10th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE GUEST WRITER: SHEL SILVERSTEIN/RDA PART VI, P. 42 V -%S:<<% X :, f V ^ : V . ' < t Y'f-r'~ '̂Ji'4'1 :^-H-4|« *'V^''--4;'^^*j^^^^"'I^*""''i:^!^/^ Don't Head North Without Them! ...footprints 610 Duval Street Old Town Key West Gonch Jewelry f^% * TM Genius if ORIGINAL DESIGNS hand crafted in Key West 111 DUVAL 294-7092 HELLO It's our tenth anniversary! Solares Hill started in April 1976, as a regularly published monthly newspaper. The first Solares Hill, started in 1971, wended its way through 15 issues and ended publication in 1973. Michael Prewitt, Stan Becker, "Dink" Bruce, Gil Ryder, Bill Wes- tray, Malcolm Ross and I were all involved in the earlier paper but it did not have, unfortunately, the financial support necessary to maintain it. For this anniversary we've resurrected two of the legendary Amy de Poo's wild articles about growing up in Key West with her sisters. Also our late, great columnist Dorothy Raymer is represented here with one of her wonderful columns which appeared under the title Notes and Antic-Dotes for many years. Famed cartoo- nist, poet and children's book author Shel Sil- verstein has graciously given us permission to reproduce some as yet unpublished poetry of his—thank you, Shel! George Murphy con- tinues his series on the RDA. It's a good issue and I welcome all our readers to it. At the ceremony at The Reach hotel in the middle of March the hatchet was buried in the long-standing dispute between Reach developer Austin Laber and adversaries Gity Commissioner George Halloran and local activists Gordon and Marge Smith and Pat Green. Along and honora- ble battle was waged by these people (along with fthis newspaper) against this development and juntimately the battle was lost. The hotel is now • jin place. It is an employer of over 200 loal people arid its success is good for the people of Key West. I'm pleased that the lawsuits have been dropped and I wish Austin Laber good luck. The two members of the RDA board, John Magliola and Dr. Philip Dobert, who apparently did not meet residency requirements and resigned recently, were lauded by RDA Chairman Paul Sher for their long and distinguished service on the board. This is standard stuff but when Paul said that the people of Key West should be grateful to Dr. Dobert for flying into town at his expense to attend meetings, that was too much to swallow. The very fact that he's living out of town makes him ineligible for membership on the board and he was missing a numberof meet- ings recently as well. I wish all good luck to the new board members, Bob Kruse and Lou Hernandez. During the heat of the recent mayoral cam- paign between Tom Sawyer and Capt. Tony Tar- racino I accused Tom Sawyer of stating that building moratoria were illegal and then chang- ing his position and embracing the need for a 90-day moratorium. My facts weren't right. Tom had stated that the type of an open-ended moratorium as first proposed by Capt. Tony was illegal and not a building moratorium for a cer- tain period and a certain purpose. I thought I was right when I attacked Tom on this issue but I haven't found any substantiation for my remark and I apologize to Tom for it. The Chamber of Commerce Cruise Ship Com- mittee is in need of volunteers to assist in the greeting of cruise ship passengers Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to say farewell to them. Similarly on Mondays from 8 a.m. to 9:30—10:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:00, help is needed. For information call 294-2587. Halley's Comet viewers: free charts & calendars with best April viewing are available at Graphics, 1010 Truman Avenue. See you next month. Our cover this month is the cover that artist Martha de Poo did for our first issue 10 years ago. Solares Hill is a community newspaper published every month on the slopes of Solares Hill, Key West's highest point, by Solares Hill Company, 513 Fleming Street Room 4, Key West, Florida 33040 Editor : Bill Huckel Editorial Consultant ...,....