, Cody said - and especially the super-chiefs, county administrator Tom Brown and his six division heads. "For the most part, Monroe County's actual wages and benefits provided to its employees are competitive," the Cody study found. "The entry levels of most of the salaries for non-management salaries [sic] exceeded market levels; however, the maximums were for the most part below our survey findings. Key management salaries were low in relationship to those surveyed." Non-management employees were assumed to be recruited locally. In the cases of managerial, professional, technical and administrative workers, to the contrary, recruitment was assumed to be statewide or regional; Cody surveyed 18 other counties, practically all of which had larger populations than Monroe County, "as a guide in arriving at our recommendations." This methodology may have been important in the conclusion that management is underpaid and labor is not. By Cody's classification, county admini- strator Tom Brown's position was in a class by itself, separated by two pay levels from his closest underlings, the six division directors. Cody recommended Brown's present pay grade, presented in a report exhibit as having a minimum pay of $50,753 and a maximum of $56,160, be raised to a minimum level of $58,240 and a maximum of $84,450. Cody recommended putting the Depart- ment of Veterans Affairs, which currently reports directly to Brown, under a community services division head instead. Otherwise, the study found Brown's America's Leading Diamond Centers In the Diamond Directory of outstanding jewelers, published by the National Bridal Service in MODERN BRIDE Magazine, you will find only one name from our area... Old Town Duval Square 513Duval 1075 Duval 296-0291 296-7189 11-7 Week Days'111-6 Week Days 12-5 Sundays Closed Sunday Jewelry Express Instant Credit and Major Credit Cards AcceptedPick-Up Your Free 1990 Wedding Guide present span of control "appropriate, ad- visable and comparable with" other counties surveyed. "We found the median number of managers reporting directly to the county administrator amongst other counties is 6.93." The county's present administrative structure of six divisions was praised. All division heads report directly to the county administrator, and can be hired and fired by him. Each division director presently has a salary ranging from the minimum of $42,966 to the maximum of $47,508. It was suggested that the pay of those six persons be raised to a minimum of $46,230 and a maximum of $67,000. Each division encompasses a number of departments, each of which is headed by a director. M E M B E R N A T I O N A L B R I D A L S E R V I C E part of the Community Services division, Social Services, seems to be the hardest hit in wage reductions in the reorganization plan for Monroe County. Under 25 job classifications in Social Services, 24 are singled out for lower minimum wages; two of them for lower maximum wages; one of them, listed as the "respite care worker," is given a $2-per-year increase in the minimum wage. The Social Services director, Louis LaTorre, presently makes between $45,345 and $50,753. The salary for his position would be scaled down to a minimum of $31,470 but could go up to a maximum of $45,630 - a drop of $14,000 in the minimum and a drop of $5000 in the maximum, according to the plan. Of all the listed department heads in the Cody & Associates reorganization study, the position of Social Services director is the only one scheduled for lower minimum and lower maximum. There are 15 directors. Among others, the minimum pay level for code enforcement director would be lowered, though the study says: "This unit [code enforcement] is not staffed adequately to handle all the code ordinances passed by the county over the years. In order to enforce all the codes currently enacted, two more inspectors and one code enforcement aide would be needed." But the study goes on to say that the code enforcement board couldn't "handle the additional work which would be created by adding new inspectors ... therefore [the study does not recommend] any staff increases at this time..." I h e study notes that "Monroe County has been the highest cost-of-living county [in the state] since at least 1983. This is a point which should always be considered when determining salary increases and proper wage levels." In a later section of the study, Cody addresses the apparent lack of qualified mechanical workers: "We understand the county has had difficulty in the past in recruiting skilled trades workers at any price. This is understandable due to the high cost of living." According to the report, Monroe County having the highest cost of living in Florida does not determine the going rate for a particular occupation. "Asked by several persons if the county should adjust their salary schedule based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (cost of living)," the report says, "our answer was no." The study continues: "The CPI is an easy 'fix' to the problem of when and how to raise salaries ... cost-of-living adjustments are attractive, appreciated by employees, backed by unions ... and do assist in maintaining the purchasing power of the employee's dollar." The CPI may not reflect the local economic picture, Cody argues, and does not reflect the difference in market value of various jobs. Salary levels locally may change in a different direction from the CPI. If the county ties itself to the CPI, Cody continues, it may not be able to meet it economically without increasing taxes or reducing services. When the Cody organizational study was given to the county commission in a recent meeting, commissioners voted to give it back to the administrator for "analysis" in Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 19 view of already established "ordinance positions," and to find out "what the total impact would be on the county's budget." In taking a fresh and thorough look at Monroe County's employment classification system, the Cody study has done a job that has needed to be done for a number of years. The data base the consultant provides is invaluable. But the county commission would be well advised to take its own look before adopting the Cody recommendations. Too many lives and careers are at stake, j 4/77 lp OMAWOBAG-S •o BAMD/WAS oTl£ Di£S GUATA MAC/AN "15ATIK o-HANOPAWTED Experience a Sunset Allur a full day in the Florida sun, what better place to enjoy a breathtaking Key West sunset rhcin oceanside at the Sun-Sun Pavilion located a\ Marriott's Casa Marina Resort. Feast on some ol the best grilled entrees, including Blackened Yelluwtail Snapper, superior Steaks and Chops grilled to perfection, or a variety of lighter entrees. For fabulous food at a moderate price, the Sun-Sun Pavilion is the place to celebrate the end of another perfect'day in Key West. Open for dinner from 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. nightly. Lunch and cocktails served from 11:00 a.m. Entertainment nightly 5:00-9:00 p.m. 1500 Reynolds Street Key West, Florida 33040 296-3535 We've Moved to 814 Duvai Handpainted Clothing by Local Artists Wide Selection of Machine Washable Artwork Visit Our New Location next to Croissants de France 814 Duval St. 296-8283 Emma's Brunch Emma's Extraordinary 4-O Item Buffet Wolfgang's German Apple Pancakes "Diablo" Gourmet Pizza Danish Grav Lox with French Dill Sauce Chef Siri's Oriental Duck Salad Homestyle Blintzes with Fresh Fruit Toppings French Pastries by Jean Claude Omelettes, Fresh Fruits, Belgian Waffles and Complimentary Minosas $14.95 ADULTS $7.95 CHILDREN UNDER 12 SUNDAY 7AM - 3 PM I EMMA'S SEAFARE AT THE REACH SIMONTON STREET AT THE OCEAN 296-5000 LIVE ENTERTAINMENT I Page 20 • May 1990 • Solares Hill Community Notes Explorers sought. Project ReefKeeper will join the American Littoral Society, a na- tional marine conservation organization, from October 21 to 27 to conduct a diving survey expedition aboard the Bottom Time II to the Exumas Islands, Bahamas. Berths are open to certified divers and snorkelers. Proceeds will benefit the Littoral Society's conservation programs. Write to the American Littoral Society, New College, USF, 5700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida, 33243, or call 813-351-3886. Guardian angels. Since late 1989, Flor- ida has had a guardianship law, which provides a way for people to designate a specific person to take over their affairs should they become incapacitated. Setting up guardianship requires an appearance before a judge. The services of an attorney should be retained to draw up a formal petition, describing the guardian's responsi- bilities, for presentation to the court. AIDS legal network. The Florida Bar Association has established the AIDS Legal Network, comprised of lawyers throughout the state with a special interest in AIDS- related matters. Most of these lawyers will take a client's financial situation into consid- eration when setting fees and many will take cases free of charge for clients who cannot afford to pay. Contact Michael Tartaglia, 650 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Flor- ida, 32399-2300, or call 1-800-342-801.1. This is only a test. In accordance with Environmental Protection Agency require- ments, City Electric System line and elec- trical crews began testing PCB levels in more than 3,000 transformers in the Lower Keys in April. Larry Thompson, operations manager at CES, said power should not be affected by the testing. Living benefits. People with AIDS may be able to negotiate lifetime settlements on their life insurance policies to generate money to help defray medical costs or other financial obligations. Under certain condi- tions, the insured converts his or her insurance into a cash equivalent. Contact AIDS Help, Inc. at 296-6196. AIDS Help also has information about the AIDS Insur- ance Demonstration Project. Taking credit. Three years ago, Florida Keys Community College and Monroe County high schools instituted a dual en- rollment program, under which students can complete college courses at no extra cost without leaving the high school. Upon graduation, these students may receive college credits from all Florida public colleges and universities, as well as from many out-of-state schools. Information can be obtained from FKCC and local high school guidance counselors. Toll-free AIDS info. Updates on clinic- al trials of drugs and biologies used in the treatment of AIDS and AIDS-related ill- nesses are available through a toll-free tele- phone service. Dialing 1-800-TRIALS-A accesses health information specialists, some of whom speak Spanish, with infor- mation about locations of studies and eligi- bility requirements for participation. How mulch does your garden grow? The Monroe County recycling centers are making free mulch available to Keys residents. The centers are located on Industrial Road in Big Pine Key, Peter Jay Street in Marathon, and at MM 106. All centers are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The centers will not accept yard waste until further notice. For recycling information call 294-4641, ext. 223. Staying active. AIDS Help, Inc. has opened an activities center in their offices at 2700 Flagler Avenue. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, the activities center offers yoga, nutrition classes and discussions, free movies and bingo. Future plans include a daytime support group for HIV-positive people, art classes and after- noon tea in the gazebo. Thanks, Maynard. Reef Relief and the Marathon High School band were the bene- ficiaries of the profits from a recent concert by jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson at Hawk's Cay Resort and Marina. Co-spon- sored by WWUS radio and the Florida Keys Keynoter , the event was attended by over 500 people. Remembering David Cormier. Sheriff J. Allison DeFoor and Monroe County Sheriffs Office personnel joined the family and friends of Reserve Officer David Cormier in a March 22 memorial ceremony "Peace Begins With Me" LNTHd ©F THE KEYS Sunday Service 11 A.M. Sunday School & Nursery Sunday Evening Service 7 P.M. -- Big Pine Visit our Metaphysical Bookstore Monday-Saturday 1-6 Call 296-5888 for other weekly activities Dial a Prayer 296-7217 3424 Duck Ave. for the officer, who died in November 1989 in a traffic accident. Cormier was posthu- mously named 1989 Deputy of the Year, and the award was renamed the David Cor- mier Memorial in his honor. Crane Point Hammock. On Earth Day, the Crane Point Hammock nature preserve, with its Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys, officially opened. The muse- um is the most comprehensive environmen- tal education center in the Keys. Crane Point Hammock has been preserved for use as a nature sanctuary and education center by the Florida Keys Land & Sea Trust. Located at MM 50, the 63-acre site contains endanger- ed tropical vegetation and is home to the last virgin palm hammock in North America. For more information call 743-9100. Hazardous waste amnesty days. Al- most every home contains hazardous waste, including asbestos insulation, mercury ther- mometers and batteries, paints, solvents, acids and pesticides. These materials pose hazards to human health or the environment when improperly handled. Monroe County is planning amnesty days on June 8 and 9 for homeowners and small businesses to safely store hazardous waste until it can be shipped out of the Keys for proper disposal. For information call 296-9680, ext. 205. New reserve deputies. The Monroe County Sheriffs Reserve Deputy Program added 13 new auxiliary officers to its rolls. The volunteers graduated from a three- month intensive training program at Florida Keys Community College's Institute of Criminal Justice. These officers, who pay for most of their equipment, must donate at least 16 hours of duty monthly to the sheriffs office. More reserve academies are underway. Bright ideas. City Electric System is . sponsoring 14 United Way agencies' mem- berships into the Alliance to Save Energy. The $15 membership entitles each agency to an energy-saving guide, information about products and techniques, and a special ener- gy-efficient lightbulb. Memberships help support national programs promoting ener- gy efficiency and environmentalism. Banding. Does the thought of a band play- ing in the park on a Sunday afternoon make you misty-eyed? If so, and if you can play a musical instrument, share the spirit of bring- MSSL M.A.R.C. PLANT OUTLET STORE (Monroe Assoc. for Retarded Citizens) Bromeliads 25 Varieties Phalaenopsis Orchids Great Selection Of Bedding Plants • Hanging Baskets Palms • Citrus Trees • Landscape Plants Free Delivery in Key West 812 Southard • Old Harris School 296-9556 Open Monday-Friday 9-5; Saturday 9-1 \ t Honored: Reef Relief founder Craig Quirolo lis- tens as President George Bush presents his envi- ronmental group with a "Point of Light" award, the highest civilian honor giv- en to volunteers in the private sector. Reef Re- lief has set up mooring buoys along the reef and been instrumental in fighting offshore oil ex- ploration in the Keys. ing old-fashioned fun, memories and music to Bayview Park. To join the Florida Keys Community Band, call Jimmy Vagnini, 296-2276; Julie Giovannucci, 294- 7374; or Ed Elwood, 294-5212, Bonded. City Electric System is sponsor- ing an energy conservation contest at five area schools. The student at each school with the greatest decrease from April to May in kilowatt hours consumed by his or her family will win a $50 savings bond. CES's public information officer, Lynne Slaughter, said the company hopes to reach two gener- ations with this project. Network. The Monroe County Library has been awarded a grant to create the Keys Area Information and Referral Service (KAIRS). This service will list resources in many categories, including employment, education, housing, transportation, social welfare, legal services, health, recreation, disaster and nutrition. This countywide listing, free to the public, will be available in libraries throughout the Keys. If your group or organization wishes to be listed, call Gail Keeler at 294-8488. Wrestling the 'gator. The final report of the Grand Jury for the fall term of 1989 was issued, detailing the jury's investigation of the Alligator Bookstore on Duval Street, where seven sexually explicit magazines and two videos were purchased by the Key West Police Department. Asked to deter- mine whether the materials were obscene, the jury found that, though they "were offensive and at times disgusting," they "did not depict any children or youth in any acts of violence or sado-masochism." The Grand Jury concluded that "...as long as blinds are drawn and doors are shut, we do not find that the current community mores in Monroe County have been violated." Brunch with the Boston Pops. Key 93.5 FM is adding two new programs to its Saturday afternoon schedule. The Boston Pops Orchestra, recorded live in concert under the direction of John Williams, will begin airing May 5 at noon. It will be direct- ly followed by the Boston Symphony Orch- estra, also recorded live under the musical direction of Seiji Ozawa. Bloody Mary? No, Rum Runner. If you're up around Islamorada on May 7, stop in at the Holiday Isle and donate some blood. Holiday Isle is offering incentives to donors in their second American Red Cross Blood Drive this year, including TCBY Yogurt, refreshments and a chance to win dinner for two at the Isle's Horizon Room restaurant. A complimentary Rum Runner will be given to donors of legal age, which should make for quite a buzz right after giving blood. Holiday Isle is at MM 84. Sit up straight. Governor Bob Martinez has signed a proclamation calling for the observance of Correct Posture Month during May. Chiropractic groups through- out Florida will embark on a program of public information and education about the spine and nervous system, and spinal clinics will be conducted throughout the state. Hitching a ride. Monroe County Social Services will provide transportation to Dade County for medical purposes Tuesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 24. To schedule transportation, call Cecil Bain at 294-8468 at least three workdays in advance. Compound Q. People with AIDS who decide to pursue treatment involving Com- pound Q are strongly advised by AIDS Help, Inc. to learn as much as possible about the drug and to consult .a physician experienced in its use. Compound Q has been implicated in severe adverse reactions in a small number of study participants. TDC gets innovative. The TDC is pro- posing a centralized reservations system utilizing its present collateral fulfillment service. The system would give visitors and travel agents a convenient, one-stop vaca- tion information and reservations outlet. There is a similar reservation system currently operating in the Bahamas. If approved, the new system's trial run will be August 1 of this year to January 31, 1991. TDC gets award. The TDC won first- place for its float in the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa. The float, "Kaleido- scope of Islands," is more than 100 feet long. It has also appeared in the Orange Bowl Parade and parades in Fort Myers, Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Plant City. Official cruise ship greeters. Volun- teers greet the cruise ships that visit our island. The Official Cruise Ship Greeters are always on hand to welcome passengers and present them with hibiscus flowers, information and maps of the city. Many Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 21 passengers say this is the warmest greeting they receive anywhere during their cruise. Say cheese, Mr. Barracuda. From May 26 to September 1, amateur photo- graphers and videographers will don wet suits and focus their lenses on the protected reefs of Key Largo and Looe Key for the fifth annual National Marine Sanctuaries' Underwater Photography Contest. Prizes will be offered in several categories. There is also an intensive mini-contest, Wind-Up Week, that will run from August 23 through September 1. For entry forms and rules for both contests, contact Waterhouse Photo- graphic Tours at 1-800- 272-9122 or write P.O. Box 2487, Key Largo, FL 33037. Registration is $10 for either contest, $15 for both. Conch Republic Days are here again. Visitors will join Conchs May 4 to 6 for the Eighth Annual Conch Republic Days, celebrating the founding of this tiny island nation. This year's celebration is truly in Conch Republic fashion ~ two weeks late. From Friday night's World's Longest Parade down Duval Street to Sunday night's Grand Ambassador's Ball at Marriott's Casa Marina, the three-day celebration promises to be the best ever. Jailbirds rake in the dough. This year's Jail and Bail event raised over $36,000 for the American Cancer Society, a record for money raised for a single event in Monroe County for the American Cancer Society. Moe Moesher was Number One Jailbird, raising the most money of all those arrested. Reef Relief shines. On Earth Day, April 22, President George Bush personally presented Reef Relief with a "Point of Light," the highest civilian award honoring volunteers in the private sector. Accepting the award was Reef Relief founder Craig Quirolo. Said Quirolo, "We are honored and hopeful that the President will protect us from offshore oil [drilling]." It's a wrap. The Nashville Network's (TNN) fishing program, Celebrity Outdoors, returned for its third visit to the Florida Keys. Three days of scenic and action filming for the show were completed in April. The program will air in May or June, and features country music artist Lee Greenwood and Shawn Southwick, host of USA Cable Network's Hollywood Insider. FKCC Silver Jubilee. Florida Keys Community College celebrates 1990-91 as its 25th anniversary in the Keys. Com- munity residents are invited to make tax- deductible contributions to the Florida Keys Educational Foundation, to be matched by the State of Florida. Contributions will go toward scholarships, faculty chairs, equip- ment and building improvements at all three campuses. Call 296-9081, ext. 281 or 283. Smart art . Art by Florida Keys Com- munity College art department's instructors and students will be permanently displayed at The Top of La Concha Hotel, beginning during the month of May. [JH Page 22 • May 1990 • Solares Hill Nelson English Park: Black History and Green Space Solares Hill Finance Section -- Page 1 by Ian Brockway I., wo months ago-J^elson English Park lay in the chaos of reconstruction — an image of Sesame Street spliced with reality. Orange bulldozers sundered the soil. Work- ers installed check valves, connecting lines of sewage from Key West to Fleming Key. Today the park, a 250-foot area next to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center on Thomas Street, is complete with a basketball court, picnic tables, jungle gym, swings and a green play area. First interviewed several months ago, children at the park seemed to enjoy their space; an aura of free play emanated from the group. But one person, who requested to be identified as Air Jordan — the name stenciled with a razor into his hair — said: "They messed up the park, man. It used to be just a big ole open field. We used to play football, baseball. And all that stuff, now it ain't nothin' -- no space." When asked fur- ther about what improvements could be made, the kids reponded: "A football field! A waterslide! Alright, a football field, then!" But on Easter, kids clad in holiday hues lined the park entrance with jubilance. That day the park was alive: a pair of kids was swinging gleefully- in arcs, smiling with a clear view to the sky. Though there is no football field or waterslide, most of the pessimism seems to have disappeared. Ac- cording to Solomon, a local youngster, the completed park is "Way better than it used to be, though the basketball hoops should be higher. Younger kids can hang on them and hurt themselves." Community pool supervisor Lee Thomp- son says her city job now includes super- vision of the park, as well. She said she is encouraged by the park's appearance. "1 expect that the newly completed park will bring in kids from other areas. Though today it is used primarily by youngsters from the community, I have seen a few other kids." The park helped to inspire Norman Moody in his revitalization project of the entire area of Petronia and Duval Streets. "I want to make it more accessible to the Key West tourist community at large," said Moody. "The park is just one of the positive changes that are happening. I want to reno- vate shops and stores. It's going to be cleaned up, A few years ago the streets were too intimidating." Lee Thompson expressed, the importance of recognizing Nelson English as an outstanding Key West figure. She admitted there was controversy when the park was christened after English. "Packs of black teens attempted to destroy the sign. They were confused, completely unaware of Nel- son English's race and contribution to Key West society." An search of Nelson English's family history, I set off to the domain of Roosevelt Sands, ST., who lives at 314 Virginia Street. His home rests in the land of neon- Two points: A. J. hooks a mean one son English Park, located beside the ther King, Jr. Community Pool, blue moons and grocery stores tiled in ciga- rette packages. Along the red-green-yellow- blue-washed area of Petronia Street, blacks squinted in the sun, poised in faded beach- chairs. They waved hellos. Ahead of me, a tourist paraded down the sidewalk, cosmetic eyes screened by aqua- marine lenses. The scene conjured thoughts of bottled beach sand expensively applied between the toes and developers cementing blue sky and water into a delusion of con- venience. Never have the dischords of cul- ture seemed so apparent. Roosevelt Sands' house is a storehouse of memories. Photographs of the family in full graduation regalia were poised on the heavy table. A portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. hung on the wall, posed with a serene, Christ-like reverence. Sands, clad in white shirt and indigo suspenders, calmly discoursed on the ro- mance of a green Nelson English Field as it was in 1931 — the only field used by the black community when Sands and the Coconuts defeated the Pelicans by a score of 46toO. He spoke of Circuit Judge Jefferson B. Browne's letter, which urged city officials to name the park after Nelson English. In 1881, English became Key West's first black postmaster. Later in 1886, he served as assistant postmaster under the leadership of Judge Brown. According to Sands, English's son Leo was a master of the coronet — "a triple- tongue artist." Leo English went on to prac- tice dentistry in Toledo, Ohio. One of Nel- son's daughters, said Sands, was principal of Douglas High School in 1916. By all accounts, the English family appears a respected and cherished element in Key West history. Sands rocked lightly in his overstuffed chair. When asked about the condition of Key West's black community today, he commented quickly, then regressed to earlier rimes. "I'm not as comfortable as I was in the old days, on account of this crack," he said. Then he recalled Bernie C. Papy, a state representative who awarded scholarships to blacks at a time when they were not eligible to vote. "Can't beat that." A left Roosevelt Sands alone with his memories and returned to designated areas of pristine white gingerbread and restora- tion. Helplessly, my mind re-ran images of bulldozers appearing in view of a Bahama Village window. Orange vices gripped the portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. and replaced it with a bland seascape. Photo- graphs packed in boxes were sent off to the Salvation Army. Machines bulldozed away the roosters, knocking down the old wood under an aqua-pink cloud. Lee Thompson believes the Nelson Eng- lish Park is vitally important to Key West as "the only park utilized primarily by the black community." The park breathes against the tide of commercial renaissance with the help of a $25,000 Federal Recreation Develop- ment grant combined with an $82,000 Bahama Village grant instituted last year. Director of recreation Randy Sterling is content with the results, with the exception of a "12-foot by 15-foot concrete wall that will surround the butterfly valve that just happens to be in the middle of the park." Like the children who play there, I relish the Nelson English Park - a rare green field that exists as if fallen from the sky - in full interplay with the community. Little people running, laughing, skipping. Balls bounc- ing, powered by hands, swirling in orange through hoops in defiance of bland mono- liths that block the sun and erase the sky. The Nelson English Park remains a cher- ished and necessary place to play. OT a SOLARES HILL SH 19901 !SH 1990 KEY WEST, FLORIDA A Special Section on Key West Business and Finances ToXive, Work and Hope To Buy a Home in Key West by Pamula Mason Vicricki and John have been in the Keys 11 and 15 years, respectively. They met, fell in love and decided to get married eight years ago. John has worked as a carpenter since he settled here, and Vicki earned a degree in nursing and worked in a hospital. After they married, they decided to buy a home here and become a permanent part of the community. Vicki began looking for something they could afford. She didn't even consider Key West, already knowing the exorbitant prices of property here. She also decided the income of a nurse looked paltry compared to what she could make bartending, so she switched jobs in order to help John save for the downpayment. Vicki was steadily employed at the same establishment for three years. After con- siderable sacrifice, she and John saved a few thousand dollars. They found a trailer on Stock Island, which they thought would allow them to save for a better home in a year or so. They were advised by friends that the only banks from which they could possibly get a loan to buy in the Keys was a national bank — specifically California Federal or Citicorp in New York. They applied and were tentatively approved, only to discover at the closing that banks don't like trailers, which tend to depreciate like cars instead of appreciating like homes. Banks also tend to view bartending as less than secure employ- ment regardless of length of employment. So they found a trailer they could buy out- right with their savings, only to discover they couldn't get a loan for land with no permanent structure. To make matters worse, the owner, from New York, demanded half cash, allowing financing for only half the 50-foot-by- 100- foot lot for which he was asking $40,000. In the meantime, Vicki became pregnant and had more reason to seek a place with space and permanence. Vicki continued the search for a "real home." She discovered the federal govern- ment offered low-interest loans to people in their income range — $35,000 annually — but the house must cost less than $95,000. Nothing in Key West could be found at less than $100,000. Finally, she" found a small house for $72,500 on Big Coppitt Key, owned by the last survivor of the Titanic. It needed some work. The government required a signed contract prior to acceptance for the subsi- dized loan. After the signing of the contract, they had 30 days to come up with the $23,000 downpayment. In addition, the government loan required that the house meet code standards prior to acceptance. Vicki and John gave up on this "helpful" program, applied at Navy Federal Credit Union and were accepted for a loan which "balloons" in three years, meaning the ^ balance then comes due and requires new' financing. So this little family, determined to live and work in the Keys, struggled to get what they have and will continue to struggle to try to keep it. They pay $476 per month to the bank, $100 per month to the original owner toward the downpayment, and they expect to spend an additional $25,000 to make' the necessary improve- ments with John doing all the work himself in his "free time." Vicki, a hardworking mother of a two-year-old, says, "There's not an extra penny now." H,.ow did it happen that the citizens of Key West, even Conchs with generations of residence, can no longer afford to live here? "Ten years ago, I paid $22 for three months of trash pick-up service. Now it's $24 a month," says Eulalee Jones, 85, a fifth-generation Conch. "The people who live here are asked to pay taxes to [provide infrastructure improvements] for the sake of the hotels and tourists. "Rich folks from New York and California come here and buy houses, paying more than any local could afford, then they only spend a short period of time here and rent their houses out at double the rents they were, or they try to sell at a profit. All this investment raises the taxes for everyone living here. What do they care what happens here? They still have their big homes to go back to. But we have only the problems they leave us with." Jones said she was concerned for the younger people. "Where will the children of the original residents be able to live?" Mary Hamilton, of the Key West Assoc- iation of Realtors, says that there are cur- rently 898 residential properties for sale in Key West, with a year-to-date total sales of 87. "The total dollar volume has increased, while the number of sales is down. In 1977 it was a seller's market," continues Hamil- ton. "Since that time, listings have risen, resulting in a soft, or buyer's, market. In Monroe County taxes on property are ad- justed with each sale. Higher selling prices result in higher taxes. This affects the value and taxes on comparable properties. "Qualifying incomes [here] are higher than median incomes for the entire state of Florida, and information from the Keys is not even included as a Metropolitan Statis- tical Area." An MSA is an area with a large population that, along with adjacent com- munities, together have a high degree of social and economic integration. As Curt Wild, of Curtis Wild-Coldwell Banker Real Estate Company, so aptly put it, "The rich will always have money. It's only the little guys like you and me who are affected by the changing economy. The markets in the areas of Key West's major buyers, the East Coast and West Coast, are slowing. Therefore, they are less likely to invest in vacation homes here. "Our current supply is greater than our current demand, due in large part to the recent major developments like Truman Annex. We are losing our exclusive clientele who frequently comment that we 'stink.' We have so many people making so much trash that the streets literally stink. What on first glance looks like paradise, after a few days of walking around smells less than heavenly." Wild says that in the last three years sales have slowed significantly while the asking prices have continued to rise. Why doesn't the law of supply and demand kick in and result in lower prices? "Because of a growing interest from foreign investors, especially those from Canada and Europe where the dollar value encourages U.S. investments," says Wild. "When it comes to property values, only three things really count: location, location and location. Key West is still, at least for a while, one of the most beautiful places on earth." ~~ SOLARES HILL M©NEY A Special Section on Kev West Business and Finances Page 2 -- Solares Hill Finance Section MICHAEL MILLER A r c h i t e c t Finn llonee Design • (3(15) 294-7607 • 517 Dtival Street Sara Cook ific! AT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SALES A Personal Firm With A Proven Track Record Specializing In Full-Service Management Seasoned & Yearly Rentals 905 Truman Ave. j=i£UU^VJMGkIs^-.JWSXALLAXIOfei SOLARES HILL MCDNEY Section on Key West Business and Finances To Buy or~Not~fo~Buy Buyers' Concerns Over Financing Techniques by Carter R. Vineyard JLJo you dream of buying a new home or property but wonder what it takes these days to make that dream come true? Unless you are a financial whiz or have knowledge about creative financing techniques, mak- ing the transition from tenant to purchaser, especially in the Key West real estate mar- ket, can be difficult. Timing is also a con- sideration, particularly if one is caught either in a buyer's or seller's market. An under- standing of market conditions, terminology, and the tools necessary to meet commit- ments prior to closing can make the process an easy one. There's no sense in plodding along through uncharted waters. A good way to get an idea of what type of property you can afford is to evaluate your current income with your needs. Can you afford a $150,000 property on a $25,000 or greater individual or combined salary? You should find out — it will save time for you, your agent, lender and, ultimately, the seller. Add up your monthly income — salaries, plus income from rents, dividends, interest or royalties - and mul- tiply by 12 to annualize. Once you've derived your annual in- come, you can determine how much you can afford to spend on a house by two COMMERCIRL»RESIDENTIflL BPPRHISBLS Member: Society of Real RESORT REALTY & APfEAISALS Estate Appraisers PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Seasonal And Yearly Rental Licensed Real Estate Brokers 296-6501 715 Seminole Avenue (Across from the Casa Marina) Carpet 6? Casuals Serving Key West & Lower Keys Since 1967 Storewide Moving Safe in Progress * ̂ '" QUALITY BEDDING BY SIMMONS SPRING AIR MINI & VERTICAL BLINDS KING KOIL BRAND NAME FURNITURE • CARPETING • VINYL 416 EATON ST., KEY WEST 294-1377 ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS » NEXT DAY DELIVERY methods: 1) multiply your annual income by 2 1/2 to get the desired price level; 2) mul- tiply about 2/5 of your monthly income to determine what monthly mortgage payment you can reasonably handle, should you go for financing. Either of these methods will allow you to qualify what you can afford. To cash buyers, this information will be of little concern. But for those who desire the advantage of leverage — the usage of other people's money to buy property they normally could not purchase themselves -- it pays to shop around for potential sources of financing. These come in the form of com- mercial banks, savings and loans, mort- gage brokers, financing provided by the seller and even "call your Dad" loans. Commercial banks and savings and loans can provide qualified prospects with con- ventional financing — usually fixed or adjustable rate mortgages. Mortgage brokers provide financing packages which allow potential buyers to meet their financial needs. Seller financing is an incentive for sellers, to lure more potential buyers who can't make a large downpayment or who may need more cash to make, or bridge, the contract. "Call your Dad" refers to getting or borrowing money from a close friend or relative to make a downpayment on a prop- erty. This can help you to readily qualify for a loan. Whatever the case, it pays to realize the less cash you plunk down, the more impor- tant it is to shop around for the most financ- ing at the lowest cost — in essence, more "bang for your buck." jToints, the lender's costs of handling the loan, are regarded as prepaid interest, and are paid at closing. Interest rates among lenders are competitive, and the relationship between interest rates and the points charged can make a difference as to whether your monthly mortgage payments will be higher or lower, once your deal closes and you begin to make those payments. Shopping around in easy or difficult markets can add or subtract valuable dollars and time. To ascertain market climate, look at the average amount of time listings FINANCING SPECIALISTS > Buying or Refinancing • Low Rate Programs First Mortgages Second Mortgages Home Improvement^ Licensed Mortgage Broker Jonatan Zahav. Member FAMB SOLARES HILL MCDNEY A Special Section on Key West Business an Solares Hill Finance Section - Page 3 actually remain on the maket. If the period is relatively short, prices are running higher than normal, and there aren't that many list- ed properties, it's a good bet that you're in a vigorous seller's market. If the period is relatively long, you see indications of price cutting, and there are plenty of properties around, your buying opportunities are bet- ter; this is a negotiable buyer's market. Right now Key West real estate options create a strong buyer's market; the supply of available buyers is less than the supply of properties available in various price ranges. As a result, it may pay for you to shop around for the most amenities to go with a property that most suits your pocketbook. Keep in mind that in the case of agency or disclosure, where fiduciary loyalty and responsibility automatically rest with the seller or client of the property, you can employ a selling agent to be your buyer's broker. This allows you to negotiate more strongly with a seller through your agent, and not directly with the Using agent or seller; it also allows you, the buyer, to pay one commission only at the closing table. Make sure, in any event, that your agent fully discloses for whom he or she is em- ployed, and what that agent will do for you from the moment you meet him or her. Otherwise, dual agency can result, which can place the agent indelicately between whom he represents. Should you use an agent locally for pur- chasing property, test his or her knowledge of financing techniques by coming prepared with information. Ask for the type of market that currently exists for the type of property desired; what the average single-family ~ or multi-family if you are an investor — prices are for the area; be prepared to answer ques- tions about annual income and what money down you can offer; plus what closing costs you can expect to pay for your property. Closing costs are those transaction costs that a seller or buyer can reasonably expect to pay, such as title insurance (either through an attorney or title company, typically negotiable at 50/50); property taxes (usually prorated); home insurance (if mort- gage involved); rent if necessary; recording of deed (seller); recording of mortgage if necessary; plus brokerage commission. As a rule, all closing costs are and should be negotiable between seller and buyer. Other closing costs may be incurred in prepared surveys, pest control, structural inspections, and contractor's or architect's expenses if a fixer-upper is involved. As a rule of thumb, the buyer should be prepared to pay between 1-1/2 to 3 percent of the purchase price in closing costs, and more if a buyer broker is involved. Once your offer has gone into contract and you decide now is the time to approach the lender of your choice, be prepared to have your agent or yourself present a copy of the contract to the lender so that the following can be identified: 1) escrow, or good-faith money, paid by the buyer into initial offering; 2) downpayment, or how much more money can be placed into escrow as good faith or at closing, plus the remaining amount a lender should be pre- pared to finance. The lender will usually consult an ap- praiser of its choice locally to determine the market value of that property and assign a loan-to-value. This usually ranges from 70 to 80 percent of market value. If the ap- praisal comes in at contract price, your loan will be approved and the transaction can move to closing through a closing agent, usually an attorney or title insurance agent. Depending upon the loan approval, time from contract to closing can vary from 21 to • 90 days. Again, it pays to shop around. Lenders look attractively at downpay- ments of 20 percent of purchase price or greater. Purchasers can, in vigorous seller's markets, negotiate down to 10 percent, with such documentation as tax returns, financial • statements and evidence of liquid assets. In short, if you, the potential buyer, can identify your financial needs in advance, before approaching a competent realtor or licensing agent, a responsible lender and a responsible closing agent or attorney, you will eliminate much of the concern in buying property in any type of market, ffl Carter R. Vineyard is treasurer of the Key West Association of Realtors. He is also a realtor with Bender-Tanis ERA Real Estate in Key West. The Prudential Knight Realty, Inc. l lna*p«ndMitly Owned and Operated Utrtibmr of TM Prudential Real Bsou AftUtabes, I n t OLD TOWN 921 CENTER ST. I /1 fully furnished towrtouses in a secluded compound From $109,000 1316 VWCIN1A ST. Conch cottage across from Bayview Pane 2 M m . + loft. 1 bath. S115,000 1413 ALBUBY ST.Z/1 Conch Home. Porches, nice itail^hthiAUg$1199OO 926 SOuTHAHD ST. 2/1 Classic little eyebrow Condi house. S1Z&00O 1124 EATON ST. 2/1 Frame home, upstairs living ana off street parking, Asking. $127500 1008 THOMPSON LANE 3 bd/2 bath, wmderlul cottage on a lane. \ M priced at S1XW0 1018VARELA ST. 1 beta, 1 bath Condi hcraw/cine walls, many refinements. $13$A00 1206 MARGARET ST.3/1. Recent upgrading, Large lot Private assumable mtg. $155,000 1008WHJrEHEADST.3/2 Historic Condi cottage. $199,000 1400 ALBERTA 1/1 Cottage in tropical compound, heated pooL 2 tofts. $1(4500 1012WhTTEHEADST.2/2Conch Renovation. Wall to lighthouse and Hemingway's Vane. $19U0O S10FftANCESSr.Two2/1 units two story, lovely Ok) Town location. REDUCED SiviSOO 613 WEJJAM ST. 3 Bd. 2 Wi . Award Winning restoration in Old Town. Cent AC $19M0O. 1*24 remONIA ST. 2/2 home with separate I / I Apt Outdoor spa. $225vOOO. '612 EUZABErH ST. High quality perfection in this Sokns Hill vacatjen cottage. SasjXX) 90MFRANCESST.-MAKlYEU. GABLES 2bd./2 bath. Location and style. $Z4MO0 881 SOUTHARD ST. 2 bdmu 2 baft home in CM Town with Eft Apt $289,500 409 and 411 FUMING ST. 2 Condi cottages. commercial location. $270,000 623 CATHOLIC LAKE Charming. 2/1 on large lot $275400 SU CATHOLIC LAME 2 Bd. 2 Bth, with Veranda. garden, and (pe t Excellent location. HSMOO 409 FRANCES ST. 3 bd, 3 bath. Fr. Hideaway with pod. cent A/C Easy maintenance. $29X000 613 OLIVIA ST. 4/1)4 with cistern t r o d pool t large shed Ideal for guest/pod house. $asJM0 819 FRANCES ST. 2/2 with every amenity imaginable. Magiair tatuml $299,500 1114 PACKER ST. 3/2)4 Conch house with central A/C&pcoLPLUS. I Br.guestaittageinrear. $350,000 719 FIBBIIG ST. An origM Victorian 2)4 stay Conch house. Uroe lot pool parking, 538X000 Also avails* w/maii house, a 2*drm, guest cr rental cottage. J13M00 c t t t taaL TOWN APARTMENT BU1L0HB Sx untcs. 