• Bill Westray Art Direction "!"!! . . . Walt Hyla Digital Typography ".'. TypeTech, Inc. With a little help from our friends... Solares Hill Company, Incorporated ©Solares Hill Inc. 1986 Our mailing address: 513 Fleming Street Room 4 Key West, Florida 33040 Phone Numbers are 294-1044 & 294-2400 In Marathon call 872-2915 THIS IS OUR SUBSCRIPTION FORM Save your cover! Send us a postcard with your subscription. Here is $15.00 for my subscription to 11 issues of SOLARES HILL. NAM? ADDRESS CITY :STATE ZIP THANK YOU FRANCES-ELIZABETH SIGNORELLI and Her Garden of Words by Colin G. Jameson C rusty old Roy Bean was once 'the Law west of the Pecos." Thus the river is usually associated with West Texas, whose fields it irrigates as it dwindles its way to the wizened watercourse we strangely call the Rio Grande. In its youth, however, the Pecos is something quite else. It is a stream of fresh mountain beauty that washes by the upland wonders of New Mexico, finally skirting the Carlsbad Cav- erns as it drops from the Sante Fe high country to the flats of the south. Not far from the Caverns is a hamlet named Loving, perhaps for people, better for an idea. In the mid-twenties, civil engineer Lindley Hoag and his wife Elizabeth retired to their home- stead farm near Loving. Their granddaughter, Frances-Elizabeth Jones, lived with them. Her mother was state director of education and could not often come home to the adjoining spread of Francis-E.'s father, William Cullen Jones. "Cullen" as in "William Cullen Bryant," great-grandfather and famous poet. "Frances- Elizabeth" was a hyphenated tribute to both grandmothers. Every weekday the little girl, not yet ten, rides her Shetland pony two miles to school, fording the Pecos. She loves the pony, the ride, the land, the water. Looking back, she now says, "I have a lifelong reverence for nature." Being an energetic and only child, surrounded by strait-laced and not notably exuberant older people, she early learns to be self-sufficient, to add her own color to life and create for herself an imaginary world. Once, fascinated by the story of Jezebel in the Bible, she rolls off the porch, pretending to be thrown to the dogs, like Jezebel. Another time she plays an angel gazing down with golden eyes from the heavenly heights of a swing hung by her grandfather from the gray-green cottonwoods. Frances Elizabeth. The old man knows how to erect a swing, but his eyesight is no longer golden. Frayed rope gives way and dumps the small "angel" into a muddy irrigation canal. Grandpa's age spawns other frailties that have other consequences. He owns the first Model T Ford in the Pecos Valley. Little Frances-E. is often his companion in this classic vehicle. When they set forth, party-line phones crank into alert. "Mr. Hoag is on the road!" comes the warning cry. Other drivers stay home. The problem is not that the old man is a "speed demon," as the going expression is. Often he will drive with two wheels in the ditch. On the other hand, he may grab the whole road. You can't predict Mr. Hoag. The grandparents' old-fashioned manner of speaking opens the book on Frances-E.'s fore- bears; these two survivors still thee-and-thou each other. The little girl takes pride in the devout ancestor on the frontier who cautioned a would-be wrongdoer with, "Of course 1 would not harm thee, but thee are standing where I plan to shoot this gun." Also there are tales about the illustrious great-great-grandfather, Brinton Darlington. Out of the past rides this legendary Federal Indian agent who was much beloved of the Cheyenne and Arapaho at a time when confron- tations with the government tended to be resolved by the carbines of the Seventh Cavalry. When Frances-E. is ten, her father dies. In due course she has a stepfather, Cyrus Landrum. He is a Texas rancher, raiser of cotton, trader in horses and Herefords. This is still the heyday of that range-tough breed of cattle, before the Angus, the Brahma, the Charollais: and the hybrids. Frances-E. learns to drive a pickup and dis- covers that you don't have to keep two wheels in the ditch or "hoag" the road. At 11 she is regu- larly sent off in the truck to round up ranch provisions. ; The Landrum spread is 80 miles south of Lubbock, near a town called Fluvanna.'Frances- SUPER BIKE SALE THREE CHEERS FOR SOLARES HILL ON ITS 10TH BIRTHDAY f: tt ROSS 10 SPEED RACING BIKES From $124.95 Men's and Women's THE BIKE SHOP YOUR LOCALLY OWNED BICYCLE DEPARTMENT STORE BUY AMERICAN MADE QUALITY " * ROSS BIKES; All Bikes Fully Assembled CRUISERS from $139.95 Men's & Women's LASER MX Chrome Frame, Alloy Wheels, Reg. $189 NOW $139.95 » y WE RENT NEW BIKES ® We service all makes and models ® • LOCAL DISCOUNT ON RENTALS GORDON & MARGE SMITH, OWNERS/MANAGERS#1110 TRUMAN (CORNER VARELA ST.)®294-1073 K K -* * m i Key West's Only Outdoor Oceanfront Restaurant. DINING Indoors or Under The Stars. BILLY WEBBS BAR Live Music. THEAFMECK A Transom's Height Above The Water. Enjoy All Of Our Views. 11:30 AM -I AM 700 VVADDELL • 294-1061 (Vernon & Waddell Oceanfront) E. later describes Fluvanna as a "farming/- ranching community with about 12 buildings, six of them churches, and a brush arbor where a continuous revival meeting continued as the social vortex all summer." Now we were not even torn a place; we were from near a place. But Fluvanna is not too far from Snyder, the county seat, where the girl is soon seen riding horses in barrel races and in the annual rodeo parades. Nor too small for a high school, which she attends when the time comes. "Here was a great deal of space for me to indulge fanciful thoughts and begin tilting a little toward being a loner." Jezebel and the angels might think this tendency set in sooner. It is as hard for her "to think like the other ranch kids as it is for a cat to bark." The ranch provides her with plenty of me-space. But any space must encompass other values. In the Flu- vanna area the dust always lies in wait. That's right, dust. When the wind blows, you often have to shovel out the ranch house. New Mexico was never this demanding and somehow seems more friendly. In high school Frances-E., probably without realizing it at the time, finds her lower-type psyche gives her a vantage point from which to observe her fellow men and women. She be- comes the principal (and sometimes only) writer for the school paper. / can't recall a time when I didn't want to transcribe happenings into written words. Words are my garden, and I'm happiest when I'm work- ing there. At least she is actually writing. She is writing on the threshold of the newsroom reportage that is never to be her preferred metier. Nevertheless, she is encouraged to go on exploring writing as an art. The next educational step is to attend Texas Women's College, in Denton, noted for its jour- nalism department. While at TWC, Frances-E.'s garden of words begins to green a little. She starts composing features for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (and earning first paychecks.) On water witches. On Comanche arrowheads. On buffalo chips. On the unique daily train puffing over the 50-mile route of the Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific Railway which, for reasons privy to management, continues on into a Flu- vanna field to turn around. Reaching for the Pacific? In summer there are other pieces for the Abi- lene Reporter-News, and, significantly, on women's colleges for the Christian Science Monitor. Significant not only for the attendant prestige but because today Frances-E. is not a Quaker but a practicing Christian Scientist. In arriving at the family decision as to where to go to college, one's mother has announced that one "doesn't have sense enough to go to a college with men." (Query as to whether Mother means