3-fwo bdmuJonetdrm. $475X00 3025 N. R0OSEVH.T BLVD. 15.0CO So f t of Land. building appro. 1B00 sq.ft $57SioOO 619 DUVAL ST. Renovated retail space inter leas. Apartments, warehouse and parMing. $KSAO0 901 DUVAt, ST, Two story buMing with 3 commoml /4 residential units. A unique property. $650,000 &EBTHAflntNET«/DEllHlS S B . 33,030 s i f t land with 8 Conch cottages pool Owner Siandng. $915000 US. 1 STOCK BUND 300 f t on Wohwsv. 30.000 5.f. tMg., vacant and versatile. $1,200,000 3432 DUCK AVE. 9 tots with 6 strip stores, Lounge, liquor license a 3 lots to improve. SI.2S50& 72S/727 CAROLINE ST. Large store/warehouse and owner's quarters, in haroorares lot 120 '< 156, '$1300jboO 902 WHtTEKEAD ST. Guest House. 42 Units - 36 seat Bars Restaurant Heated pool & spa.$18SM0O /INCOME PROPERTY- 111S/1117 V0» MUSTER Two wits in a great location. Best buy In me neighbaticai. 2 /2 upstairs m tree top deck. 1/1 down. 0c# $139,00) 9 * JTRUMAN AVE. Firs damaged. Approved for 5 residential, 1 cormatal unit A J S I J $150,000 1322 OLIVIA ST. Comer of Florida St, 3 units making p x r a m security. 516SJXJO SWiPBIMMA ST. Two units M block off Duval St. fine unit transient, other owner. $169*10 No. SWAM PLAZA. 1500 SJ. plus loft. 350 i f . Ampte parting. $175J>00 91 a ASHE ST. 3 Seasonal quality units each with I private deck. Turn Key. S1SMCO. Brtog o tou . 2S)1 fOCAKTY2mtiEirafe!toe^ltcrt>xd.v9y (dean, walled mature Mage, appt any, $19 150lTRl)MAH4i iTOTae ; tocoveryourdectsBvice.Asking$839500. 626/6WA CAROLINE ST. Two attached 1/1 houses. ; d$2*U)00133M322 0UV1A ST. Nice a Quiet Your own j compaml'4urMs.$2S0WI 14J14 PETOOHA ST.lmely2 unit in eraltat area. 2/2 i i i / lOfictoJi»M25rjOOBrtioofT«li 1408 OLIVIA Oassc double porch. 2 ur* buildng in the , -Meadows."(2/18a l/1)$289,00O 921 WHtTEHEAD ST. (HP-2). Great location, das* ' stjte, and 3-inconieprcducing m i t i $280400 1001 EATON 1323 GHNHELl Historic Cuban cav \ s i t e tare. $ t » 0 0 0 90S UNITED. Large parcel of land runs along ere city ] tMttmteV«toP»ii.Ai*gSSMioo KEYYVEST Strip steBwithjciunge, Bouor store a 2 BUSINESSiOPPbRfUNltV BBM OF PARADISE. 316« Eimaiton St Key West's f ra r ta- tW store. M y $ » « 0 HcDONAlD AVE. S a V HARDWARE. Begin own business. $45,000 TEE SHIRTS AND T7I Emllait Duvsl Street Location. Long Term Lease. $90£00 CofcKrt Etojwt EtUdri -111 DUVAl ST. Turn Key operation. $2S0JO0 610 DWAI ST. BIRKENSTCCKSAHDAIS. 11 store in sates in this country. $290jPM+Inventory A/ACANT.LANDJ pJDJOS OABDEKS Deep Canals on TWO sides. ; 9.t50sqitUMlyTreedM.$S$M0 tS1117THST. (Between FlaglerarelSiMiffi Dr.lEcy j < l37S\Tcpfea)et i taxBlR«luc«l to$&a!O 3730 k 3734 DOCKAVE. Two beautiM lots on at At . btxk of Dude 1001120 totaL $125400 tors 13114 FlORAl AVE. Key Hsvai 10th add Each G0l<100.$12S4MEieh. WALmdH»msT.2a ASHWSSUMOAM •rdR":0VEB30 YEARS KEY" WESTS LEADING REAL ESTATE OFFICE 336 DUVAL STREET, KEYWEST, FLORIDA 33040 {308)294-5155 . FAX (30S) 296-0946.24-HR ANSWERING SERVICE • OPEN MON-FRI9-S. SATURDAY 10-4 M L S Page 4 - Solares Hill Finance Section SOLARES HILL MCDNEY | ion on Kev West Business an Poor conditions: Before Jack Marshall received money from the Mayor's Revolving Loan Program, portions of his house were rickety. Wow! Like new: The Marshalls' home, refurbished and painted. Revolving Loan Program Matches Dreams, Dollars by Elizabeth M. Smith The Mayor's Revolving Loan Program provides funding to make physical improve- ments to homes/buildings for low-income homeowners or community service, non- profit organizations. From MRLP Guidelines U n c e the Marshalls' home in Bahama Village was an eyesore, a nightmare of rot- ted wood, exposed electrical wires and a sagging roof with holes. Now, it's the pride of the neighborhood ~ a beauty inside and out. The new clapboard exterior is conch- shell pink; and its spacious interior is breezy and light. The transformation is incredible, a real success story. It's the result of funds the Marshalls. acquired through the Mayor's f^iTED HEET Sales — Rentals Income Properties Commercial Investments REALTY INC. "See m for your Real Estate Needs" 529 UNITED STREET j (305) 294-6259) KEY WEST, FL M£Ml£ft MLS Revolving Loan Program — an understated program that helps dreams come true for Key Westers who otherwise couldn't af- ford the dream. Before improvements, the Marshalls' kit- chen and bathroom were housed in a small addition tacked onto the original dwelling. A large ficus tree had grown so close to the home it jammed the addition's outer door shut. Creeping vines entangled the roof. When it rained, the bathroom and kitchen became unusable. Eventually the tree was removed; part of the roof went with it. Jack Marshall describes conditions: "You couldn't come through the door for the rain in there. It would rain in the kitchen and you couldn't get through to the bathroom. The whole thing was falling apart. I used to say that it didn't rain outside; it would rain inside and leak outside." A fire on the gas stove had also caused considerable damage to the ceiling and one wall. The Marshalls first heard about the MRLP from City Commissioner Harry Powell, while he was visiting their neigh- borhood to encourage attendance at a public meeting. Powell later assisted the Marshalls in applying for a loan. It took six months for the new addition, which is much roomier than the old, ram- shackle one, to reach completion. The new kitchen is beautifully spacious, with high ceilings and fitted cabinets. Large window spaces allow for plenty of light and refresh- ing breezes. The entire roof was replaced, new plumbing installed and the.house rewired. Exterior and interior walls have been refin- ished. Aluminum windows have been add- ed. The loan also paid for yard-clearing and pearock. "I'm proud of the way it looks now," says Marshall. Harriett Chipchase found that she was able to have her house, off Truman Avenue, completely renovated by taking out a loan through the program. "If it hadn't been there," she-explained, "I would probably have had to do one room at a time. But with the revolving fund, I was able to do the whole job. The payments are reasonable." _ For the most part, Chipchase is pleased with her enhanced home. But she remains upset that the Historic Architecture Review Commission would not allow her to replace her old jalousie windows with the wind-up awning type, despite earlier renovation pro- jects in her neighborhood that installed such windows. Physical limitations make it dif- .A' Historically Significant Condominium Unique Central Courtyard • Balconies Ornate foldings • Sound Proofed • Fully Insulated Centrally Air Conditioned • Lush Tropical Gardens Gazebos - Fool • Convenient Old Town Location Now Under Construction FULLY COMPLETED UNITS FALL 1990 PRICED FROM $98,500 Property Management of Key West, Inc. 1213 Truman A ve. Key West FL 33040 (305) 296-7744 WHEN YOU THINK OF INTERIORS THIHK Of cfnfenioJts [Residential • Commercial Industrial Representing Over 60 Companies In Fabric And Wall Coverings 50% Off Verticals 45% Off Mini Blinds Lamps • Bedspreads • Draperies Slip Covers • Cushions • Reupholstery "One Of The Largest Selections Of Fabrics In The Keys" 294-9600 Perry Plaza • 3720 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Class act: This new bathroom replaces a de- tached facility. ficult for her to raise the sash windows required by HARC. Chipchase highly recommends this pro- gram and has told many people about it. She knows of "several who have said they were going to apply for a loan since my home was done." l o date, 85 dwellings have been ap- proved for funding through the program, which was created in 1976 using federal ""*! SOLARES HILL W~°" • MCDNEY [1 \ A Special Section on Key West Business and Finances I Solares Hill Finance Section « Page 5 grants and city monies. David Tackett, for- mer president of Southeast Bank and pre- sent chairman of the MRLP board, believes the original fund was about $150,000. Loans provided through MRLP are low- cost. Interest rates for homeowners have dipped as low as two percent and are cur- rently three percent, as opposed to 17 to 20 percent on the open market. To be eligible, applicants must be Key West property own- ers who fall within the program's income guidelines: from $18,200 per year for one person to $32,500 for a family of eight. The first criterion is that it be impossible to obtain other financing. "The mayor's loan is the last resort," says Tackett. "It is to assist people who are unable to make repairs to their homes which are absolutely necessary. We see this in terms of the bathroom, the roof, pieces of the house that might have been falling apart which people could not, for financial reasons, complete themselves. These loans are to assist occupants in bringing their homes up to building code standards," Richard Heyman, former mayor of Key West, reactivated this program during his Old Town Garden Villas Townhouses for Rent or Sale $850 per month .... long term rentals get one month free. $115,000 to Own 1/2 block to Duval St. Completely Furnished, Private Surroundings, Jacuzzi, BBQ & Laundry. 294-4427 YOU PONT HAVE To DIE fb 6€T THERE! 729 THOMAS ST. THE MflRKET at Blue Heaven is Now Open •10 a m - 7 pm Offering the Finest in Fresh Fruit 6* Vegetables 296-8666 Corner of Thomas & Petronia SPECIALIZING IN FINE HOMES 1706 Patricia' St. - Turn Key 3/ 2 with Room for Pool on A+ Resi- dential Block. $224,900 623 Catholic Lane - Charming 2/1 on Large Secluded Lot in Old Town. $275,000 1317 Grinnell St. - 2/2 + Large Loft, Pool, 81 x 92' Lot in Casa Ma- rina Area. $275,000 613 Olivia St. - Renovated ffls- toric 3/1-1/2 + Den, Pool in Old Town. $295,000 ThePrudentiai ( ^ Knight Realty, Inc. An fcfcHfWAdaiBY Onn.a and OptrKtt Mtmcar ot Tfn Prut!*nn« Real Eit iu AlWUti ins. 336 Duval Street, Key West, Florida 33040 • (305) 294-5155 • Evenings (305) 292-1288 20 YEARS OF SOUND INVESTMENT ADVICE TO THE KEYS STOCKS AND BONDS• TAX FREE BONDS INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES C.D.'S AND MONEY MARKET ACCOUNTS OPTIONS • MUTUAL FUNDS John Wolf, Branch Manager Chuck Romito, Investment Broker Doug Morgan, Investment Broker Ed Spehar, Investment Broker 294-9575 NATIONAL: 1-800-327-5964 FLORIDA: 1-800-826-7401 SASSOC1A' Mt>ir Ha* York Slock £.c»»no»/5IPC Perry's Plaza 3706-H N. Roosevelt Blvd. Key West, Florida 33040 Concerned about you and your financial well-being. r Page 6 -- Solares Hill Finance Section FOOD SERVICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES PAKTF SUPPLIES & RENTALS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Business Hours: M.-F. 9-6 • Snt. 9-5 • Sun. Closed 294-7994 « 294-8828 1 925 TRUMAN AYE. KEY WEST, FL 33040 SOLARES HILL _._ M@NEY I A Special Section on Key West Business and Finances first term from 1984 to 1986. He'asked Tackett to serve on its five-member board. Previous to its reorganization, the program had been largely dormant for several years. There were outstanding loans on the books; many payments were not kept up to date. No new money had been committed to the fund in several years. "It had simply become moribund," ex- plains Tackett. Perhaps the taint of an earlier reputation remained: stories abounded of an unscrupulous contractor and building in- spector preying upon low-income families who applied for this loan. Shoddy work for exorbitant prices was the name of their game. It was the old tale of private individ- uals lining their pockets with public funds. iiinmHiiinnnniiinHnniiHininnnuiiimuinnninHininiiimiiinif It's time to call Southeast first! HOME LOANS Primary Residences » Second Homes s Refinances for information call our mortgage specialist June Prophet Southeast Bank 422 Front Street Key West, FL 33040 292-6636 b.ak island wear for men 2i4 duval street (305) 296-3374 key west, fla 33040 511 south street ^{305)296-4763 The program is no longer run by the city. Since 1988 it has been administered through the Community Development Office by con- tract with the Key West Housing Authority - an autonomous organization. Marlene Hagesfeld of the CDO is the rehabilitation coordinator. Contractors must be approved by the MRLP board and the program is closely monitored. Each renovation project and the relevant costs for each stage are precisely figured before work begins. Money is apportioned for each phase of the project. Inspections are made by KWHA personnel while work is in progress and upon completion of one phase before funds for the next are released. Currently, a loan of up to $20,000 may be granted. The repayment schedule extends mnnnnniininiiiinnnHiininiiniunmininiini Key West Furniture | Repairs - Refinishing | Buy & Sell | Insurance Estimates s 5 Showrooms of Antiques a 12224th St. (Behind Burger King) 294-8595 or 294-WOOD (9663) John & Donna lllH2HiIMtlUUUUMIUtlllUISIUi!tHlllUIt!HUIiliUHiUlil!? iohn the'.butler steam carpet cleaning upholstery water extraction oriental specialists SAME DAY SERVICE 296-8083 For The Dive Of Your Life Exclusively thru Captain's Corner •Tropical Mike" PADI-OWSI 38679 Zero Duval St. Key West, FL 33040 EXPERIENCE SCUBA FREE!! with this Ad Open Water Certification thru Assistant Instructor Novice Resort Dives Ask About Group Rates Underwater Guided Tours (Bus) 305-296-8865 Refer ra ls (Res) 305-296-7410 , • ERA.® 1ST IN SERVICE BENDER-TANISERA REAL ESTAT SALES AND RENTALS 296-6200 605 SIMONTON ST. for up to 20 years with payments starting 30 days after loan closing. All monies gener- ated by the program are returned to the fund, hence the revolving concept. When the committee established by Hey- man reorganized the program, new guide- lines were set for loan documentation and appraisals on homes, since the city takes a lien on the dwelling as security. "The city is not in the business of taking property," says Tackett. "To my knowledge we have never foreclosed on a loan. Our purpose is not to foreclose, but to help somebody survive and have a roof overhead or a bathroom in the house." By the end of Heyman's first term, the board was able to report that payments on all but two of the loans on the books were being brought up to date. New applicants Chibhaw. Certified Public Accountant Member: AICPA • FICPA • NJSCPA 1221 First Street Key West 296-7588 HEALTH INSURANCE GROUP & INDIVIDUAL WE REPRESENT OVER 20 INSURANCE COMPANIES TO SERVICE ALL OF YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE NEEDS. F. COURTNEY & COMPANY 296-9696 RITSON & COMPANY FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING • Comprehensive Personal and Business Planning • Pension and Retirement Plans • Tax Planning & Tax Return Preparation • Corporation Benefits Packages To obtain a complementary copy of our latest client newsletter... Call 294-9780, 930 Eaton Street, Key West DEEP ROCK' NATURAL WATER FLORIDA'S FINEST SINCE 1919 SERVING THE FLORIDA KEYS (305) 872-3778 (305) 292-1636 Lower Keys (305) 664-2262 Upper Keys SOLARES HILL MCDNEY A Special Section on Key West Business Solares Hill Finance Section -- Page 7 were actively sought: local ministers were asked to help find members of their com- munities who might benefit from the pro- gram. Applicants have been primarily older people living on minimal social security in the old section of town. Information regarding the MRLP con- tinues to be posted in local newspapers and business establishments. But Tackett says, "The greatest way to generate additional loans is to make them and employ word of mouth." . When people see neighbors fixing their homes with money from the program, says Tackett, they tend to want to apply for a program loan themselves. It's a snowball effect ~ one that benefits for all parties concerned. While homeowners improve their private living conditions, property values and neighborhoods are upgraded. According to one borrower, "I had a friend who had her house- done and I liked the way it was renovated and the terms of the loan, so I thought I would try it." Anyone wishing further information regarding the Mayor's Revolving Loan Pro- gram should contact Marlene Hagesfeld, Rehabilitation Coordinator, Key West Com- munity Development Office, 1403 12th Street, P.O. Box 2476, Key West, Florida, 33045, 292-1221. ffl Complete Water lie cl : sSu :Cornf(irters/Bedspreads Bedskirls ;>'i:'yv" .' I'illbw Shams B l a n k e t s , ' : y Mattress Tails 100% Cotton to Vinyl Pil lows Standard/Kin" Quiillofill Latex Foam Feather, Down Decora t ive Shee t s 60/40, .50/50, t(HK< ISO to 230 Count S o l i d s / I ' r i n t s S e t s IS e p a r a t e s S a t i n s Twin to Kin(4 Sheet Straps Cotton Cup to NVastcbasket : • H a m p e r s - . ; •. "•. ~ • \ ~ : . ;. • •" l ' . . j ; '"'.>:..: ; Tmv'elV,:. •' . .- .' ":.'' • .:•'. :''. •'..'. • ••Washcloth:, to Buthsheet I'lain to Decorative Wall Mount Accessories S helving Vanity Trays Tank Toppers Makeup/Hair Care Organizers Wicker Items S o u p s • • ' • • • ' . Loofas Gifts/Extras Potpourri/Burners Candles/Holders : : ; : S ( ) a " p . ' ; : . ( j i f t : \ S e t s . - : •'-••. y " . ••••..•;•••• • ' • • ' • • • • . y . : v *I"a;l>:r iiyyl^la n ts/H i rcisy Page 8 — Solares Hill Finance Section May 8 Special Election: Pick Your Poison I1- Key West Solid Waste Spread Sheet Const. Cost Closure Phase I Const. Cost Closure Phase II Landfill & Ashfill Siting 89-90 Land Permit & Design Construction Management Construction Leachate Treatment Construction 97 Construction 02 Class III Siting (debris) Permit & Design Construction Transfer Station Drainage Control (Trashmore) $23,388,500 1989-90 3,200,000 300,000 1.095.000 4,595,000 55,301 Construction Insurance 318,960 Underwriter Discount 208,583 Ins. 2,658,000 Reserve** $26,529,344 1990-91* 3,000,000 500,000 200,000 100,000 193,500 3,993,500 1991-92 400,000 4,300,000 1,900,000 700,000 7,300,000 * 5% annual inflation 1992-93 1993-2006 Total $ 3,200,000 3,700,000 3,700,000 300,000 3,000,000 500,000 400,000 4,300,000 1,900,000 1,600,000 1,600,000 2,100,000 2,100,000 200,000 100,000 700,000 193,500 1,095,000 3,700,000 3,700,000 $23,388,500 rate is included. ** As interest rates increase, reserve requirements increase. $27,000,000 by Geddy Sveikauskas •iV,ey Westers are being asked to pick their poison in the form of either higher waste disposal rates or $27 million in new debt. Already burdened with the highest rates for solid waste disposal in the state, citizens of the island city are being asked if they want to pay more now ... or later. The city projects it will take a $20- a-month increase in the $24-a-month resi- dential rate for 1990 to pay for the closure of the existing Stock Island landfill facility and the opening of a new facility at a loca- tion not yet chosen. Non-residential rate- payers would be socked with increases of a similar proportion. At the May 8 special election, Key West voters are therefore being offered the oppor- tunity to avoid this rate increase by agreeing •" __ Duval Square Townhomes! Great Value, Below Market. For Information Call ROGER HOLTKAMP 292-1223 294-7523 REAL ESTATE G r e g O ' B e r r y , I n c . 1304 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040 to invest in the $27-million bond issue. Though rates would increase just as much if this route were taken (and actually more, since interest would have to be paid on the bonds), they would go up more gradually over an extended period of time. Key West is under federal mandate to close the Stock Island landfill by 1993 or face fines of up to $250 a day. According to information provided by the city (see chart above), closure of the existing landfill will cost $8 million. Replacing it with another facility will cost $11.4 million. Finally, later expansion of the replacement facility will add another $7.2 million in capital costs. Total pricetag: $26.6 million. Round that .off to $27 million. The city wouldn't just go out and borrow the money, of course. Finance Director David Fernandez says it'll be borrowed as it's needed. Fernandez sees voter approval as an essential bargaining chip for the city with the state and federal governments ("There is no such thing as Key West credibility -- Monroe County, either"), and with the county ("They could take a passive attitude, and then buy in later"), which has opted to deal with its solid waste problems independently of Key West's. Will the electorate go along? The 13,620 voters of Key West eligible to go to the polls have a tough choice to make. The fiscal situation would have been even more complex had an accompanying $13.5-million infrastructure bond issue that had been scheduled for the same date not been cancelled because of technical prob- lems. This latter bond issue, which the city had intended to repay with most of the pro- ceeds from the one-cent infrastructure tax approved by Monroe County voters last year, is now waiting in the wings for the September primary. If the solid waste bond is defeated, it's possible that some of it may be folded into that September effort. Given the importance of the solid waste vote, there hasn't been an overwhelming amount of news in the local press about it. The April 28 Citizen presented the city administration's vision for it: that the voters are being given an opportunity to avoid a 89-percent increase in rates next year. It's by no means clear that the hike is a certainty if the voters turn down the bond. Folding it into the infrastructure bond's only one alternative. A second is for the city to use the proceeds of the one-cent tax for the closure costs and delay other infrastructure moves. A third possibility is to strip the closure costs from the rest of the solid waste problem, bond only that, and accept the county's offer to have a private hauler truck Key West solid waste to the mainland for five years. The Machiavellians of Key West politics, meanwhile, are of two schools in explaining the light publicity campaign for the solid waste bond act. One contends that the city government, seeing a chance of success in a light vote May 8, deliberately waited until the last week before the vote and sent out its mailing to the voters with, only a few days left ~ hoping it would be too late for a well-organized opposition to be mounted. The other argues that the city bureaucracy really doesn't expect to win, that it's only Solares Hill Finance Section -- Page 9 shielding itself from the intense furor that will accompany an inevitable increase in solid waste rates. The city mailing shows residential charges increasing from the present $292 per year to $551 later this year with no solid waste bond issue and increasing to only $315 with the bond issue. For the year after, they're $484 without the bond issue and $337 with it, and for the year after that they're projected at $385 without it and $356 with it. Finally, the year after that - 1993 ~ they're projected to be back down to $293 without the bond issue and up to $371 with it. So the relief offered by the bond issue is, regrettably, only temporary. The city apparently hasn't, as of this writing, calculated the cost of the hauling-out option by Florida Disposal which the county is seriously considering. Only eight days prior to the public vote