with men or because of men—Ed. note.) About face. Mother later on decides that daughter should take another 27 hours of work so that she can hang a B.S. degree on the wall alongside the planned B.A. Frances-E. cheer- fully obliges, earns two degrees instead of one. Today I'm still pleased with that. I decided that I was a narcissist. Narcissists can care for others because they are so content with them- selves. On graduation morning she packs the twin diplomas in her traveling bag; on graduation afternoon she boards the train to a job as assist- Charbroiled to your taste PRIME RIB OF BEEF AU JUS Open 5:00 to 11:00 p.m. for dining Also Late Night Menu after 11 p.m. 528 FRONT STREET 294-3829 LOOK TO THE SKY! HEAVENLY BODY KITES ANNOUNCES THE 10TH ANNUAL KEY WEST KITE FESTIVAL FREE! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, NOON APRIL 27, SMATHERS BEACH PRIZES $100 CASH PRIZE BEST COLOR SLIDES $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM HEAVENLY BODY KITES FOR: YOUNGEST KITE FLYER/OLDEST KITE FLYER/ BEST HANDMADE KITE/LONGEST FLYING KITE/PERSON FROM FURTHEST POINT FROM KEY WEST/ BEST KITE PERFORMANCE SPONSORED BY HBK IN CONJUCTION WITH CONCH REPUBLIC CELEBRATION '86 HEAVENLY BODY KITES, YOUR LOCAL KITE SHOP 409 GREENE ST. OLD TOWN I'LL GO FOR. A DIP IN AIR. £ l S'LL &TARfU$iN& JfttS GULL ant editor of the Liberty Vindicator. Liberty is a town in southeastern Texas halfway between Beaumont and Houston, in the steamy rice- growing region. Don't talk to Frances-E. about humidity in Key West. She will tell you that the atmosphere in Liberty was so humid that over- night a woman's house would turn green if not stored in a capped Mason jar. A style note of historical interest to bareshanked young ladies in damp climates. Creative tension can build and become un- comfortable if I don't head for the typewriter. Write, that's what she wants to do; that's what she does. But first jobs are for first- jobholders. Suddenly Frances-E. is summoned to be society editor of a newspaper in Carlsbad, New Mexico, close to home. Perhaps too close. Wanderlust fires up due to wartime conditions. Off to Washington, D.C., apparent hub of the universe, at least in its own eyes. Doctrine in the capital proclaims that since Russia is presently occupying Nazi atten- tion, we must help U.S.S.R. while we prepare to join in the slaughter. Frances-E. works as "expediter" at the Soviet Purchasing Commission. She later rates the job as "something like a glorified receptionist." "Purchasing Commission," is it? U.S.S.R. purchases; U.S.A. pays for purchases. Frances- E. sorts out American businessmen, matches them with corresponding Moscow technocrats. Makes friends with one of the latter, Comrade Adrienko. Also becomes acquainted with his col- league, "Connie" Chernenko, who at the time demonstrates command of English language. Some years later, loses same when he serves as top boss of Mother Russia and fraternal peace- loving peoples. Lightweight performance of Con- nie as modern czar comes as no surprise to Frances-E., who has found "simple Siberian completion of her thesis. The marriage is no longer working. She bails out and carries the two boys back to Snyder, Texas, scene of childhood and teenage parades and rodeos. Who can recognize the place that was a place to escape to when one lived in a place that was just near a place?" A tree, the car, peasant" also simple in the head. Meanwhile, love. Fouryears of courtship lead to marriage to Roland Blow, Pentagon supplier, a "sweet and swift-witted man." Two sons result. Between expediting Russians and romance, Frances-E. finds time to cultivate writing and especially reading, in which she might call her- self a "selective eclectic." She even goes for an M.A. in English lit at George Washington Uni- versity. But private matters intervene to prevent and a little girl. The small county seat where I had ridden my horse around the square had blossomed into a wild-fevered boom town. The population has almost tripled overnight. Flares of gas being burned off are visible for miles. The northern section of the vast Permian Basin—so-called, though this part of it is actu- ally a plateau—has come roaring in. Living is so tight that Frances-E. meets a trained nurse who rents the back seat of a car to sleep in. Because of the steering wheel, the front seat would be The highest §§ poiint in Key West FREE V o l . 