on this $27-million public works project, the city administration does not have all the costs at its fingertips. City technical services director Paul Cates said on April 30 that he was still working on that scenario. The decision-making matrix is not bewildering in its complexity. There are only two possible solutions to Key West's solid waste crisis: either one disposes of it on the Keys, or one disposes of it else- where; It does not seem unreasonable to expect to know the costs of each. The ineptitude of the information cam- paign for the bond issue, however, does not mean that the measure should not be looked at for its merits. If Monroe County ~ and the county's an offstage player in this little drama — is to have a fighting chance at a less-than-catastrophic-cost solution to its solid waste problems, it must continue to pursue the landfill option. This bond issue may or may not be the time for Key West to bite the bullet, but if it isn't this time it had better be soon. "I don't think you have an option," David Fernandez says. "If I don't have a landfill, I don't have an alternative. I can't Residential Year fio 10/1/89 10/1/90 10/1/91 10/1/92 10/1/93 10/1/94 10/1/95 10/1/96 10/1/97 10/1/98 10/1/99 10/1/00 Charge Comparison With T1(I I?S' ie 292 315 337 356 371 "410 426 453 467 471 481 501 Without • Bond Issue 292 551 484 385 293 333 350 410 379 392 409 430 see that postponing action is going to do anything .... You pay the price when you don't have the options. Take away an option and you give away bargaining position." ffi] IF YOUR JUST CHECKED OUT, CHECK WITH US! mm® Business Checking Account Open anew business checking account with a minimum deposit of $1000 and we'll pay for your first 300 checks. Plus, until June 1,1991, there'll be no monihty sen/be charges!'That's right, until Junef, 1901, you can write as many checks as you want and pay no monthly service charge. Personally, we'd like to give you a little something extra. tf you'l.open a personal checking account with a minimum deposit of $1000, your first order of checks will be provided by us at no charge. These are limited time offers, so stop by one of -"our conveniently located offices, today. BANK OF THE KEYS A COMMUNITY BANK Key West, 294-6330,330 Whitehead St. Marathon Shores, 743-7845, M M 52.8 Islamorada, 664-4483, M.M. 80.5 Tavernier, 852-9500, M.M. 92 Key Largo, 451-0211, M.M. 99.5 Upper Key Largo, 451-2000, M.M. 106 FDIC RBS POOL CUSTOM SWIMMING POOLS • Designed By Professionals • Free Estimates • Swim Year Round With Our • Bank Financing Economical Heat Pump Available ® Shot Crete Pools RESIDENTIALS • COMMERCIAL RON BARTON OWNER 745-3223 STATE LIC. RP 0047741 BOBCAT RENTAL SERVICE AVAILABLE Tired Of High Electric Bills? You Plan For The FUTURE bur ban liliiiiii When You Build With GAS Our Spring Sale Now in Progress Visit our Showroom with a Complete Line of Gas Appliances 726 Catherine, Key West Page 10 -- Solares Hill Finance Section Can Old Houses Make New Money? by Sharon Wells n old houses make new money? Yes, definitely. Through rehabilitation efforts, AROUND THE WORLD owners of old houses in Key West benefit economically and personally. What's more rehabilitation and re-use of historic struc- tures have positive effects on both local and state economies. Some benefits, such as new construction jobs, are immediate; others, such as additional property taxes, are secondary, but long-range. And what makes rehabilitation even more attractive are federal tax incentive programs. In Key West, nearly 20 historic struc- tures have been certified for federal tax credits. The Walter Kemp House at 312 William is one example. The building was sold in December, 1978, for $34,000 and re-sold in Janaury, 1983. It was certified and rehabilitated to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation in HART LINE Specializing In Furniture Upholstery Boat Tops • Marine, Auto & Commercial Upholstery One of the Largest Selections of Fabric & Foam in the Keys | 16 Gauge Plastic on Hand - 54" Wide _ .__ FREE ESTIMATES Established 1953 • Serving Big Pine to Key West 296-2121 • 1100 White Street PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 517 WHITEHEAD STREET W KEY WEST Want Your Business News Published In "Business Briefs"? Ask Your Solares Hill Sales Rep 294-3602 1984. The taxable value of the property increased markedly -- from $25,766 in 1982 to $116,051 in 1988; it was sold in 1987 for $289,500. At another certified rehab project at 501 Whiteheaa Street, the taxable value increased from $69,968 in 1982 to $126,728 in 1988. Since 1976, the Internal Revenue Code has provided preservation tax incentives to encourage capital investment in the rehabili- tation and re-use of the nation's historic commercial, income-producing buildings. The most significant of these tax incentives was the 25-percent income-tax credit enacted under the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981. Legislation which originally enacted the 25-percent credit was changed in 1986 to reduce the available credit by 5 percent and institute limits on passive income credits. The number of rehabilitation projects dropped dramatically. Current legislation before Congress seeks to restore the original credit and remove the passive income restrictions. The 20-percent tax credit can be used to rehabilitate certified historic buildings. The certification program is administered nationally by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. As of March 30, 1985, the National Park Service had certified rehabilitation work on 12,286 projects having an investment credit value of $8.2 billion. One way to analyze the economic impact of certified rehabilitation projects is to determine the increase in employment resulting from rehabilitation expenditures. Labor cost as a proportion of total project cost is usually higher in rehab work than for a comparable amount of new construction. A reason for this difference is that many of the construction materials needed on a rehab project are already in place; for example, the foundation and outside walls. Rehabilitation also frequently requires the THE PAINT & DOOR STORE 1111 Key Plaza 296-5291 Independently Owned & Operated 20% OFF SALE CUSTOM WOOD & STEEL DOORS D-503 PACIFIC ONE D-503 PACIFIC STRONG WATERBORNE FINISH WATERBORNE FINISH Professional Floor Finishing Products PlirSBLRGH N T S Solares Hill Finance Section -- Page 11 use of artisans and other skilled persons in addition to construction workers, since the Secretary of the Interior's Standards require keeping as much of an historic building intact as possible. The restoration/rehabilitation of old houses in Key West has experienced a boom period for nearly a decade. The benefits to both individuals and the community as a whole are varied. To the homeowner, the foremost benefit is the personal satisfaction of restoring an historic home or building to its original material and features. Secondly, the property values increase in recently re- novated areas. Records at the Monroe County Tax Appraiser's office reflect the increase in values of historic buildings in the Old Town area. The Gideon Lowe House at 409 William Street was a recipient of a Restoration Award in 1982; the purchase price for the building over a decade increased from $40,000 in 1978 to $385,000 in 1988. The taxable value of the residential building at 920 Fleming Street went from $49,051 in 1982 to $156,415 in 1988, with the sale price spiraling from $10,000 in 1970 to $380,000 in 1989. For the local community and its govern- ment, benefits may include: 1) an enhanced community image and increased tourist activity; 2) increased property tax revenues; 3) additional revenues from sales and income; 4) revitalization of downtown areas; and 5) increased revenues for the city from building permit fees. In Key West, the building permit fee is $24 per $1,000 valuation for rehabilitation work and $18 per $1,000 valuation for new construction. The link between historic preservation and tourism on the aggregate appears strong, but the financial impact of historic preservation on tourism is elusive. Tourism is the largest industry in Key West. Visiting historic sites is one of-the principal activities of visitors to Key West. Rehabilitation of historic buildings creates an atmosphere conducive to attracting visitors. It also establishes a sense of place, historical setting and community identity. The retention of buildings from previous eras helps to distinguish Key West from other cities which offer glass-and- concrete towers and suburban malls. Key West Old Town 292-1223 | Searstown !294-6637 Big Pine 872-3052 Qnfyfe; We mmmm your imestment pmpsrty. A CENTURY 21 * property Mianagement professional is rained to keep your investment '•n solid ground. Call us luday. Put your trust in Humber One* ALL KEYS INC. 414 Simonton St. Key West 305-294-4200 ©1990 Cenlury 21 Real Estate Corporation as trustee fur the NAF. ® and ™ trartemaJts of Century 21 Reai Estate Corporation. Equal Housing Opportunity. ia INDEPENDE1VTLY OIV?: !> Ai\D OPERATED. REAL ESTATE G r e g O ' B e r r y , I n c . While we are involved in MORE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS THAN ANY OTHER BROKER in the area, we really sell SATISFACTION and PEACE OF MIND. 341 PROPERTIES AVAILABLE marketed exclusively by Greg O'Beny from $12,500 to $3,500,000 264 Rental Units - Seasonal & Long-Term 116% SALES INCREASE OVER 1989 IN A TOUGH MARKET WHY? CALL AND FIND OUT. ***************************** WANT A CAREER CHANGE? Kids grown? Retire too early? TAKE A FREE, SHORT TEST. See if Real Estate's for you. , Greg O'Berry, Searstown, Key West, or Big Pine. Integrity. Reliability. Experience. Auto • Uto • Home • Butimns PORTER-ALLEN ~—"^COMPANY Key Largo 461-1980 Marathon 743-9008 Key West 294-2542- 513 Southard St. David W. Freeman, C.P.C.U. William A. Freeman, III, CJ.C. INSURANCE SINCE 1891 your island is ready.... Private bayfront homesites from $95,000. Custom homes from $425,000. S H / A R Ki ey SHARK KEY REALTY CORPORATION Sales Center • Monday - Sunday 10 am-5 pra Tiburon Circle • Shark Key, Key West, FL 33040 • 305.296.0760 Page 12 -- Solares Hill Finance Section Business Briefs Daniel Lee, president and chief executive officer of First State Bank in Key West, has announced three recent appointments at the bank. Dani L. Austin is the new market- ing coordinator. She began her employment at First State in 1988 as a teller. Pat Lucas, who has been with the bank for two-and-a-half years, has been promoted to the position of personnel administrator. And Joel D. Beck now holds the position of assistant vice president and manager of training and education. The board of directors of TIB of the Keys announced a 28-cent-per-share divi- dend for the first quarter. The dividend was paid in April to shareholders on record as of March 31. The dividend increased by 12 percent following a stock split in January. . The locally owned and operated bank has six branches from Key Largo to Key West, with assets in excess of $150 million. Quality Discount Bedding & Bath, located in Searstown, is owned and run by Joyce and Alan Toriello and their children, Chris and Nadine. The shop offers every- thing for the bedroom, bath and kitchen at affordable prices. Special services include delivery and lay aways with no interest charges. The shop is open Monday to Fri- day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but other hours can be arranged. Call 294-9901. Key West's newest art gallery is ecolo- gically sensitive. Gallery Mendoza own- er Caspar Mendoza uses wood obtained only from tree trimmers, dead trees and driftwood for his sculptures and frames. Showing wood sculptures and paintings by Mendoza and other artists, Gallery Mendoza is located at 218 Whitehead Street, in the New Galleon Square, #3. It is open seven days a week. Call 294-2011. Two local artisans, Carolee McReynolds and Barbara Plauche, have opened a shop at Land's End Village. The Painted Pelican features local artwear and the work of Sunset artisans at off-Duval Street price ranges. Craft classes are offered and local artisans are invited to hold classes. /The Key West General Maintenance CLEAN-UP SERVICE 24H0UR Commercial or Residential Service Bob Jenkins 294-0797 SOLARES HILL a**""! MCDNEY I I | A Special Section on Key West Business and Finances (y) shop is open Monday through Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. Call 294-7300. The Marine Bank became the Citi- zens and Southern Bank of Monroe County on May 1. C&S regular savings accounts currently pay five-percent interest. Several other savings options are also available. For information call your local branch office. If Key West's rocky shoreline has been keeping you from getting your feet wet, visit Ocean Footwear & Accessories, at 515 Fleming Street. Owners Jack Dinetz and Kenneth Weschler have stocked a large selection of ocean-loving footwear for both men and women. Not just for the beach, these slip-ons are perfect for boating, work- ing out, bicycling and street wear. Call 296-8700. Southernmost Credit Consultants, Inc., at 501 Whitehead Street, has been of- fering financial services since 1987. Owner Jonatan Zahav has been a licensed mortgage broker since 1988. The company purchases mortgages owned by individuals, and offers real estate financing, first and second mortgages, and special programs that offer lower rates than those normally available. Call 292-0064. Pedal Pushers Bike Rental has moved from Greene Street to Land's End Village, home of Turtle Kraals and Half Shell Raw Bar. They are running a two-for-one special this month. Dana L. Sevems and Rick Van Hout are pleased to announce their purchase of 619 Eaton Street, soon to be the new home of Key West Realty, Inc. This real estate agency specializes in property management and sales. Their phone number is 294-3064. The Market at Blue Heaven recently held its grand opening. Located at 729 Thomas Street at the corner of Petronia, the Market offers fresh produce daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The ice cream parlor r*ext. door specializes in frozen yogurt with fresh fruit toppings. Paulette Rossi isn't afraid of Friday the 13th. That's the day in April she opened Tiff CBBIBBEBN BBBKEW SQFTIJJHBE FOB BEBL ESTHTE MflNRGEMENT mmmmfimmmmmimmme. 1021 WHITE STREET 294-3500^ 'TOUR FLORIDA KEYS INSURANCE CENTER" Family Owned & Operated Since 1969 HOME - LIFE-HEAUH - BUSINESS-AUTO - BOA1 TAVEBMEfl 852-9247 (MUMS) BIG PINE 872*2888 (MM C3O1?} IMRATKW 289-0213 {MM »S4) KEYM5T 294-5248 (HO LOCATION) 8 Oasis Travel: Paulette Rossi, Ben Dixon and Gina Soos. Oasis Travel Agency at 3152 Northside Drive, behind Searstown. Oasis is a full- service agency utilizing the most advanced reservation system in the industry — Sabre. Rossi, Ben Dixon and Gina Soos can be reached at 296-4305 or 1-800-872-8208. Ron Chespak at The Advertising Agency has moved his company to a new location, 724 Simonton Street. The Adver- tising Agency, formerly Bechtold & Ches- pak, was established in Key West in 1987. Since that time, the Casa Marina, Holiday Inn, Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center and La Te Da have been counted among its customers. The agency offers a full range of print and broadcast media advertising services. Chespak can be reached at 296-1843. PL's Secretarial & Bookkeeping has been in operation for over five years. The company, owned by Patti Anthony, offers such services as bill-paying, bank statement reconciliation, payroll, correspon- dance, and maintenance of books to small businesses and individuals. It also offers "In Home Service" for senior citizens or disabled folks. Notary services are avail- able; special rates are offered senior citizens. Call 296-7410. Walk one block from City Electric, to 916 James Street, and enter the Jungles of Key West. This new plant nursery spe- cializes in orchids and other tropical and subtropical plants. Their potting soil is a rich blend of Everglades "muck" (black dirt), freshwater sand, stable sweepings and wood shavings. Allen Robinson is residing plant expert. The company is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 292-9272. One World Fabrics has gathered a collection of batiks, tie-dyed and one-of-a- kind, handcrafted fabrics from around the world. Owner Gail Keeler says Key West, with its international flavor, is the natural setting for her mail-order business. She imports fabrics from Africa, India, Guata- mala and Indonesia. A current swatch cata- log can be obtained by sending $4 to One World Fabrics, P.O. Box 4755, Dept. PR, Key West, FL 33041, or call 296-1203. |g| Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 23 Nature Notebook The Spectacular Pineland Wildflowers by Carl Weekley, Jr. Stand in the Keys pinelands and look skyward to view the burry crowns of pine trees and a vast expanse of blue. Look toward the ground to find a bewildering tangle of pint-sized palms, ferns, scrubby shrubs, grassy scrub. Catch, from among the ground cover, glimpses of red, blue, yellow and white: these colorful flecks are the pineland wildflowers, dozens of which are native to the open-canopied pinelands. In a sparse and spartan habitat, wild- flowers add spectacle and splendor. Some — a terrestrial orchid and a carnivorous plant, for example — are rare. But those described here are common and conspicuous. They can be admired around the Blue Hole or along the Jack Watson Nature Trail — both on Big Pine Key. Bahama senna (Cassia chapmanii) is a shrub that can grow erect or in a sprawling pattern. It has pinnately compound leaves and clusters of five-petaled, golden-yellow flowers measuring about an inch across. The similar Big Pine partridge pea (C. keyensis), which is endemic to the Keys pinelands, is much rarer. It grows flat to the ground, has smaller leaves and leaflets, and its flowers are red at the base of the petals. Both Cassias are pollinated by bees or butterflies. They host the larval stage of the cloudless sulfur butterfly, a Key-lime-yel- * low insect common to the pinelands. Butterfly pea (Centrosema virginianum) is a ground-hugging vine with purplish-blue pea-like flowers. Peas are a subfamily with- in the family Leguminosae, distinguished by their arrangement of petals, which resem- bles the wings of butterflies. The botanical name for the subfamily is Papilionoidae from the Latin term for butterfly, Pineland croton (Croton linearis) may be a disappointment to anyone familiar with the common hedgeplant — splendiferous in its 300 varieties ~ which Conchs call croton. The pineland type is so unprepossessing, it is often mistaken for a fern. The leaves of this small shrub are narrow and linear, one to three inches long and scaly-looking on the underside. Small and pale but fragrant and attractive to numerous insects, both male and female flowers occur on the same plant. Pineland croton is the host plant for the Florida leafwing butterfly - a brilliant, orange tatter when in motion, which looks, while at rest, like a dead leaf. Of the two-dozen species of morning glory native to the Keys, most familiar is the large blue, purple or white roadside vine. The similar railroad vine, with pinkish-pur- ple flowers, is a sandbinder in the coastal ecosystem. Smaller and rarer species of morning glory are found in other habitats. Bahama morning glory (Jacquemontia pen- tantha), for example, is a scrambling vine with deep blue flowers the size of a nickel. Asters, daisies and chrysanthemums are members of the family Compositae; so are thistles. They are called composites because their "flowers" are actually infloresences — clusters of tiny flowers. Thistle (Cirsium horridulum), is an erect shrub about a foot high. Lobed, prickly leaves, irritating to human touch, grow at the base of its flower stalk. Its infloresence, which is about three inches across, varies from purple to pink and is popular with butterflies, ffl Hunter 37' Sailboat Affordable Housing * Great Live-Aboard * Hunter 37' • Cutter-Rig • Air-Conditioned Fridge. • Large Head • Xtra Sails • VHF • Loran EPIRB • Stereo • Davits • Full Awnings • Bimini Priced 10K Below Book • 294-6660 • 11-6 Daily » of the Florida Keys, Inc. We Need OFFICE PERSONNEL Temporary or Permanent Basis * Higher hourly rate than local average * Immediate employment available * Assignments vary to meet your needs and schedule * Skills tested so you don't get In over your head * No fees to employees * Call or walk in for appointments * 8 A.M.-6 P.M. Mon.-Fri. 305-296-9878 501 Whitehead St., Key West, FL 33040 Page 24 » May 1990 • Solares Hill Kevj West bx\ Bill Manville champion Jack Dance snaked through town last week and gave me a call. I know Champion Jack is not a favorite with many who remember him from his days at Shark- ey's — now Jimmy Buffett's Famous People Drinkathorium, But one Christmas, when I was at low ebb and Jack was broke, he invited me to his First Annual Tropical White Christmas Dinner. We went to the Sunbeam Less-Work- for-Mother 24-Hour Market, and the Cham- pion bought us both a slice of white turkey breast on a white paper plate. It was gar- nished with grits and mashed white pota- toes and milk gravy. A slice of white Tip Top Bread went with everything. White Christmas Dinner, indeed. Later, some peo- ple off a boat came in, and we danced. But that, discretion tells me, is another story. The reason Champion Jack was broke that year was that he had just been through a tough divorce and, in fact, he had to flee town two weeks later, leaving a trail of bad checks behind him. A phone call from a Duval Street merchant to the highway cops and, since US-1 is the only road out of the ICE COLD BEER And other frozen beverages indigenous to the tropics Happy Hours 10 am-1 pm and 4-7 pm Ladies Nites Wed. ® Sunday Keys, an APB caught Jack before he'd made it across the Seven-Mile Bridge. "Bill, this is the Champ," the phone call went. "I have a favor to ask. I just got a call from my ex-wife. Thanks to her, I haven't seen my son for six years. In 11 minutes, he's flying into Key West, PBA Flight 1089. They flunked him out of the Marine Corps, and he wants his father's advice on what to do with the rest of his life." "You want me to drive you to the airport?" I asked. "No," Jack said. "I'm in jail. I want you to bring him here." And that's what I did, spotting the kid getting off the plane with the shortest haircut. "Is Dad waiting for me at home?" the boy asked. I started the car. "Let me tell you a little about the unusual father you've got," I said, as we turned onto Roosevelt Boulevard. Last I saw, the two of them were meeting through the heavy armored glass window of the door in the Monroe County jail. "But all that's changed," Champion Jack said to me last week. "I've made a whole new life for myself in the Upper Keys. I bought a little gardening/landscaping busi- ness in Tavernier. My son's my partner. We have a house. You know, Bill, people up there are different. You go to a restaurant — Snapper's in Tavernier, The Fish House in Key Largo — right away you know you're not in Key West. They got this funny little race of short, muscularly non-coordinated people up there, for instance. They don't speak English very well. They're called children, kids — people up there. They have something, they're called babies. No gays up there, either; very few Cubans. "There's a roadside dancehall called Woody's in Islamorada, right across the street from the Cheeca, where George Bush stays. In their radio advertising they call the music Big Richard and the Band. You go there on a Friday night, everybody's drunk and it's Big Dick and the Extenders. "Some woman I know put her Plantation Key house up for sale. A guy came along the next day, met her full asking price and $50,000 cash down to seal the bargain. He told her he'd see her at the closing. He never showed up, leaving her $50,000 richer. But he had three months' doping use of a waterfront house on a lonely piece of coastline." "Wait a minute, wait a minute," I began to interrupt. "Last time I saw you, you were dead broke, the cops after you, no credit. Where'd you get the money to begin this new Upper Keys life?" "Remember why I crashed and finan- cially burned to begin with?" Champion Jack asked. "Your divorce," I said. "Right," Jack said. "My wife caught me wrongfooted because she lived in one state, filed in another where the laws- were more on her side. But I discovered she'd paid no income tax in that state, even though she declared herself a resident for divorce .purposes." "You turned her in for the tax reward money and started your new business that way?" I asked. "They audited her cute new husband, too. He thought up the idea for her. In the end," Jack said, a hint of smile in his voice, "people try to dance with me, they learn just what I'm champ of." |cjj| \ LUNCHEON BUFFET only $6.95 Offering a Stir Fry of the Day Fresh Bread & Homemade Soup Complete Salad Bar Serving from 11:30 to 3 pm Monday-Friday Dinner Sun.-Thur. 5:30-10 • Fri. & Sat. 5:30-11 ASK ABOUT OUR CATERING SERVICES 1990 Roosevelt Blvd. • 294-6912 WORLD FAMOUS EST. 1976 HOME COOKED FOOD AT LOCAL PRICES Noon to 9 pm • Daily Specials from $4.25 • T-Shirts • Live Entertainment From 5 pm til 2 am Daily < • No Cover Charge • Happv Hour From 5 pm til 7 pm • • Wed. Night, Ladies Night (3 Free Drinks) • • Dan Mobley - Daily 6 pm -10 pm • • Full Sail Band - Fri., Sat. & Sun. 10 pm - 2 am • Remember "Hog's Breath is Better Than No Breath At All" 400 Front St. Key West 296-4222 JL make a visit to an aunt-in-law who, in the '60s, married a Barbados man 40 years her senior. Auntie's little house is placed on a lane where roosters still crow Key West mornings. It's the sort of little house that looks like there's someone in there spending the mornings putting up peaches and cu- cumber relish. Auntie holds her broom as she admits me. She is sweeping. She always is sidling about, sweeping, anytime anyone comes. She has a long, wistful face, a tiny woman with narrow bones — you might say slatted. She's of such puny physical stature that she hardly seems to displace the ozone. Auntie turns to introduce me to Thelma, who seems to be her pride and joy, or one of her prides and joys. Thelma is a male, wheat-colored cat with a long, yellow tail. He has a most intelligent glint in his eyes. When he was a kitten he had cataracts and Auntie had him fitted with tin eyeglasses. Now and then, he reaches up a paw and re- sets his glasses on his nose like a human. "He's so smart," says Auntie, "that you have to spell things in front of him, things you don't want him to hear." She says, "I am having t-i-l-e f-i-s-h for supper. Caught them from the Jolly Roger yesterday somewhere toward the buoy light off Sand Key. Took 600 feet of line. I f-i-s-h once a week." Thelma is straining his ears when he hears her spelling out. Thel- ma, I decide, is a considerable personality in this house. Auntie opens another door, flips on a light and indicates her Pride and Joy Number Two. The Barbados husband lies supine on a sofa, groaning elaborately, now and then feebly kicking a pillow. Auntie comments in tones of a sight- seeing bus announcer. "He always turns out the light to see how dark it is. Drunk from the top of his head to his toenails. Like the pig that died in clover. I found him down in a corner of Bayview Park digging a hole with his hands. Wearing a backpack he must have bought from a hitchhiker coming in on US-1. Thinking he's in the Foreign Legion and his battalion has run out of water and is surrounded by Arab devils." "I don't see how you handle him," I say. Instead of counting him a failure among her triumphs, Auntie puts on a small, faintly proud smile. She says, "He threw a plate of beans at me on Mother's Day. I caught them and threw them all back at him, handful by handful. If you don't know him you don't know how to tackle him. You see, the heart has reasons that reason doesn't know. The heart won't explain, but the heart knows. I believe it's deeply immoral to be unhappy. He always has taken the long road. First time I saw him, in from Barbados, he stood atop La Concha Hotel throwing off $100 bills that his father left him. Child, stop and think. The Corporal and I have each other to cling to, nights, like two hot water bottles." Thelma is slinking about sniffing for a m-o-u-s-e. Auntie says to him, "Keep that up and I'll fill your bowl with black medi- cine." Thelma knows he walks the thin edge of the wedge. He flounces off, holding his body with cat understanding, shifting his tin eyeglasses up on his nose, yellow tail slapping. An artist neighbor of Auntie's enters, carrying some paintings of hers. She has so many lottery tickets about her person there aren't enough pockets for them, so she has sewed two to her skirt. Auntie introduces her as Ms. D. "Ms. Diphtheria," whispers Auntie. I inspect the pictures. Her art - grey, fading cats, pelicans sinking over the horizon — is so dim that you wonder if she paints wearing mittens. I ponder the act of creating. I know that a writer puts down not exactly what she sees but what she thinks about what she sees. Ms. D. drops onto the divan as though clubbed down. I smell burning hair. Auntie cries, "Get up! Don't make a mess! Be careful! Look out!" Ms. D. is extricated and shaken out and sat up, hiccoughing. Auntie dives after one-third of a lighted cigarette of hers which is burning merrily away on her horse-hair divan. I am leaving now that all has calmed down with Auntie, Ms. Diphtheria, Thelma peering out through her tin eyeglasses and Solares Hill * May 1990 ' Page 25 the Corporal moaning, "Hark! They're bringing in the small guns first." We are out front on the lane. A small cloud, the shape of a uterus, plummets down out of a leaden sky and gives us a light, wet kiss. There stands Auntie with broom as I drive away. Auntie is very certain about her own way of life. IJij Italian and French Cuisine 524 Duval Street Key West, Florida (305)296-1075 OPEN DAILY WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE? Get it a t . . . The largest selection in town Now at both stores: • VCR rentals • Oamcorder rentals • Nintendo games & playing decks • Fast computerized check-in & check-out ,3106 Flagler/ Habana Plaza • 294-4272 542 Truman • 296-4046 JAY GRANT Woodworkinp Specializing in exposed dovetail joinery custom jew- elry boxes to entertainment centers in any dimension, in Native Keys and imported exotic hardwoods. Many examples available. By appointment Reasonable prices. 296-2873 after 6 pm. Want To Reach Over 20,000 Upscale Consumers? Advertise in Soiares Hill and you do just that! We offer the widest variety of editorial content in the community along with special features that directly benefit advertisers. For Further Information Call 294-3602 Page 26 • May 1990 • Solares Hill Blueprints for Life Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 27 by Ann Boese had lived in the Victorian house on Simonton Street about a month when I first heard it. A hissing, a buzz- ing spray sound emanated from the apartment above mine at odd hours: mid- night, 3 a.m., dawn. For weeks, I tried to place it, to match it with an object. Finally, I concluded that Butch, the upstairs tenant, went through a lot of bathroom aerosol. A 250-pound, leather-clad biker pressing the top of a 12- ounce can of summer gardenia: preposter- ous. I didn't give it another thought; that is, until I noticed the traffic. Men, women and the occasional indistin- guishable tramped up the oaken staircase past my apartment. Through the peephole in my door, I caught only glimpses of the ac- tivity: a rolled Zap comic stuffed in a Levi's back pocket; a Raisin Bran box, Ray Charles Raisin's smile flashing, tucked beneath an arm; a Grateful Dead album cover, swinging from a leather-gloved hand. Then, ten min- utes later: psssst — the spray. What was going on? Eventually, the white bandages all visitors wore on the way out clued me in: the spraying was the sound of a tattoo gun. Butch was a tattooist; and my house was an illegal tattoo parlor. The night I figured things out, my dreams were surreal, exotic. It was me and Butch. I was lying on my stomach and he was tattoo- ing a blue butterfly on my shoulder. It was exquisite, ornate — a filigreed wideness of powdery wings. The next morning my shoulder ached; and as I hazily contemplated the pain, it organized into a shape. A butter- fly? My eyes sprung open. I craned my neck ——., tf Anonymous: A Key West derriere. Flex: John Wilber bares an armband. to look. But the sensation was positioned where I could not see it. I catapulted from bed, flew to the mirror and looked. The mo- ment was excruciating: a roller coaster ride of fear and anticipation. Tattooing is old. It dates back over 4000 years, originating in the Orient - primarily Japan, where even today the best tattooists ink fantasies onto skin. Other early cultures were into tattoos as well. Egyptian mum- mies dating back to 2000 B.C. were un- wrapped to reveal permanent marks; and people in the Arctic were discovered to have needled their flesh with soot-covered thread. National Geographic Magazine divulged the i Both sides: Chris Skoglund's elaborate tattoo little-known scarifying rituals of the abori- gines and Maori warriors. In fact it was the European explorers, returning from such far- away places as New Guinea and the South Pacific, bare-breasted women in hula skirts inked on their biceps, who started the West- ern tradition of sailors and tattoos. Anthropologists say our predecessors tat- tooed themselves to entice good fortune or repel evil and sickness, to prove and display rank or status, and to decorate oneself in an act of vanity or out of self love. But eventu- ally, the favorable reputation of tattoos dark- ened. In Japan, they came to represent crime when the yakuza, or professional gamblers, chose to identify themselves by covering their entire bodies with tattoos. And in the United States the tattoo's association with lawlessness or barroom mentality stems back to its debut as a carnival attraction in the 1800s. Yet anyone in Key West with keen eyes and an open mind can see that local tat- tooed culture encompasses all kinds. ark Ethridge, 22, got his cru- cifix tattoo when he was 16. "There were a couple of us, and we decided to make a tattoo gun," he says. Using the motor from an Erector set, Ethridge rigged up a contraption that consisted of a spoon, a me- chanical pencil minus the lead and a guitar scenes, done in Chicago, are examples of Japanese technique. string. The motor, which was designed to operate a crane, became the pump that inject- ed India ink into teenaged flesh. "I wasn't drunk," Ethridge says. "I didn't like beer then." Still the college student, who is finishing up this summer at Florida Keys Community College and hosts the campus' program "Friday A.M." oil TCI, says he can't give a good explanation as to why he Claws: Dave SchroeCs tigered thigh. gave himself a tattoo. "I guess I just wanted to fit in with the crowd." One afternoon Ethridge and four other boys poked designs into their bodies — per- manently. "Almost everybody else regrets it now," Ethridge laments. "Some people were doing things like pentagrams and chains holding a skull -- sacrileges. None of the guys turned out to be devil worshippers. They wanted people to think they were tough. But they were all wimps in the end." Ethridge points out inconsistency in the pigment in his tattoo — an amateur's crossing of two lines. Under professional circum- stances a tattooist would have used a sterile needle — often secured in a "gun" — to push pigment about a millimeter beneath the skin's surface. Ethridge says the quality of his tattoo deteriorated when the huge red scab that crusted over the cross peeled off. "Some of the ink came with it," he says, Ethridge didn't hide his tattoo from his mother. "But then again Ididn't go out of my way to show it to her either. When she finally saw it she preached about 'having this for the rest of your life.' But I knew this already. She finally freaked a year later." Tooling around the Bicycle Center on Tru- man Avenue, Dave Schroer looks like a farm boy. He's got a clear complexion and crys- tal-blue eyes. A charming smile crosses his face so frequently, one wonders what he's up to. The dark blue eagle that hovers on his : Page 2S • May 1990 • Solares Hill Indian-smooth chest gives a clue. Schroer, a 16-year resident of Key West, has managed the Bicycle Center for two- and-a-half years. He came to the island when he was in the service. "Somehow I made it through the Navy without getting any tattoos," he says. Schroer says it's a good thing he waited, because the quality of tattoos has improved much since then. He's referring to the pin- '"" "™ and-ink hack jobs, seen on high-school kids and the cheap stenciled variety of- ten etched on war veterans — especially those who fought prior to Vietnam.. These blobs of blue can look more like bruises than tattoos, as is evident on the Shoulder statement. right forearm of pho- tographer Don Pinder. A ghost of its former image, the Key-lime-sized indigo stain there, takes the photographer back to the 1930s when a carnival came to the island. "The guy said, 'Tattoos for a quarter,' so I reached into my pocket," Pinder says. Youth is one excuse. But many adults dive into the tattoo commitment without fully comprehending their behavior. It's the old drunken sailor syndrome. Dave Shroer says that the tack tattoo artists took in Hong Kong, where he stopped over while in the Navy, was "to fill you full of beer and then stick you with the tattoo needle. I just drank the beers," he says; His buddies woke up to a big surprise. Years later, Shroer began collecting his Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 29 The Oldest Newstand in Key West L. Valladares & Son Featuring A Selection of Over 3000 Paperbacks • Out of Town Newspapers • • Magazines • Post Cards • ' Greeting Cards • 1200 Duval Street • 296-5032, own tattoos. He says he thinks before he inks. The tiger climbing down his thigh is based on an Oriental poster which hangs in his home. The tattoo was done in Homestead and took about five hours to complete. Since then, the closest he's come to a spur-of-the- moment decision was the Harley-Davidson motorcycle tattoo he acquired at a camp- ground in Daytona. It was a deal: $75 for the bike, one color. If a doctor had been on the premises, which would have made the pro- cedure legal, it would have cost five times that amount. think people with tattoos are animals," declares Mike Home who owns the lemon-yellow Harley- Davidson shop over on Truman near White. Home says about 20 in 100 bikers who saunter into his shop are tat- tooed. "You know, a guy has a Pisces sym- bol — that's one thing. But a skull-and- crossbones statement? I don't need a tattoo to make a statement — I am a statement." In 40 years of biking Home says he has never considered getting a tattoo. "I don't think it makes me a better person 'cause I don't have one. I just dislike [tattoos]. That's my personal opinion." It's also Home's opinion there is no link between motorcyles and tattoos. "I don't know what you're talking about," he re- sponds to the suggestion that there is. But Harley-Davidson's Spring/Summer 1990 Motor Clothes and Collectibles catalog ad- vertises: "Removeable Tattoos — Select ei- ther our traditional package of 8 logos or a set of 5 fashionable women's tattoos." Home repeats: "I don't see a connection. That's my personal opinion." Business partners Chris Skoglund and John Wilber stand behind a glass case dis- playing their wares: magazines, whips, latex clothing, bondage wraps. In the business of bodies, they own and manage the Pleasure Chest, the sexual accoutrement store which moved last year from Duval to Southard Street. Both men wear black, bits of leather, studs. But, despite the hard-lined, rough- and-tough sex-slave getups, these guys seem like pussycats. Talking with them about tat- toos is like gossiping with a neighbor in the produce aisle. An intricate armband in blackwork — tattoo lingo for all black ink — circles Wilber's well-muscled bicep. Armband tattoos, he ex- plains, stem from Polynesian cultures. His incorporates traditional rosettes with sym- bols from the Hopi Indians. The plan is to tattoo both arms ~ shoulder to wrist. Then his skin will complement leather vests and blue jean jackets cut off at the sleeve. He says tattoos are becoming popular with gays. "Another fad," he suggests. "I wanted [a tattoo] for 25 years," says Wilber, a big blonde with a flat-top. "It was a notion in the back of my head." Back then Wilber wore Brooks Brothers suits and drank three-martini lunches; he worked in advertising. Around his 50th birthday he de- cided he'd better take the tattoo plunge: "Before I'm an old prune." Klaus Raeth has never heard of Ray Bradbury's Illustrated Man, the sci-fi story of a carni whose tattoos come to life and foretell his future. Like the story's main character, Raeth is almost entirely tattooed; his torso and arms — total ink. From neck to wrist to upper thigh, the German retiree, who once worked as an insurance claims of- ficer, is covered with tigers, birds, chrysan- themums, sea creatures, Greek symbols and dragons. In 25 years he estimates an invest- ment of over $20,000. Raeth is sitting in the hot sun in the back- yard of his summer home on Frances Street. His ornate body plays tricks on the mind. A turquoise whale swirls around Raeth's nav- el, a cherry-and-gold chrysanthemum quiv- ers into bloom, the emerald serpent slithers ever-so-slightly. It's a flesh jungle. "I have chosen my tattoos mostly by myself," says Raeth, in thick German ac- cent. "I have an idea before I approach the artist. To me the im- ages expand the di- mension of the indi- vidual." Most of his tattoos are images from nature engaged in natural activities. For Raeth, whose ! head is clean shaven, tattoos are social as well as artistic. He says they make his life happier and freer. "I meet people who are interesting. They are astonished. They see I am open-minded and. they want to talk with me." Raeth says women, more than men, will approach him in the grocery store and ask, "May I ..." or "Did it ..."or "Are you..." His most elaborate tattoo is a big back- Schroer's skull. Key Wesfs #1 Entertainment Complex Full Range of Dining Includes Raw Bar Salad & Buffet Bar - All you can eat Indoor & Outdoor Seating Island Music • Easy Listening * Jazz 218 Duval Street 294-4383 piece. "It is Shiva Notaradja - the dancing shiva - partly encircled by a horseshoe of flames," he says. "Shiva symbolizes the god of creation, fertility, wealth. The little female figure in one of his hands is the goddess Ganga. With one foot, Shiva steps down on a dwarf — the symbol of ignorance." While Mark Ethridge says that the tattoo needle didn't hurt — his, remember, was homemade — most people, including Raeth, agree that it does — a lot. The three, two- and-a-half-hour sittings he endured while a dragon was tattooed on his buttock were, ac- cording to Raeth, about all he could take. Raeth has been tattooed by Alf Diamond in Frankfurt, Denni Hansen in Copenhagen, and Mr. Sebastian and Dennis Cockell in London. In the States, Cliff Raven in Los Angeles realized some of the tattooed man's smaller, finer images. These names mean nothing to the lay admirer, but a flip through several coffee-table books on the subject in- dicates that these artists are among the best. Tattoo books share the fascinating lore and artistic genius that epitomizes tattoo culture. The Japanese Tattoo, by Sandi Fellman, re- veals the hypnotic works of Horikin — Japan's premier tattooist. Elegant design, perfect balance, exacting technique combine to form scaled carp, dragons and Kabuki dancers - all undeniably exquisite. Tradi- tionally, these tattoos inhabit an entire body. To bury them beneath shirt and pants, it seems, is to smother an art form, to suffo- cate a system of living ink. "Tattooing proliferated far from the devel- oped world of science, progress and rea- son," reads G. Rondinella's The Sign Upon Cain. This book is largely about tattooing in the States. One photo shows a three-dimen- sional vault tattooed on a punk rocker's cue- balled head. The vault is open, with nasty bolts of electricity jutting in, or out: a point, well made. :t a friend's house on Simon- ton Street, Jaime Bernstein and Dave Blanchette are Hpacking it up, leaving Key West for the season. Tomor- row they'll drive to Cape May where they plan to tie the knot. Before she'd agree to marry Blanchette, Bernstein insisted he get a pro- fessional tattoo to cover the bird-flipping devil with pitchfork he paid a few pesetas for in Spain when he was teenager. "I said, I'm not looking at that shit for 30 years,' and then I took him to the guy in New Jersey who did most of mine," says the 31-year-old artist whose work hangs in Gloria's Garden where she also waits on tables. The guy in New Jersey is a cop. Blanchette, who cooks at The Reach, proudly rolls up a sleeve to expose a green- and-red parrot, perched on a heart and sur- rounded by bouquets of flowers. Hearts: be- sides her blood pumper, Bernstein's got Lay's Transmissions All Automatic & Standard Transmissions Overhaul • Exchange • Leaks General Service 294-4913 McDonald Ave. Stock Island four — two tattooed on her toes, one on her ear, another on her pinkie. These tattoos are illegal: tattooists aren't supposed to ink the hands, the feet or above the neck. People re- gret having them there the most. "I hate to admit this but I was drunk, in New Orleans, and I was 18," she says about the first time. "It's no big deal. Some people have scars, some people have moles — a lot of people have things they'll have for the rest of their lives." Bernstein's first design was a thorn- pricked rose stem that wound up her finger. "It was done by a friend of Spyder's," she says, looking at her hand and waggling her fingers as if they glistened with diamonds. She's referring to the revered Spyder Webb, whose tattooing style of solid patterns is un- mistakably his. "People always come up, look at my tat- toos and say 'Oh my. God, is that real?' And I say, 'No — I got a fake tattoo." Bernstein says she loves her tattoos; she considers them part of her body, her art. Still, she's not getting any more. "I made a promise to my mom. She's worried because I cannot be buried in the family plot." Bern- stein says the Jewish religion refuses to bury the bodies of people with tattooes. "It's against the religion because Jewish people were tattooed during World War II in the concentration camps." But a Key West rabbi says Bernstein's mother can relax. Hers is a common, but false, belief that refers to a Jewish regulation dating back 3500 years to pagan rituals. It no longer applies, he says. Arms stacked with boxes, Blanchette glances at his new tattoo and then turns to- ward the table. "You might want to try one," he says, smiling, snaggle-toothed, straight at me, and walks on. There's a story in town about a woman journalist who years ago researched a story about tattoos in Key West. They say she got so involved in the myth and the culture that at the end of the project she got tattooed — both arms, top to bottom. It sounds like a fairy tale. But she wouldn't return my calls." 