1, Ho. lf> Key Wesc , F1r rHi ; i Apr i l , A decade ago, "Dancin Bill9' Huckel and his friends saw a clear need for an alternative voice in local news. Published free to the public, Solares Hill has consistently acted to preserve our Island's unique charm and lifestyle. We're proud to work closely with Solares Hill Keep up the good work, Bill! Key West still needs you. CROissauts p croissants, and espresso & Cappuccino fresh bread & rolis / rye bread / cakes & tarts eclairs / napoleons de trance wholesale & retail / open 7:30 am - 6:00 pm closed Wednesdays 816 duval st./key west / 294-2624 ) i NOW OPEN 24 HOURS 7DAYSAWEEK BARKERS CHEVRON Chevron 2440 N. Roosevelt Blvd. 294-9525 (Across from Flippers Sea School) BESTWISHESTO SOLARES H i l l ONLYItMKEVWtST! F • ' . . . V . ' ' ; ; ; . v : .' • ' ' : . • • • ' ' . • ' : . ' ! • : . ; '•• •\ ono of .1 kiml lil<'i>ti ill I uio|)c.ii»& tropic .il I .ishinns for t.vdics: • I v't.'ivthins; ironi licit h to .,••.••• b . i l l r o o m b y . ;• Krisly .ifltl lo< ill tli'siu'it'fs. Sot' W9 DIDVAL STREEl KET WEST ESTATES TOWNHOUSE (2 Bed Room-2 Bath) $68fS00.00 9 . 0 % To Qualified Buyers maun tern A¥Aiusi£" 3231 Harriet Ave. KEY WEST 2 9 6 - 2 S S 7 . , _ OPENJtO-6DAILY In Phase 1 •>«.n>IiMi.uMs!.tkuji.»*t(™ * RENTALS AVAILABLE THRIFT STORE • Men's Clothing • Shoes • Women's Clothing « Accessories • Children's Clothing • Books • Furniture • Dishes » Appliances • Utensils • Toys • Collectables 1926 Fiagler Avenue 294-6505 cheaper, but what is life without minor amen- ities. Frances-E. has kept spading her word garden while in Washington (example: "Saddle Soap and Shalimar," column in Arlington, Virginia newspaper.) She now becomes full-fledged com- pulsive writer. In Snyder she is society editor of the local Daily News, also authors column, "Sandscripts." Does title subliminally derive from memories of shoveling dust in Fluvanna? Oil booms do not lower themselves on rom- The child is mother of the woman. ance; they encourage it. Frances-E. meets owner of Brooks Oilwell Service Company, who pur- veys iron anteaters to pump wells dry, also pro- vides crews to "scrub" them out. She becomes Mrs. Ernest Brooks. Two more children, a girl and a boy. At age 30, while six months pregnant with son Buddy, Frances-E. contracts cerebro- spinal meningitis. The doctor's cheerful ongoing directive: "If patient expires, take the fetus." Patient does not expire, she is not the type. But she spends two immobile years, finally pro- gressing to wheelchair, to crutches, to cane. Congratulations! RESTAURANT L J 829 SIMONTON STREET CORNER OF OLIVIA FULL LINE DELICATESSEN We Deliver lor intormatio/} can 294-6541 GIRL FRIDAY Professional Typing & Bookkeeping Service Temporary Personnel Agency New Address: 444 WHITEHEAD ST., KEY WEST Word,Processing Service Please call for appointment 9:00 A.M. til 5 P.M. • Monday thru Friday CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEXT TO THE NEW POST OFFICE She recalls that she was slowed down some by the dread affliction, but nobody else seems to have noticed this, and it appears scarcely cred- ible today. Buddy, now a small boy, develops asthmatic symptoms. The Brooks family is advised to leave Texas. Perhaps dust and the stench of crude oil abetted the responsible allergies. Ernest and Frances-E. sell business, sell house, sell every- thing except station wagon till it is parked at Miami airport and four children have been extracted therefrom. Pause for identification. The oldest child is Sam Brooks, who takes his stepfather's name. Today Sam is a lieutenant colonel in the DMZ in Korea, long after having been the first West Point candidate ever accepted from Key West. His association with the military, however, goes even farther back, to World War II when he was a baby returning with his mother from Texas to Washington. Everybody else on the plane is Army, Navy, or Marines. The aircraft, suffering engine trouble, makes an emergency landing in a Virginia cornfield. Baby's formula sours. Until rescue next morning, assorted warriors take turns marching up and down the canted aisle, tiny tot in arms, thus keeping him from crying. Burke Biow, his mother says, is her "most agreeable offspring." Perhaps the second son pays for it by being the focus of dicey luck, including the loss of his second wife and two children in a car accident. He regards the world with curiosity and love, and all misadventures seem to wash over him and crash against a distant shore. Burke, after a stint with Howard Hughes International, runs the Airline Vacuum Cleaner Company, in Houston. Annabel Brooks-Clark graduated from Miss Harris' School and the University of West Flor- Behind the Eden House is a favorite spot of locals for Breakfast & Brunch till .2:00 in Tropical Ambience Daily Specials, Oven-Fresh Baked Goods ... Beer & Wine, too! MIMOSA WITH FRESH SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE 1015 Fleming 728 fiiwonfon Steel ida, taught at May Sands School, anchored at WKWF. Now married to Ron Clark, Key West Police, she serves as a full-service deputy and spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriffs Department. Beautiful in face and figure, lovely as the day, can there be so fair a creature formed of common clay. Ernest Brooks, Jr. (Buddy), after, as his mother says, "coming intact through the hippie sixties," and recently married, has a stepdaugh- ter and new daughter of his own. He lives on Siesta Key and is in real estate and construction in Sarasota. He is deep, he is understanding, and his friends count on him. Revert to the Miami airport, those years ago. After getting rid of the station wagon, the six Brookses fly to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. It takes many months to remit Buddy's asthma. Mean- while, Frances-E. is not idle. Teaches school (once in Spanish, yet.) Writes things (of course.) But misses not having a girlfriend to rap with. Also longs for real Texas-type hamburgers. This lack is occasionally alleviated by forays into a military base. Girlfriend problem remains obdu- rate. Puerto Rico, however, has its compen- sations. Whenever beaches have been available, Frances-E. has always collected them. In East Texas you can swim off Galveston in "the gray Gulf waters." (Different Gulf from ours?) If you travel west, you can plunge into the icy depths around Catalina Island. If sweltering in Wash- ington, D.C. you can wash out the summer on the lovely nearby Maryland strands. You can take tranquil vacation swims at Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. And you can spend 23 blissful swimming HERB GARDEN Natural Foods ' Vitamins Body Card, ' Harhs /0picas 10% local Discount - faalurina • • THE GARDEN KITCHEN • Yz QZICL rian Take -Out f Delivery 300 SoutJiarcf St. JIM PICKING Luani Plaza, The Key West Optician Ph. 294-7411 Hours: M-T-W-F 9 tc 5:30; Thursday I to 9 years bobbing about in the ocean in the back- yard of your now-former home on Waddell Avenue, the spectacular two-phase sale of which has been locally compared to bringing in a cou- ple of Permian Basin gushers in the cellar. We keep straying from Puerto Rico. Swim- ming is wonderful there, too, "in the dreamy blue waters of Mono Channel [between the island and Hispaniola] with octopi snuggling up to you." Swimming helps pass the days of exile. Observe that non-career swimmers are usu- ally smiling. Impossible to swim and not relax the face