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Roosevelt Blvd. (Across From Ames) Page 30 • May 1990 • Solares Hill AND CIE2NEP UP ULW&JTLGJ&, -TOD MANY axr±> C ANP TUE PB^LE WHO OONINGr UP TVC Hi££5 60.DOUSA fA 50 WERE NO" H!&H ON Readers Write Dog Eat Dog Dear Editor: The author of the advertisement on grey- hounds which appeared in the April issue of your newspaper was uninformed and such statements deserve a retraction. The National Greyhound Association, the official registry of all racing greyhounds in North America, registered only 37,874 racing greyhounds in 1988 and 38,443 in 1989 to race at the nation's 53 greyhound tracks. Thus, the author's assumption that 800 greyhounds are put down each day is absurd, false and libelous. The sport of greyhound racing has made great strides in the area of retired grey- hounds. Many greyhounds which no longer race are retired to the farm for breeding pur- poses. Still others are given good homes as pets through Greyhound Pets of America. Presently the American Greyhound Council is planning a retirement program for grey- hounds when no homes are available. Occasionally, as with horse racing or other professional sports involving animals, it becomes necessary to put a greyhound to sleep. It should be noted however, that this is done in the same humane fashion as pre- scribed by humane societies. That is, no differently than in the manner in which they put to sleep 15 or 20 million cats and dogs each year in this country. Gary Guccione Secretary-Treasurer National Greyhound Association Abilene, Kansas A Tourist Speaks Dear Editor: I have never written a letter to a newspa- per, but Roberta B. Marks' "I Am a Local," in your March 1990 issue hurt my heart. You see, my "sun-crazed" son and I have just returned from a marvelous, wonderful, fantastic, three-day stay in Marks' beloved Key West. After reading her letter I feel that we were not wanted. I am 62, a widow and recently retired after working 30 years. My son, 26, is phy- sically handicapped. I am beginning to real- ize quickly that a retiree's pension does not cover all monthly expenses and that I must learn to budget with the hope, that we can save and take at least one little trip a year. The trip to the Keys was our first and nothing I had read prepared us for all the fabulous sights. No old, two-lane wooden bridge over miles and miles of water like I had imagined! We rode the "screeching" Conch train and learned more local history from Elliott, our knowledgeable, entertain- ing, delightful guide/driver, in two hours than we could have learned from a textbook. Benji would have loved to see Mel Fish- er's treasures and the aquarium, and I'd have loved to see the inside of Heming- way's home. But with lack of money being a prime consideration and our very nice room being $129 per night, we couldn't af- ford it. However, we did taste Conch frit- ters for the first time -- delicious! And we had a lovely dinner at the Pier House, which cost us an arm and a leg, but for a once-in- a-lifetime adventure, it was worth it. We saw the sun set behind a cloud at Mallory Square in a crowd of "wandering" but quiet, appreciative "tourists." I bought a lovely purple island-looking dress at a lovely shop and used its sash to wrap around a straw hat! I also found some huge, WELL SC4H /n\TAti. fA.AH, OH, A}/W It's riOHB OTHER. THAA 'r 5CAM weu. OTHERWISE. i paper earrings to match and, yes, Benji bought a T-shirt and a cap, both of which advertise Key West! I learned that Conch is pronounced "konk" and that Key lime pie is yellow, not green. We had such a fun time — looking, learning, exploring, appreciating — not wanting to leave. And we didn't spill any warm, flat beer on the pavement. I envy Ms. Marks — she has lived in Key West nine years. We would love to spend just another three days there, but I doubt we'll ever be able to drive that far again. While her remarks were crushing, she can't take away our memories. Ernestine Harrell Knightdale, North Carolina Mallory Square Affair Dear Editor: When the fracas involving the Key West Cultural Preservation Society/Mallory pier entertainers, vs. City Hall erupted in Feb- ruary over leases, dockage of ships and the future of the pier, I was compelled to make an unscheduled excursion to my favorite island. I was hoping to be able to banish a gnawing dread that had gripped me the moment I'd heard the news. A long pedaled tour and many enlight- ening conversations later, my heart hung even heavier with a new realization: Key West is undergoing a sterile yuppification, complete with overdevelopment, overcom- mercialization and underappreciation of a rich tradition and culture. While many Conchs assured me that the style and flavor of the island remains intact, I could not help but feel that the "Mallory Square Affair" was yet more evidence of this trend. The city's unreasonable demand of $4,000 per month lease for use of the dock was justifiably met with outrage from the artists, musicians and performers who put on the nightly sunset celebration. Key West is already one of the most expensive places in the country for street artists to perform, eclipsing New York, San Francisco and Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 31 New Orleans on a cost-per-day basis. The colorful men and women who pro- vide us with this festive highlight every evening of the year are symbolic of what is truly unique and refreshing about Key West: simplicity. They are the soul of the island and deserve to be nurtured and appreciated as part of the culture. Likewise, their terri- tory must not be invaded by repressive and stultifying influences. Let us be warned: The Key West Bohe- mian is an endangered species that, once migrated, might as well be considered ex- tinct. If their natural habitat is replaced with a beige.backdrop of banality, an adaptive transformation so total as to render them unrecognizable would be necessary for their survival. By adopting this camouflage of invisibility to the white-washed environ- ment, the vanished eccentrics would unwit- tingly turn the island over to the hordes of the hum-drum and the homogenization of Key West would be complete. Eager to usher in this mainstream tide would be the small but powerful minority in QHtmcif crackers %*!' B!l Breed Pet Grooming Salon "Show quality grooming at pet prices" BY APPOINTMENT AT THE BIRD NEST A FULL SERVICE PET SHOP 517 FLEMING ST., KEY WEST 296-9890 FLORIDA KEYS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Learning Doesn't Improve With Distance -- In Fact, FKCC Is Just Around The Corner. AA and AS Degrees Enrichment Courses Evening and Day Classes Low Tuition Quality Instructors FKCC Summer Registration is from May 1-15 Call Today For An Appointment ... 296-9081,x293,247 MONROE COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALENDAR MAY 1990 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ROBERT BAGGS THE MONROE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 5825 JUNIOR COLLEGE ROAD KEY WEST, FL 33040-4399 OR CALL 294-4641 EXT. 130 Page 32 • May 1990 • Solares Hill City Hall who see Mallory Square in a monochrome-green perspective. Their vi- sions of the pier — when not obstructed altogether by a behemoth cruise ship — in- clude not dancing and merriment but condos and boutiques. Ironically, this is the very clutter of civilization that prompted the har- ried to escape to Key West. The Conch Republic is not the lone target of cultural assault in South Florida. Coconut Grove, once a sanctuary for free-thinking writers, poets and musicians, is today a squeaky-clean strip of swanky, exclusive specialty shops with all the sterile charm of surgical suites. Real-estate investors in Miami's nouveau-posh South Beach are effectively "flushing out" their unwanted element — in this case, elderly retirees from the Northeast who carved out a balmy niche in the 1930s — by squeezing them in the stranglehold of prohibitive rent increases. The only factor that has kept the Cultural Preservation Society and Mallory Square entertainers from succumbing to a similar fate is their dogged refusal to say "uncle." What happens in the next round? How long can the cultural vultures be kept at bay? It is my hope that tourists and locals alike will become supportive of the effort to pre- serve the essence of island living as we know it, before Key West becomes paved over as the Conch-rete Republic. Ana M. Fuentes Sunrise, Florida Yay Liz Dear Editor: We would like to thank writer Elizabeth M. Smith for her wonderful story, "A Walk in the Woods," about the Botanical Garden, in the March 1990 edition of Solares Hill. . Her description of the garden was so well written and I'm sure it contributed a great deal to the big attendance we had at our fundraising Garden Party on March 10. We were glad Liz could be there, too. We would like to thank Liz again for taking the time to tour the garden and to follow up her visit with such a fine, perceptive article. We'd like to thank her also for joining Our organization. Betty L. Desbiens Key West Botanical Garden Society, Inc. Crime Busters Dear Editor: Key West's Crime Task Force (CTI) was created to hold public meetings and take testimony from representatives from law enforcement, business, civic and neighbor- hood associations and the public. The CTF held seven meetings within 30 days, pre- senting its findings and recommendations to the city commission on April 9. Chairman of the CTF, State Attorney Kirk Zuelch, read the 21 recommendations to the com- mission, who unanimously accepted them. Commissioner Jimmy Weekley then put forth a resolution, which passed unani- mously, to extend the CTF meeting period 90 days to prepare a long-term comprehen- sive plan. Several members of die public addressed the CTF, calling for TDC tourist tax dollars to be used to fund CTF's various recom- mendations. One Duval Street businesswo- man collected 50 signatures from businesses on a petition asking for tourist tax dollars to pay for police services. It came as no sur- prise that the CTF then voted ll-to-2 in favor of utilizing tourist tax dollars as the fair funding source. In this regard, the CTF recommended: "The City Commission should do every- thing possible to obtain TDC funds for po- lice protection and related uses. We believe that a portion of the bed tax which is paid for by our tourists should go to assist in providing them a safe and secure environ- ment while they enjoy Key West." When the CTF voted on this recom- mendation, the State Attorney's office, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, the Key West Police Department (KWPD), the NAACP and city commissioners voted in its favor. Only the president of the Key West Chamber of Commerce and the representa- tive of the Hotel/Motel Association voted against it. The majority of the CTF recommenda- tions related to crime prevention and educa- tion programs, improvement of hotel se- curity and increased community relations to be brought about by creating school liaison officers, police/youth activities, neighbor- hood crime watches, and hiring a city-em- ployed ombudsman to assist those previ- ously convicted of a crime to obtain educa- tion, training, jobs, etc. One recommenda- tion that demands top priority is the police department's need for a three-dog canine unit. Drug-sniffing dogs are a proven tool with law enforcement drug interdiction. The CTF learned that crime in Key West. is up by 40 percent, but arrests are up by 60 percent. From 1987 to 1989, the KWPD managed an incredible 300-percent increase in arrests. The effectiveness and efficiency of the KWPD was comparable to a city double or triple its population, and the arrest rate is equivalent to a police department double the size of Key West's. These CTF findings should put to rest the perennial critics of the KWPD. The KWPD is sufficiently staffed to ser- vice the 28,000 residents, but its ranks are stretched when one considers that it must also protect one- to two-million tourists and transients each year. Whether a tourist falls off a moped or gets robbed at the beach, police services are required. The basic economics of the statistics substantiate that the tourist tax is the proper source of funding for these additional service costs. Local taxpayers cannot afford more tax increases. The CTF, in recognition of this economic situation, correctly voted to utilize TDC money. At the first CTF meeting, the question to the sheriffs representative was how much "bang for the buck" Key West taxpayers, receive from their large tax contribution to the sheriff's budget. Those numbers are now being compiled. A member of the CTF also suggested the formation of a county- wide CTF to hold public hearings in Big Pine, Marathon and Key Largo because Key West is just one island in a long chain, impacted by the crime flowing down from the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. The CTF also found that there is a break- down in the criminal justice system itself. The "enforcement" aspect of our criminal justice system (arrests) is the most devel- oped, while corrections (jail overcrowding), judicial (early release of prisoners) and lack of drug rehabilitation and education pro- grams continue to weaken our system. Sta- tistics show the cop on the street is doing his part — filling the jails. The problems arise before and after arrest. Nothing can be more frustrating to a cop than to see the young crack dealer he arrested over the weekend strolling down Duval Street on Monday. Decreased funding at the federal level for social services are being felt-at the local level not just in Monroe County, but nationwide. Funding drug-education programs without state or federal grant money will be a chal- lenge in the 1990s. Moreover, a new $35- million jail facility is being proposed for Key West's Premier Restaurant, located over the water, is the island's best seat for Sunset, and the recipient of the 1989 South. Floridta Magasine Critics Choice Award and the coveted 1990 AAA Four Diamond Award for Fine Dining. We're the home of Key West's World Famous Key Lime Pie - join us/ For reservations call 296-4600, ext 555. 1 Tuesday thru Saturday Through May 19 9 P.M. to 1 A.M. at the Monroe County where it probably makes far more sense to build only a $17.5-million jail and use the other $17.5 million for drug education and rehabilitation programs and youth recreation facilities. Key West has the potential to be the model "safe city" in Florida. But, as the CTF pointed out, the citizens of this com- munity must first decide what values to place on ourselves and our children. The crime-prevention and creation of a "safe city" begins with local government recog- nizing that the highest obligation and re- sponsibility to its citizens is public safety. If that requires a decrease in TDC tourist tax money for advertising, so be it. A. C. Weinstein Mayor's Representative Key West Crime Task Force Apology to Brown Solares Hill ran a letter last month, "Brown Begs to Differ," from Monroe County Administrator Tom Brown, wherein Brown criticized the March "Political Whispers from the Birdcage" by Bud Jacobson. Jacobson's column is a subjective analysis of local government. That is no reason, however, that it should contain errors of fact, inaccuracies of expression or random hearsay. The four paragraphs Jacobson wrote on the subject of a county career service hearing in March were below his usual standards of accurate reportage. We sincerely apologize to Brown and to his assistant, Peter Horton, for the mistakes in these paragraphs. On a point-by-point basis, much of what Brown contends is true: Social Services Director Louis LaTorre was suspended by the administrator, not his assistant; Ron Stack was not reinstated as department head but demoted to a hazardous waste inspector for the Municipal Services District. Though we could find no recall petition of all the commissioners, it's not impossible there were "cries" for same; but we agree with the county administrator that such unverified reportage does nothing to inform the public properly. LINGERIE BOUTIQUE We have both Practical and Beautiful Gifts for the Mom in Your Life, Including Silks and Cottons -- -- Kama Sutra Massage Cream or Oil -- "An Enchanted Evening," a beautiful game for a couple to share Happy Mother's Day! (Open Sunday, May 13, for last minute shopping) 1510-R Bertha Street (between Flagler & Atlantic Blvd.) Mon-Sat 11 am-6 pm Additionally, we take Peter Horton's statement, made during a telephone conver- sation, that he has not been involved with a county charter effort at face value; his name should not have been associated with such an effort Brown claimed we were inaccurate at putting the cost of his three-year contract at "over $70,000 a year." The contract, he says, was awarded in August 1989 at a salary of $64,584. Since county employees' benefits are calculated at 32 to 40 percent of base salary, we believe our statement is on solid ground. But if it isn't, we hope he's equally censorious toward the county's compensation consultant, which recently reported Brown's present pay grade as between $50,753 and $56,160, annually. Brown's biggest complaint, however, seems to refer to article's discussion of the costs of both the LaTorre and Stack hearings. Brown writes, "Jacobson states the attorney fees for the LaTorre case to be $70,000." The article reads, "[The board] charged the legal costs (Smallwood's and specifically a specially hired labor lawyer) to the big spenders, the county commission. The cost for this goof-up: $70,000. The estimated cost for Ron Stack's: closer to $100, 000." LaTorre's attorney, Sherri Smallwood, says that the county was ordered to pay her $26,445 for representing LaTorre. Additionally, the county paid labor lawyer John Gronda from Miami for his services. There were costs to the county in terms of employee time: Smallwood says five department heads spent several many hours attending the hearing; other employees were involved as well. The article states that $70,000 was the cost of the "goof-up" - not the cost of lawyer fees. Jacobson tallied up his total based on the salaries and time of county officials involved. In Stack's case, attorney Smallwood requested payment of $104,485 in fees; the county declined to pay. Brown suggests the way to inform the public is through "unbiased reporting — bringing accurate information to the public and reporting both sides of the issues so that they, the public, could reach their own Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 33 conclusions." An itemization of all the costs in time and materials incurred by the county. would be the best journalistic approach. County clerk Danny Kohlege is compiling those figures for Solares Hill. Publications have differing standards for "whispers," rumors that cannot by their nature be attributed to a particular source because of that source's insider status and the possible harm to that status that can stem from their being identified by name. In general, we believe that there has to be a specific reason for the source to need protection, that this reason be disclosed to the editor, and that every effort be made to discover the information from a source that can be identified. We agree strongly with Brown that such reporting should not be a forum for the settling of personal grudges. We will not tolerate that behavior at Solares Hill. A higher standard of editorial review should have been exercised over the March "Whispers" column. We thank Brown for. the completeness of his response and the depths of his concern. We apologize once again. There was no intent on Solares Hill's part to be malicious, slanderous, libelous or inaccurate. — The Editors AVAILABLE NOW!!! SOLARES HILL TEE SHIRTS Pick up at office -- 1217 White Street $11.00 Mail--$11.00 plus $3.00 shipping/handling per shirt "The Best of Key West" -Miami fferafcf LAST FLIGHT OUT ORIGINAL fiAWDSCREENED DESIGWS 710 DUVAL • KEY WEST, FLORIDA • (305) 294-8008 Page 34 • May 1990 • Solares Hill Art Circle Mudfire' Rekindles: Walt Hyla's Work Is Down to Earth Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 35 by Judi Bradford M. he 70s were turning into the '80s. Walt Hyla had been working in ceramics for 10 years. His local audience looked forward to his continuous parade of wacky sculpted fish with droll, bulging eyes and pudgy lips curved into wry smiles. For gallery shows he fashioned designs in chunky clay forms. His pieces had the look of clay and seemed to have risen from the tidal flats in a show of primordial humor. His studio at the time was called Mudfire, and that name aptly described his style — an unaffected, straight-' forward manipulation of earth. ; Key West was in a transition from Navy town to "upscale resort." The low rents and laid-back hippie lifestyles were on the way out and the momentum was building. Those who were in a position to catch that tourist wave of prosperity rode its crest to ever-in- creasing income. But many missed it; they tumbled in the surf of rising prices. Walt found himself in shallow financial waters and decided to get practical. He INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART AT PECK DESIGN GALLERY 294-3771 Oriental Rugs • Kilims Art Furniture by Adam Peck Textiles • Tapestries • Tribal Art 534 Fleming St. Hours 12-5:30 or by Appointment Gifts for every season, for any reason. Spoil a friend. Indulge yourself. MARBLES Unique Gifts and Nonessentials for the Home 1102 Duval • Uptown.. At the Cuban Club • 296-S075 worked a "real job" for a while and devoted more time to commercial art — an area in which he had freelanced all along. This led him to T-shirt designs, comic and colorful. Each one is a Caribbean cartoon, His cast of characters — arrogant cats, pouting fish, vacationing flamingos ~ began to turn up as tile patterns. But all Walt's dreams involved clay; and he realized he couldn't push ceramics entire- ly out of his life. Soon a kiln found its way to the yard outside his home-studio. Now his ceramic work carries funky fish images from the earlier era with heavy influence from those years of two-dimensional, com- mercial designing. Utilizing airbrush and watercolor tech- niques in ceramic glazes, Walt is turning out one-of-a-kind tiles and trivets as well ̂ s continuous repetitive designs for installing in kitchens, bathrooms and pools. His ca- reer is directed toward interiors now. He is thinking in terms of floors and walls. The patterns and images he works out for trivets today are the prototypes for tomorrow's living environments. Even though his drive is presently geared toward large-scale projects, Walt still enjoys the sculptural pieces and even some func- tional items. He just finished a commission of centerpieces for Nick's Upstairs at the Hyatt, which fit the Caribbean image fo!od and beverage director Tony Whittall is de- veloping. Each table sports a Walt Hyla Harrison Gallery &,Mosic LOCAL ART & MUSICAL SUPPLES : other work from NEW MEXICO • OLD MEXICO GUATEMALA • COSTA RICA Ben & Helen Harrison 825 WHITE STREET 294-0609 , CoffeeMiii Dance & Aerobics 916 AsheSt. a 296-9982 Stop by and pick up a free schedule! Look for the tin building with bluz trim next to White & Truman Chevron, Come Join Our Classes! Mudfire: Walt Hyla and his ceramic tiles, original clay island with lighthouse and palm-tree salt-and-pepper shakers. "We were looking for an island theme," said Whittall. "And Walt certainly captured the spirit of the island." The pieces have FRAMfij A W W£AW£AW SCULPTOPS isano " Wf SIMMY DOWT CM«* GALLS KY Gallery Mendoza Wood Sculptures & Painting Galleon Square #3 218 Whitehead St. Key West (by Mel Fisher Treasure Museum) 294-2011 Gaspar Mendoza, Wood Sculptor Open 10 am-6 pm Daily i been on the tables since mid-season. "We have great feedback from the guests," said Whittall, "and we've sold quite a few, too." The animals and objects Walt portrays are inspired by the Key West lifestyle: cats; fish; Key lime pie; sailboats; flamingos and all those Caribbean things we love to love. While they all demonstrate Walt's particular way of looking at the world — as though it is being seen for the first time by an amused alien — it is the tongue-in-gill fish that stand out. They cannot be described as outra- geous; they are, actually, understated in tone. But they combine an outlandish assortment of features and end up looking quite funny. "When you look at real fish, there is nothing here that doesn't happen there," said Walt. "Whatever I do sort of works because you can't go wrong. They're all so weird anyway." Walt's personal style, like his creative style, is undertstated. His humor is not the hilarious sort that leaves a person red in the face and gasping for breath. Rather, his humor makes a person smile and wonder if he heard correctly. It is a style that can slip past someone who is not alert. He is mild,, never pushy. Much of his conversation is made up of shrugs and facial expressions. But Walt tends to business. He works commissions and sells through several wholesale outlets and at Sunset. He and his girlfriend Cynthia Currier occasionally show at art-and-craft fairs. "We just got back from the Viscaya Renaissance Fair," said Walt. They won first place for booth design while there. Walt is a craftsman to the core. He en- joys the step-by-step procedures of ceramics and treats each part with respect, never rushing, never shortcutting. "All I need now is a wall to do," he said. His work can be seen at Banana Boat Batik, 419B Duval, at Celebration, 1100 Duval, and, of course, at Sunset, where you'll get to meet Walt, too. HANDMADE IMPORTED FABRICS Send $4 for Swatch Catalog to: ONE WORLD FABRICS P.O. Box 4755, Dept. SH, Key West, FL 33041 Jewelry Genius'" Don't leave Key West without Whitfleld Jack's famous conch pendant. (Those who wear the conch, they say, return to Key West again someday!) This elegant boutique In an enchant- ing tropical garden features original designs by a brilliant local craftsman. See the famous Laughing Dolphin Rings with dozens of tiny smiling dolphins, open every day from 10 to 4. (AMX, MC, Visa). Catalog available. 111 DUVAL » KEY WEST, PL 33040 * (305) 294-7092 Featuring stoneware, porcelain, hand-blown glass & wooden utensils from some of America's finest craftsmen. 717 Duval St. 294-3143 Open 10-6 Daily tfpriginafo $i^^^W^ Working on your 'one true sentence'? t enter the 10th Alllllial Short Story Competition of the Hemingway Days Festival 1st Prize - $1000 ! Two 2nd Prizes - $500 each Rules • "Story must be original & unpublished •Hemingway style not criterion for judging • 2500 word maximum • Entries typewritten, double spaced • Official Entry Form (below) must be completely filled out ( 3 x 5 card is acceptable with all information included) • Name & address must not appear on manuscript, only the title of the story • Manuscripts will not be returned • A $10.00 entry fee and entry form must accompany each story • All entries must be received by July 9, 1990. Official Short Story Entry Form Name Address City, St., Zip (Night)Telephone (Day) Title of Story Send all stories & entry fees to: Hemingway Days Festival (294-4440) P.O. Box 4045 Key West, FL 33041 Winners will be announced at 5 pjn. on Sunday, July 22,1990 One Stop Art Shop FEATURING WATERCOLORS BY GEORGE BAILEY ARTIST SUPPLIES • CUSTOM FRAMING • ART CLASSES NOW! it R T B A T L E R Y 910 DUVAL ST. • PARADISE -11-6 THURS-MONDAY • 294-6660 Page 36 • May 1990 • Solares Hill MAY ART CALENDAR A This symbol designates a reception that is open to the public. Art Collections Key West • National, international artists, plus Keys works by Matson, Shannon and others. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 600 Front Street in the Bottling Court, 296-5956. Art Unlimited 'Oldest pri- vate art gallery in Key West. First to carry Haitian art. "I go in after it.1' Daily, noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. 217 Duval St., 296-5625. Audubon House • The Wonderful Waterbirds of John James Audubon, selected plates from the Double Ele- phant Folio, Birds of America, now through May 30; $5 admis- sion, children under 6 free, AAA discount. Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 205 Whitehead St., 294-2116. Banana Boat Batik • Hand- painted silk and cotton by Key West Attitude. New ceramic work by Walt Hyla: animals, fish, lidded vessels, functional ware, and hanging fish sculptures. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Satur- day, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 419B Duval St., 296-2380. Lee Dodez Showroom • Clay work by Lee Dodez and others. Monday through Thurs- day, 9 a.m. to noon; weekends whenever. 901 Duval St., rear. East Bank Gallery • Paint- ings by local artists, limited edi- tion prints, pottery and custom framing. Open daily from 10 a.m. or by appointment. 706 White Street. 296-2679. East Martello Museum & Gallery • Art and History Fair, student art show, Monroe County pre-K through high school. May 5 through 27. Dai- ly, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. $3 admis- sion for non-members. 3501 S. Roosevelt Blvd. 296-3913. Farringfon Art Gallery • Pastellist Greg Biolchini. New "Antique Room" of framed an- tique prints. Thursday through Saturday and Monday, Tues- day, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Wednesday and Sunday. Gal- lery and framing by appoint- ment also. 711 Duval St. 294- 6911. A Florida Keys Community College Library Gallery • The Best of Monroe County High School Art, opens May 18, 6:30 to 8:30. Open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.-; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Junior College Rd., Stock Island, 296-9081, ext. 202. Nancy Forrester Gallery • Antique prints of plants and animals: 1690 to 1890. Noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Satur- day. 518 Elizabeth Street, 294- 0015. Galerie Moderne • Ab- stract expressionism. Daily, 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment. 516 Amelia St., 296-3156. Gallery Mendoza • Wood sculptures and wood-framed paintings by Mendoza and oth- ers. Open seven days. 218 Whitehead St. 294-2011. Gingerbread Square Gal- lery • Our regular stable of art- ists. Seven days, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 901 Duval St., 296-8900. Great Southern Gallery • Returning Key West artist George Bailey showing graphic tropical watercoiors. Patrick Na- gle prints. Paintings by Tricia Hurt at TIB Bank at Eaton and Whitehead. Call about art class- es. Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 910 Duval St., 294-6660. Guild Hall Gallery • Draw- ings, paintings, prints, soft sculpture, cartoons, printed and hand-painted cards, ceramics, T-shirts, leather bags, photogra- phy, painted mirrors, stained glass and ironwork by 16 Key West artists. Daily, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Evenings sometimes. 614 Duval St., 296-6076. Haitian Art Company • Two of our young artists, Carlo Jn. Baptiste and Michei-Ange Alti- dort will be exhibiting in the Mu- see d'Art Haitien in Haiti. Open in Key West daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 600 Frances St., 296- 8932. Harrison Gallery • New works by Mark McMillan, Magen Prouty and Tom Harris. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. 825 White St., 294-0609. is It Art • Hand-painted art- wear, prints and wall-hangings. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekend evenings. 913 Duval St., 294-0411. Kennedy Studios • Graph- ics, limited-edition prints. Daily, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., 133 Duval St., 294-5850; daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 716 Duval St., 292-0215; and a new store at 511 Duval St., 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. 294-8564. Key West Art Center • Wa- tercoiors by Irma Quigley, May 4 to May 18. Maxine McMullen, May 18 to June 1. Also, mem- bers' work. Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 301 Front St., 294-1241. Lane Gallery -Wendy Tur- ner and Michael Palmer, May 7 to 14. Beth Nablo, May 25 to June 6. Daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1000 Duval St., 294-0067. Lucky Street Gallery • John Martini sculpture and Michael Haykin paintings through May 15. New painted furniture by Greg Jaris. Daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; open until 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 919 Duval St., 294-3973. Mosquito Coast island Outfitters • Metal sculpture by Tom Joris. Back country paintings and prints by Michael Shannon. Bird prints by Marian- na Bauerlein. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. 1107 Duval St., 296-6124. Parker Chase Gallery • Oils by Sherrill Chase, antique fur- nishings, quilts, collectibles. 1024 Truman Ave. 296-0706. Adam Peck Designs • Inter- national folk art, ethnic musical instruments, tapestries, toys and fiber crafts. Also, Adam's is- land and African inspired furni- ture. Daily, noon to 5:30 p.m. 534 Fleming St. 294-3771. Plantation Potters • Stone- ware and porcelain vessels, lamps. Handblown glass, wood- en utensils. All made in USA. Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 717 Du- val St., 294-3143. Rose Lane Antiquities • Pre-Columbian art. Daily, noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. 524 Rose Lane, 294-2270. Santa Fe • Southwestern art, jewelry and furniture. Open noon to dark, Thursday through Tuesday; closed Wednesday. 219 Whitehead Street. 294- 0397. Whitehead Street Pottery • Stoneware, porcelain, Raku vessels. Daily except Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1011 White- head St., 294-5067. CtZAW LICK& L, in Guild Hall Gallery, 614 Duval! Street.] •_ WATERFRONT CAMPGROUND & TRAILER PARK IN DOWNTOWN KEY WEST CAMP S WAIK 10 OLD I0VM AIIRAC1IONS- MOBILE HOME, UPARIMENI COIIAUl RENIAtS IEUI VAN MQI0RH0MS-S IRAIUR SUES-fULl HOOKUPS HOI SHOWERS DUMPS!«!ION OLD TOWN BICYCLE RENTALS 223 ELIZABETH ST., (305) 294-5723 RESERVATIONS WELCOME Art in Your Neighborhood 1100 Block of Duval by Judi Bradford 1. he 1100 block of Duval Street began to thrive in the early '80s. Most of the activity then revolved around the old Cuban Club — a social institution which had been con- verted into a fashionable restaurant. Roomy and delightful, the Club reflected a languid ease until gas from a propane truck that was filling a kitchen tank ignited; the Club was consumed with flames. No one was hurt, but the building was demolished. After nearly a decade of dormancy, the Cuban Club has been rebuilt and divided into living and shop spaces, which are attracting unique tenants. Not surprisingly, the rest of the block has bloomed with new shops as well. Most carry crafts or art pieces as part or all of their merchandise. These are not predictable resort shops; they are adventures. Celebration, at 1100 Duval, occupies the front portion of the old White House hair salon building. Much of the store's mer- chandise is produced by Sunset artisans. Walt Hyla's tiles and trivets are for sale, as well as T-shirts, jewelry, critter marionettes, airplant-and-shell magnets and other items by various artists. This summer, Celebra- tion will move a portion of its goods to the Duval Street Market. On the corner of Amelia and Duval Streets, is Manana Island Designs, a charm- ing little enterprise that features Jim Weg- man's airbrush work and witty T-shirts - "Support your local planet" is one such slogan. Jim and his wife Melissa Morrisico also sell Indonesian items, including cloth- ing and intricate carvings. The main attraction, though, is Jim's art- work. He airbrushes portraits of both American heroes and common folk on clothing and canvas. He's halfway through an eight-painting series of blues artists. So far, he's finished B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Leon Redbone. His silkscreened T-shirts capture the heart of Key West with glib captions and comic images: a bicycle thief hanging from the gallows; a mythical bar, "Sloppy Capt. KAYAK THE KEYS' > » » l / 2 DAY-WILDLIFE TOURS««f >»»SNQRKEL/W!1,DLIFETRIPS<<»? >»»TROPICALSRA K A Y A T S C H O Q U « « »>»KAYAK & EQUIPMENT SALES<«« ) I S I In Marina Survival/fashion O w Plus PTarponwoar i l ir ls ...S0orl5...JjcliU..nupp«r BMl Show... Fujlnon Waterproof BI«iwula[s...D«talliiit«rj...S«j layjli . . . Su« i l l s Sea c»«sts.J[or«« Ca«su...AnUq»« Itwelry... Tom Jorls Wlldme Sculpturss ...H«»iEl...TM t*3lil»....WattrprMl charts.- Bclu..J>aaaEQaDian Hsu Salrts...irtaU)«fTZ&H...5alliBg bats... Uarlne A n . AnUqo« nj w«tPrlals...CUpltIBI»S... & MUCH MUCH UOIE. MOSQUITO COAST ISLAND OUTFITTERS & KAYAK GUIDES 1107 DUVAL STREET, KEY WEST, FL 33IM0 (305)294-7178 \ 1 I ! i Rick's Dirty Parrot." At the cul de sac on Amelia Street is Galerie Moderne where Gilberte Sweeney paints in abstract expressionist style. Call for an appointment first to see her work. She's a delightful woman and a fascinating conversationalist. Son O' the Beach sells beach necessi- ties but also reserves a wall to display what can be best described as "disturbed polar- oids." The emulsion on polaroids can be stirred around before the image is fully set, distorting it in unusual and bizarre ways. Massachusetts photographer Doug Johnson has a group of beach and boating scenes created in this mode, which he calls sur- realographic. The photos are fascinating and, in eight-by-eight-inch and 16-by-16- inch sizes, they are can be nicely framed. A trip through Mosquito Coast Island Outfitters is a treasure hunt. Owners Dan and Ellie McConnell sell items and services that reflect everything they love about Key West: back-country canoe trips, comfortable safari clothing, antique maps and engrav- ings of Key West waters, luminous paint- ings of the salt flats by Michael Shannon, iron sculptures of birds and insects by Tom Joris. They have a cabinet of South American crafts and Balinese textiles and carvings, as well. T.J. Marbles, also in this block, is a classy gift shop with merchandise to die for. Selling candlesticks, decorated boxes, col- lectibles and, of course, marbles, the store itself is a piece of art. Its painted floors and walls conjure memories of childhood. [Ji] Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 37 SWEEP ^MISCHIEF Sportswear Exotic Swimwear Enticing Lingerie Whiting & Davis Accessories Custom Clothing & Swimwear & Alterations Gift Certificates 335 Duval Street Key West, Fla. 296-0777 DUVAL CARDS Special Orders Promptly Handled Tasteful Selection of Greeting Cards Sunday NY Times Gay Studies Section 817 DUVAL STREET KEY WEST, FL ,33040 (305) 296-3508 DSD YOU KNOW ... Solares Hill has a LOCAL readership of over 20,000 AND We are distributed in New Town, Old Town AH Around The Town & Up The Keys in over 250 carefully selected locations: REAL ESTATE OFFICES BANKS . FOOD MARKETS RESTAURANTS . BARS HOTELS • BOUTIQUES • & SHOPPING CENTERS CALL 294-3602 Member of Key West Chamber of Commerce THE !3CDySH€P ATTHECEACH offers A SIZZLING SUMMER SPECIAL A 3-MONTH BODYSHOP MEMBERSHIP WITH UNLIMITED CLASSES $9900 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST 1990 The Bodyshop at The Reach Simonton Street at the Ocean 296-5000 ext. 686 Our 10th Anniversary Season A Wild Small-Town Comedy TICKETS- $12.50 APRIL 25th - MAY 13th The fled Bam 13 aneasiaicppcrtun.if eo-pw/ei as'-oatulty Wianered non-p«3ti! a i W s f Funded in cart Cy tno Manroe Ccuntj TDC and Ifce State of F&r.zz, CiHSera at Cultural jlffa; Page 38 - May 1990 • Solares HiH His. Nutrition: Commoe Sense for Good Health bvJeanne ivicoow \Jil ilance at the ingredients listed on a bag of dog food: soybean, com and bone meal for protein; whole grains, corn, wheat and rice for carbohydrates and fiber; calcium, phosphorus, wheat germ, dried yeast and dried whey; the B vitamins, as well as A and D, iron, lysine, zinc, and so on. Human beings should be so lucky. The fact that dog food is more nutritious than the foods most people eat is no joke. When a dog is not feeling up to snuff, his master pays attention. In fact, few people would let a bowl of guppies go hungry for a day. Yet these same folks overlook warning signals from their own bodies. The only plausible explanations for such neglect are fear, ignorance and/or laziness. None is a good explanation. But basic knowledge of nutritional requirements can help rectifty a poor diet. First and foremost, one must understand that every nutrient is needed by every body every day, and that no one of them is any more important than another. Bodily pro- cesses require the presence of numerous nutrients to work. For instance, calcium cannot be absorbed without Vitamin D. Nor can the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D and E, be used without the presence of fat. Finally, all these nutrients must be in balance in order to be effective. To get an idea of your own state of health, take a look at yourself. Is your skin dry or excessively oily; is your hair dull, broken and lifeless; are your fingernails ridged and/or broken; do you have hang- nails; is your tongue beefy, red, smooth and/or grooved? Do you have eczema, whiteheads, bad breath and/or body odor, gas, headaches? Do you bruise easily and heal slowly? All of these are symptoms of an inadequate diet. The only sure way to overcome or prevent these problems is to ea' iNSiDE® HcdU/cd JoocL n the Isle's Quar- terdeck Lounge. Rewards, refreshments and a complimentary Rum Runner to don- ors of legal age. Located at Mile Marker 84 in Islamorada. Call the personnel de- partment at Holiday Isle, 664-2321. 5/8 • Vote on a $27-million bond to close the landfill and open new facility. 5/8 • Board of County Commission- ers Comprehensive Plan meeting, 10:30 a.m. Call Patricia Frazier, 296-3111, for location. 5/9 • Board of County Commission- ers regular meeting. Call Patricia Frazier, 296-3111, for location. 5/10 • Boot Key Harbor Task Force will meet at 7 p.m., Marathon High School. Harbor problems will be ad- dressed; the attendance of all members is encouraged. 5/10 • Planning Committee Worship 8-30 to 10:30 a.m. in Marathon. Call Patri- cia Frazier, 296-3111, for location. 5/10 • Monroe County Comprehen- sive Planning Advisory Committee will meet to discuss environmental issues at Hawks Cay, 6 to 10 p.m. 5/11 • Monroe County Comprehen- sive Planning Advisory Committee will meet to discuss transportation. Stock Island Chapel, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. 5/12 • Commencement for the 24th graduating class of Florida Keys Commu- nity College, 1:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center. Free and open to the public. 5/16 • Monroe County Comprehen- sive Planning Advisory Committee will meet to discuss goals, objectives and policies. Call Patricia Frazier, 296-3111, for. location and time. 5/17 • First Annual Architectural Seminar, to celebrate Old Island Resto- ration Foundation's 30th Anniversary. Ar- chitects, land planners, landscape archi- tects, artisans and critics from all over the country will present a series of seminars and fetes on "Preserving the Old While Building the New." Call 294-9501. 5/17 • Lower Keys Workshop 7 to 10 p.m. at Sugarloaf School, in the cafeteria. 5/19 • FKCC Scuba Club meets at 1:30 p.m. in the college Tiki Hut on the campus lagoon. Members must have tak- en one course at FKCC in the last year and be certified scuba divers. Call Becky Arnold, 292-7988. 5/21 • City Commission Meeting, Key West City Hall, City Commission Chambers, 525 Angela Street, at 6 p.m. Always open to the public and televised on Channel 5. Call 292-8200. 5/24 • Middle Keys Workshop, 7 to 10 p.m., Marathon Jaycees Building. 5/29 • Board of County Commis- sioners Comprehensive Plan meeting, 10:30 a.m. Call Patricia Frazier, 296- 3111, for location. 5/30 • Board of County Commis- sioners regular meeting. Call Patricia Frazier, 296-3111, for location. 5/31 • Upper Keys Workshop, 7 to 10 p.m. at Coral Shores High School in the cafeteria. The Sporting Life 5/2 • Texaco/Hemingway Key West Classic, a release fishing tournament with total prize money of $75,000, begins registration at Louie's Backyard at 3 p.m. The American Mentai Health Fund will re- ceive 50 percent of all entry fees from the tournament, which runs through May 5. Anglers compete in three fishing classifi- cations. For specifics call 294-4440. Always Happening Adult Children of Alcoholics meets at Holy Innocents Church, 901 Flagler Ave- nue Mondays at 7 p.m., Tuesdays 5:30 p.m. and Thursdays 8:30 p.m. 294-8912. AIDS Help needs volunteers to assist in the office, as well as to be buddies to peo- ple with AIDS. Call Ann Weekley, director of volunteers, at 296-6196. Anchors Awelgh Club, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings daily. 404 Virginia Street, 296- 7888. Breezeswept Beach Estates Civic Association holds meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the Youth Center of Big Pine Key Methodist Church, 872-2861. Guardianship of Monroe County helps disabled adults and elderly resi- dents in decision-making. To volunteer or for more information call Elizabeth Covino at HRS; 292-6728, Betty Cambell at Flori- da Keys Memorial Hospital, 294-5531; or Liz Kern at Hospice, 294-8812. Island Wei I ness, at 530 Simonton Street, offers a variety of regularly sched- uled courses and activities. Yoga, T'ai Chi, meditation, rebirthing, metaphysics, gay issues, personal growth and hypnosis are some of the subjects covered. A gay rap and a healing circle are also featured. Call 296-7353 for details. Just Say No supper club meets Mon- days from 4 to 6 p.m. 292-8248. Mental Health Care Center of the Lower Keys conducts an ongoing thera- py group for manic-depressives every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., with Dr. Elizabeth Saenger. Another new program is Com- ing with Depression, which meets with Dr. Christina J. Taylor, on Thursday evenings. Call 292-6843. Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 41 Monroe County Public Library, Fleming Street, offers preschool story hour on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.; Saturday movies 10 a.m. 294-8488. Old Island Harmony Barbershop Chorus, Old Stone Church, Key West.meets Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Pool & Dart Tournament, Big Pine Moose Lodge, Wednesdays, 872-9313. Recycle Key West, sponsored by the Women's Resource center and located in Peary Court off White Street, is open eve- ry Wednesday, 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accept clean, separated glass, newspaper, aluminum and plastic. Volunteers are needed. 294-6241. Small Business Counseling third Fri- day of each month at Barnett Bank of the Keys, Tavernier. To make an appoint- ment, call 352-2661. Counselors are members of SCORE - -"A, RESTAURANT DIRECTORY Antonia's Restaurant, 615 Du- val Street. Excellent Northern Italian cuisine in friendly, elegant atmosphere. Dinner served from 7 to 11 p.m. night- ly. Visa, Mastercard. 294-6565. Benihana, at S. Roosevelt Boule- vard (A1A) and the Atlantic Ocean. Voted America's most popular full- service restaurant. Oriental chefs artisti- cally prepare the finest steaks, shrimp, lobster and chicken right before your eyes. Full bar. Complete dinners from $12.95. Open nightly. 294-6400. The Buttery, 1208 Simonton Street, is praised by Gourmet, New York Times and Bon Appetit as one of the great restaurants in South Florida. The Buttery is truly a must-stop for the gourmand in Key West. A complete bar and wine list complement the distinc- tive Buttery menu, with nightly spe- cials. Open for dinner nightly; reserva- tions are suggested. 294-0717. Cafe Exile/Cafe Tropic, 700 Duval at Angela Street. A European streetside cafe known for its eggs, bur- gers and alfresco ambience. Serving un- til 4 a.m., weekends until 5 a.m. 296- 0991. Duval Square Yogurt, located in the center of Duval Square, offers the ultimate in "sinless indulgence," featur- ing no-fat, no-cholesterol yogurt. Daily special flavors, including non-dairy fruit Rist. Also serving gyros. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sat- urday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. 296- 2900. Dynasty Restaurant, 918 Duval Street. Authentic and innovative Chi- nese cuisine. Indulge in sizzling Hu- nan, Cantonese and Szechuan special- ties. Dine indoors or outside in a tropi- cal garden setting. A local's favorite. Open nightly 5:30 p.m. Major credit cards accepted. 294-2943. The Eatery, 1405 Duval Street on the beach. Open 7 days a week, serving bountiful buffets. Breakfast 8 to 11 a.m., Lunch 12 to 4 p.m., and Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Visa and MasterCard ac- cepted. 294-2727 El Loro Verde, 404 Southard Street, is more than a Mexican restau- rant. El Loro Verde presents innovative yet authentic variations of both Mexi- can and Caribbean dishes. Popular for its cafe atmosphere, El Loro Verde now features a full liquor bar in its new din- ing room. 296-7298. El Meson de Pepe, 1215 Duval Street. Delicious gourmet Spanish cui- sine, specializing in Paella by Pepe. * Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 7:30am-10pm 7 days. A local favorite. 296-6922. Emma's Seafare, at The Reach, Simonton Street on the Ocean. Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is a room that radiates the sun and sea. Dine indoors or on a ter- race that overlooks the Atlantic. The menu features fish and more fish, pre- pared 105 different ways. 296-5000. Flamingo Crossing, 1105 Duval Street. The local's favorite dessert spot features fresh-made-daily ice creams, sorbets, honey yogurts, sundaes, shakes and all-fruit vitari. Also enjoy Florida Keys Finest Key Lime Pie all in a tropical garden setting. Open Sun- day from noon to 11 p.m.; and mid- night Friday and Saturday. 296-6124. Harbour Lights Restaurant and Barrelhead Bar, on the water at Garrison Bight Marina, offers break- fast, lunch and dinner daily from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy gourmet dining at moderate prices in a romantic setting on the Upper Deck. Breakfast is served daily on our Lower Deck at the Barrel- head Bar where License to Kill, the lat- est 007 James Bond thriller, was filmed. 294-9343. Henry's, 1500 Reynolds Street. Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located in historic Casa Marina Resort serving Continental Cuisine and Key West's most popular Sunday Brunch. Reserva- tions are suggested. 296-3535. Holiday Inn, La Concha, 430 Du- val Street. A downtown landmark with three restaurant choices. The Rain- bow Room, open 7 to 11 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, features seafood items. The Top, with its spectacular views of Key West and sunset, serves drinks, appetizers and desserts. Crazy Daizy's is a street- side cafe and fun spot specializing in paella, Frogmore stew and sandwiches by the inch. 296-2991. TO ADVERTISE IN THE SOLARES HILL RESTAURANT GUIDE CALLMICHELE AT 294-3602 Huki lau , 1990 N. Roosevelt Boulevard. Indoor or outdoor dining amidst a lush tropical island atmos- phere* Inspired island cuisine and fresh local seafood with daily specials. Open daily; lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; din- ner, 5:30 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. 294-6912. La Lechonera, 3100 Flagler Ave- nue, is one of the oldest restaurants in Key West, serving Spanish and Cuban cuisine with a full liquor bar. Daily specials. Happy Hour 4 to 7 p.m. Take-out available. 296-7881. La Trattoria Venezia, 524 Duval Street, open daily. Featuring Italian and French cuisine. Dine in an elegant Eu- ropean atmosphere complete with Ital- ian music and friendly, warm service. 296-1075. Lighthouse Cafe, 917 Duval Street, open for dinner 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Specializing in wonderful South- ern Italian and seafood dishes, served in a beautiful garden setting or cozy in- door dining room. Reservations sug- gested. Diner's Club, Visa. 296-7837. Louie's Backyard, 700 Waddell on the Atlantic Ocean, open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Featuring interna- tional cuisine in a restaurant ranked among South Florida's best. Dining in- side or outdoors on the water. Enjoy cocktails on the Afterdeck Bar. 294- 1061 for dining reservations, Martha's, at S. Roosevelt Boule- vard (A1A) and the Atlantic Ocean. Steaks and seafood. Exotic island drinks and soft 'live' piano music set a refresh- ing mood to complement Martha's fa- mous menu of steaks, prime rib and fresh native seafood. Open nightly from 5:30 p.m. Major credit cards. 294- 3466. Nick's Coastal Cafe, located in the Hyatt Key West at 601 Front Street, open daily, serving lunch and dinner. For waterfront dining and the best Italian cuisine, call 296-9900 for reservations. Pier House Restaurant, One Du- val Street. Travel & Leisure said the Scampi in Amaretto was well worth the trip. The New York Times called it "Key West's premier restaurant." Re- serve a table with a waterfront view. 296-4600. Rich's Cafe at the Eden House, 1015 Fleming Street. A tropical garden off the beaten path in Old Town, serv- ing Continental fare with attention to detail. Beer and wine. A 10% local dis- count. Amex, Visa & M/C. 296-6868. Turtle Kraals, Land's End Village, foot of Margaret Street. Harbor view dining for lunch and dinner. Great ham- burgers, seafood and check out the mu- sic. Visa, Mastercard okay. 294-2640. Yo Sake, 722 Duval. Open for lunch 12:00 to 2:30 p.m., dinner 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Neo-Japanese in- side or torchlit garden dining; tradition- al Japanese and original island crea- tions. Full Sushi Bar. 294-2288. Page 42 • May 1990 • Solares Hill AISLE SEAT' by Anne Carlisle IT i 4s another season heads toward a last act, the supply of non-resident theatergoers dwindles and. Key West's four theaters are left once again with their core audience of several hundred locals. This is a group George Brashears, de- parting Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Cen- ter artistic director, has credited with sky- rocketing "off the chart" in terms of atten- dance support. But not everyone agrees. "We were a little drafty at the sides," admits Denys Fitzpatrick, a local crooner who appeared recently before less-than-full houses in the Waterfront Playhouse's Key West Classics. And, as Brashears acknow- ledges, "there simply aren't enough people VIOLINIST For Parties & Special Occasions Call 296-5174 "Where the Locals Relax" The Whistle Happy Hour 5-9, Daily THE BULL & .WHISTLE BAR Corner of Duval & Caroline Streets "the most laid back bar in Key West" here to sustain a company of actors. What we need is a major patron, somebody who is providing to the tune of $150,000 to $200,000 per year. In every theater town there is usually a ramrod who donates large sums of money simply because they can't live without good theater." Brashears goes on to say that "the his- tory of the arts has been one of private patronage." But, he adds, "if you accept public money there are strings attached." Either way, one must account for how well the audience was served when measuring the success of any theatrical endeavor. Would the Festival of the Continents recent production of La Traviata, for instance, survive such an audit? In a word, no. "Theater people get so involved with their work," comments local theatrical director Rae Coates, "that an outside eye is needed — someone not connected to this heartfelt thing." Unfortunately for all those who invested good time and money to bring opera to Key West, the outside eye had no trouble detecting tawdry seams showing in this embarrassingly shoddy production. Set and costumes were downright tacky — a card- board tree toppled and a tossed-off glass was all too evidently plastic. To top off the spectacle of disaster, the leading lady stop- ped the show about 20 minutes before cur- tain to glare at the orchestra and demand, "Pitch me, Maestro!" It was a fine idea to spend money importing an opera. But it was a bad idea to spend it on this company. A pleasant contrast in value was afforded by the Waterfront's homegrown revue, in m LOUIES BACKYARD AN OCEANFRONT RESTAURANT DINING Indoors or Under The Stars. Entertaining Food and Drink- THE AFTERPECM A Transom's Height Above The Water. Cocktails. Enjoy All Of Our Views 11:30 AM-2 AM 700 WADDELL • 294-1061 (Vemon &. Waddell Oceanfront) which costumes were fresh, scene changes were lively and everyone had a good time. One of the intangible values that comes from non-professional theater is the chance to witness individual talents emerge and flourish. Of notable interest in Key West Classics was the debut of two young and very promising talents ~ the lovely siren Paula Jo Chitty and poetical pianist Tom Carlisle. Both are welcome additions to the local talent pool. Also, the Red Barn Theatre's recent pro- duction of The Boys Next Door was an added-value venture with the performance of a lifetime being given by Frank MacDon- ald who, like the diehards in Key West Classics, has been at it a long time. A page torn from reality and a play with a conscience that still managed to entertain, The Boys Next Door showed the daily lives of four mentally retarded adults under the supervision of a "normal" man beset by "normal" plagues of modern life — a bitter ex-wife, job burnout and self doubt. Tom Murtha demonstrated excellent control of the latter role, and wonderful performances were delivered by Tom Rhatigan and Adrienne Sher, who showed that a loving life need not be carried out in the fast lane. Each season new offerings are attempt- ed, new lessons are learned. Rae Coates says he hopes Key West will be increasing- ly supportive of original work. "That's what summers here are for. What is wrong with inviting young playwrights down to work on plays in progress? We can work on the plays, see their flaws. They could be done originally in Key West, then on to Broad- way. We could have college students from all over the country down here to build the costumes and sets, and then we'll tour around the country to make money to finance the next season." • The next season. That's when the auditor steps aside and the dreamer begins, ffl vr 3100 Flagler Ave. • Key West Full Liquor Bar Spanish • Cuban Cuisine Happy Hour 4-7 pm With Dinner 10% off To Senior Citizens & Locals One of the oldest restaurants in Key West 296-7881 Call for our daily specials Take out available Solares Hill • May 1990 • Page 43 Conch Republic Independence Celebration Schedule of Events Friday, May 4 8:30 p.m. • World's Longest Parade will'stretch down Duval Street from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone is welcome to participate and admission is free. 9:30 p.m. • Blessing of the Celebration and street party at the Key West Seaport, between Elizabeth and William Streets, with live bands, food and refreshment. Free admission. Saturday, May 5 Noon • Street Fair at Key West Seaport, between William and Elizab- eth Streets, continues through the day and evening. Performers, artists, craftspeople, maritime exhibition, re- freshments. The public is welcome. 1 p.m. • The Wreckers' Race, a re-enactment of the Keys' tradition of racing to the reef to claim the lion's share of salvage on a floundering ship. $35 entrance fee for each vessel. Ad- mission free. 2 p.m. • The Great Inshore Powerboat Race. Model boats from the Southernmost Radio Con- trolled Boat Association will race through Key West Bight. Admission free. 3 p.m. • Pirates' Costume Par- ty at Key West Seaport, with prizes for best-dressed pirates in adult and children's categories. Free. 8:30 p.m. • Official Commis- sioning Ceremony. New officers and vessels in the Conch Republic Navy will receive their commissions and awards will be given to the win- ners of the Wreckers Race. Free. Sunday, May 6 IX a.m. • The Great Conch Re- public Beach Party, with bands, food, beverages, swimming and games for kids of all ages. On old Tank Is- land, via water taxis — $3 round trip per person- from Key West Seaport. Free. 7 p.m. • The Great Battle for the Conch Republic. Situated in Key West Harbor, a mock battle fea- turing the Conch Republic Navy and a flyover and parajumping demonstra- tion by the U.S. Navy. Free. 7:30 p.m. • The Grand Ambas- sadors' Ball honors the founding fa- thers (and mothers) of the tiny island nation. At Marriott's Casa Marina, 1500 Reynolds Street. $25 admission charge includes gala buffet. An earth and water emphasis, produced by the Sun's entry into Taurus, along with Mercury, complements the heavy planets of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune into Capri- corn. To offset the serious dryness of this combination, Mars is moving through watery Pisces, with Jupiter in Cancer. This month favors family issues, matters involving real estate and looking at goals. ARIES Your ruler, Mars, spends the month in your most sensitive chart sector (12th house), but you can focus on roots with the sun in Taurus, your security sector. Wi+h Mercury retrograde (May 2 to 18), commit- ments may fall through. Watch your temper. Meditation will check emotional impulses. Venus brings loving support from others. TAURUS Sun in Taurus makes others take notice of your actions. The retrograde Mercury cautions you about signing long-term agree- ments between May 2 and 18. Mars hits your social angle and helps you work toward deeply held hopes. You may be in demand at gatherings. Venus, your ruler, in the karmic 12th house can bring romance. GEMINI Take time alone and meditate; consider what's going on in your life. Mars in the career sector could indicate that others will pull you in several directions. Mars makes a square this month which can lower your energy. Keep a low profile except in crea- tive areas that let your imagination take flight. Invite others to join you. CANCER Social events boost your spirits this month as the Sun crosses the lively 11th house. You may also come closer to realiza- tion of your life's options. However, since Mercury will turn retrograde, remember that you can change your mind. Mars in your travel sector urges you to take flight. Venus in the career sector favors those who rely on looks or charm to get the job done. LEO Your career may be spotlighted, though retrograde Mercury (May 2 to 18) can indi- cate a clash of plans. Another opportunity may come later. Venus draws you to travel for love or pleasure. Mars exercises stress over your financial sector. By late summer your financial status should improve. VIRGO The sun blazes over your travel sector. A trip is in order now, even though retrograde Mercury (May 2 to 18) can snarl plans. Mars in your mating sign suggests your mate needs a getaway, too. Problems may result if you glue yourselves to the normal routine. At least get out for a short trip up the Keys. Enjoy physical activity while be- ing ecologically sensitive. LIBRA Mars is in the house of work — it's time to get down to basics and work off debts. Imagination will guide you. Venus in your opposite sign can mean you'll be falling in love, again. Others may compliment you; believe in your attractive powers. There have been some heavy squares from Saturn arid Uranus that sent psychic waste out with the tide. SCORPIO Much ado about partnership. Mercury retrograde may cause your partner to form judgements without listening to your words. However, Mars moves through seductive Pisces, your house of romance. Show un- conditional love to create a positive shift in this month's scenario. Venus in your sector of work can bring joy and innovation to your endeavors. SAGITTARIUS You have ample energy for the tasks at hand. Retrograde Mercury cautions you to read the fine print and review important documents. Mars in the solar 4th house can bring vigorous work at home or volatile issues to work through. Venus in Aries blesses your chart sector of romantic love. CAPRICORN Your romantic fifth house is being activated, and you may find yourself in the fields of love and passion. Mercury retrotrade (May 2 to 18) reminds you to give extra thought to something said by a child. Venus encourages you to do some home entertaining or beautification. Mars in Pisces can make decisions difficult, but count on your practical nature to guide you. AQUARIUS Practical and domestic issues occupy your stellar agenda. The key, as always, is attitude. Venus puts you in the spirit for good conversation or light flirtation. Mars has you pushing toward greater financial freedom. You may have a breakthrough this month. If not, Jupiter's entrance into Leo this summer is a definite plus in this regard. PISCES Communications are in focus. There's someone you need to be in touch with to sort out old, confused issues. Mars adds confidence to your demeanor, and spurs you to exercise physically and launch new projects. Others may notice your newfound independence. Practical matters seem to be taking care of themselves. The universe is telling you to enjoy yourself. r l^j •HpvJ Serving TiC4 am. Weefends a.m. Outdoor Dining American Cuisine Evening Specials $7.95 to $12.95 700 Duval St. • Key West Page 44 • May 1990 • Se!are§ Hill \V 'V Tired of being drydocked? Then climb aboard our sensational 50* catamaran THE SEBAGO and take a ride on the wet side. Renowned Racing Catamaran h SEBAGO FREE BEER, WINE (AFTER SNORKLING) AND SOFT DRINKS SERVED. COMFORTABLE SEATING AND SUNSHADE PROTECTION. $5.00 OFF ANY TRIP SNORKLING/SAILING ADVENTURES 9 AM: $28 - 1 PM: $35 CHAMPAGNE SUNSET SAIL 5:30 PM: $25 L Key West Seaport • 631 Greene St. Key West • Florida 33040 for Reservations g 294-5687j For use with advance reservations (2 hours) only j . _ ~\ j - i • * / ' • S j u -. •K; 4 ' 1! ) 730-F Duva! St. on Petronia •'296-8027 1 1 L —-J with this coupon 110, 126, 135C-41 processing only Limit one roll per coupon, I i J GET READY KEY WEST... THE ROAD DUCKS ARE COMING! DON'T MISS OUT A HAND! Tuesday, May 1 Jeff Rutledge Mike & John Out A Hand Wednesday, May 2 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge ^1^1 Wayne Lewis UL2. Out A Hand Thursday, May 3 Noon-4- Jeff Rutledge Faust & Lewis 10-2 Out A Hand Friday, May 4 Noon-4 Mike McCloud Faust & Lewis Lttil Out A Hand Saturday, Mny 5 Nc>on-4 Mike McCloud Faust & Lewis 1SL2. Out A Hand Sunday, May 6 Noon-4 Dan Moblev Faust & Lewis ISL2. Out A Hand Monday, May 7 Noon-4 Wayne Faust Tuesday, May 8 ] V 4 Mike & John JJL1 BUI Blue & The Nervous Guys Jeff Rutledge • SJL Mike & John ^ 0-2 Freedom of Expression Wednesday, May 9 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge 525s2. Wayne Faust 10-2 Freedom of Expression Thursday, May 10* Noon-4 Mike McCloud izl Faust & Lewis 10-2 Freedom of Expression Friday, May 11 Noon-4 Mike McCloud Saturday, May 12 Noon-4 Mike Me Cloud Faust & Lewis 10-2 Freedom of Expression Faust & Lewis 10-2 Freedom of Expression Sunday, May 13 Noon-4 Dan Mobley LI Faust & Lewis lfflJL Freedom of Expression Monday, May 14 Noon-4 Mike McCloud Tuesday, May 15 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge Wednesday, May 16 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledue LIL± Mike & John JJL2. Bill Blue & The Nervous Guys 1^ Mike & John 10-2 Tino Gonzalas LI Mike & John 10-2 Tino Gonzalas Thursday, May 17 Jefr Rutiedge LI Rusty Lewis ISLLISLLL Tino Gonzaias Friday, May 18 Noon-4 Mike McCloud •Szl- Rusty Lewis 1,0-2,. Tino Gonzaiaz Saturday, May 19 Noon-4 Mike McCloud L2. Rusty Lewis 1Q-2 Tino Gonzalaz Sunday, May 20 Dan Mobley LI Rusty Lewis 10-2 Tino Gonzalaz Monday, May 21 Nflon-4 Mike McCloud Tuesday, May 22 Noon-4. Jeff Rutledge LZ Full Sail Band 10-2. Road Ducks LZ Mike & John 10-2 Road Ducks Wednesday, May 23 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge L± Mike & John Road Ducks Thursday, May 24 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge LI Rusty Lewis 10L2 Road Ducks Friday, May 25 Nflon-4 Mike McCloud L Saturday, May 26 •Noon-4 Mike McCloud L3b. Rusty Lewis 10-2 Road Ducks L2. Rusty Lewis Road Ducks Sunday, May 27 ii Noon-4. j Mike & John 1 LI Full Sail Band 1 M i l Road Duclis Monday, May 28 Noon -4. Mike McCloud L± Full Sail Band 1SL2. Road Ducks Tuesday, May 29 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge L2. Mike & John 10-?- Groove Monsters Wednesday, May 30 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge iiSL Mike & John Groove Monsters Thursday, May 31 Noon-4 Jeff Rutledge LI Mike '& John UL2. Groove Monsters HOLD ON TO YOUR HATH CONTINUOUS LIVE MUSIC

1990-05 Solares Hill Newspaper, Vol. 18 No. 5, May 1990

Publication

Florida Keys History Center

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Collection