muscles. Back to Texas, but not to stay. An ad in a Miami paper catches Frances-E.'s eye. A query elicits the plain truth: "There has never been a frost in Key West." I believe, tersely stated, listed without embroi- dery, the straight answer is the bottom line. In I960 this straight answer brings the Brookses to Key West, closely pursued by Hurri- cane Donna. In retrospect Frances-E.'s appear- ance on The Rock should have been recognized as arrival of permanent pilot hurricane. She has been blowing up a small storm in Key West ever since, mostly in print. For ten years Ernest Brooks and wife also operate the city bus line. Frances-E. teaches school on occasion (though in English) and in 1970 is appointed by the governor to fill out a school board term. She decides not to run for reelection. Meanwhile she writes—what else? Much, much for the Key West Citizen, where she is christened "Fannie-Bessie" by fellow-workers Janet Padron and Margaret Foresman.. Work includes heads and copyreading—not her cups of tea. But for four years she solaces herself by turning out her own column, in which she can LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST 305-294-4463 YOUR KEY WEST COFFEE CENTER PURE WATER DECAFFEINATED FRENCH ROAST & COLOMBIAN KEY WEST CUBAN ROAST" HAITIAN • AMARETTO • CINNAMON SWISS CHOCOLATE ALMOND • MOCHA JAVA ITALIAN ESPRESSO • KONA • CUSTOM BLENDING AND A LARGE VARIETY OF COFFEE MAKERS . . . 516 FLEMING ST. • 296-6656 Sara Cook PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & "*SALES A Persona) Firm With A Proven Track Record Specializing In Full-Service Management Seasonal & Yearly Rentals 294-849.1 528 Eaton St. Magen & Sons Seafood Atlantic Mde Seafood, Inc. UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP CAPT. JOHN JUNI, OWNER Fresh Local Seafoods Specialties from around the World Daily Specials HABANA PLAZA 3I22FLAGLERAVE. 294-3037 OPEN 6 DAYS MON.-SAT. I0to6 BENDER- TANiS AH you neuci to know in Real f.state. Sale Rentiil Managi'munl 4(l'l FUMING STREET Tel: 10i-2%-6200 10 11 Where the Locais meet! Quality is our highest regard, BREAKFAST & LUNCH 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. SATURDAY BRUNCH 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. SUNDAY BRUNCH 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Closed Thursdays 7031/2 DUVAL STREET exhibit whatever fruits have ripened in-the word-garden. After the Citizen she launches her own pri- vate personal newsletter, drawing acute angles to :he forward progress of events and rumors. Today, as we all know, she writes "Palms and Pelicans" here in Solares Hill. Summers, in North Carolina, she writes for The Highlanders column entitled "Go Tell It on a Mountain." She is no flatland airliner; Texas ^as mountains, and they occur even more fre- qiuently in the part of the Texas Republic that was "shamefully" (Texas talk) incorporated into New Mexico, still regarded as a sort of Lone Star colony. On divorce from Ernest Brooks, Frances-E. marries Louis Signorelli, restaurateur, state legislative expert. Fifteen years have slipped by, so let her tell of it: "I married him because we would be riding around and I would remark, 'I wonder where that goes.' And he would reply, 'Let's find out.' " On vacation they once travel to Orvieto, Italy, one of the 12 cities of ancient Etruria. Purpose: To view frescoes at the magnificent rose-quartz cathedral, works created by Louis's ancestor, Luca Signorelli. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci used one of Signorelli's paintings as a model for a figure in Da Vinci's masterpiece, The Last Supper. Luca Signorelli's fame lingers, also. His descendent is asked for his autograph. He has the ability to turn on the day forme, to make the mountains loom larger, the flowers put out prettier. He's brilliant, devoted, origi- nal, difficult, and at times as tranquil as a blaz- ing house—a satisfactory traveling companion for me through life. Writing? What's in a word? Time now for a bnefiDok-at-the.sty)e of one;s writing, the fruits of one's garden. PrahceVEHzabetb_Signorelli is what you might call a language-expanderrShe- shines lights on the flow of words, making you stop, look and listen. The colors of realism are there, but they don't have to harmonize, and an honest discord will not derail the melody. Best of all, it works. I've got the sort of mind that can accept anything artful. . . people dancing on clouds, trees growing there, too, upside down. Vivid metaphors lie in wait. Some people don't like to be jarred awake. But most of us prefer our reading to needle us when we need it. Frances- E. knows how to do this. And as compulsion cools, her prose sometimes slides into personal poetry without immediate recognition by the reader—perhaps by the author. Maybe one of these days I'll be a good enough writer to risk a book. No risk, no risk at all. The book's out there in the garden. The small county seat where I had ridden my horse arond the square had blossomed into a wild-fevered boom town. Sunday Brunch at the TAKE HOME YOUR PHOTOS, NOT YOUR FILM! ONE HOUR COLOR PRINT {C-41)' PROCESSING LAB ENLARGEMENT SPECIAL 5 " V 7" FROM135MM A i OR 110 NEGA7OR 110 NEGATIVES 99$ EACH WEST INSTANT IMAGES, INC. 408 DUVAL STREET, KEY WEST (INSIDE PHOTO-SONICS) 296-5450 THE BODYSHOP \J:vH>i>)i> BIG News For Your BIG Windows SAVE 30% on GRABER VERTICAL BLINDS SAVE 60% on KIRSCH 1" MINI-BLINDS SAVE 50% on KIRSCH WOOD SLAT BLINDS We carry a complete f line of SAVE 30% — 60% DURING OUR 'HERE COMES SUMMER" SALE Just Bring In Your Measurements & Save! During April & May Island Window Decorators PROFESSIONAL 1021 White St. • 296-7636 ADDmOHA™ VICTORIA ROUSH - DECORATOR Custom: Draperies Upholstery Bedspreads Slipcovers Mini-Blinds Shades & Vertical Blinds & More! Mastercard & Visa Accepted 26 -ikb EXOTIC BIRDS FROM FINCHES TO MACAWS 517 FLEM1NC STREET 296-7890 SuppliEs mcludiNq caqEs, Toys, SEECJ AN(1 TREATS. TsMinq INSTRUCTIONS included wrrh puRclusc of bind. W E TRAIN you AS W E I I AS youn biiid. Also FINE FEATHERED FOTOS HAVE yoUR PICTURE TiktN w'nU A p*in oF MACAWS! La Cr&perie • Steak • Seafood • Wine/ Beer 124DUVALST. 294-7677 OPEN 7 DAYS LUNCH AND DINNER •11:30 to 2:30 6 to 10:30 FRENCH CHEF/OWNER FINE WOMEN'S FASHIONS MON. -SW. 10AM-6 FM *7 Luperatejthe Strand and Monroe (now the Copa) theaters whicTTwere a family concern. Tennis stayed his number one love and in addi- tion to that, there was the love for his new family and children. His sense of community involve- ment carried him into the city and county polit- ical sessions where he pleaded for, and won approval for more tennis courts. But now the county politicians were turning to Iggy for even more public service. He and Billy Shepard were tapped to head up the Florida Keys Boating Association and with their friend, Albert Greene (he owned the best men's store in Key West, located next door to the Strand) they figured out sites for the public boat ramps on the Lower Keys which are still in heavy use by locals and tourists. This work led to an expanded study and survey of the Intercoas- tal Waterway as it runs down the Keys from Miami, on the Bay side, then crosses the ocean at Bahia Honda, and into Garrison Bight. Due to the efforts of these few men, joned by the late Admiral E. R. McCarthy, and then- county commissioner, Billy Freeman, the govern- ment relinquished millions for deepening and wideningthe waterway and money for the build- ing of the causeway over the Bight. All through this, Iggy carried on his tennis lessons, using care and close attention, patience and plenty of humor, with the yOung learners .'-'./1 - t " - '"• i • ^ p < % 3 men on a Cuba Libre; Iggy (center) and 2 Mends in Havana, 1935. theouvre Antiques & Vintage Furniture Items On Consignment On Key West's Antique Row We Buy, Sell & Trade 294-9472 Open Moon to 6:00 PM » Closed Sunday 519 Fleming 33 1 FLETCHER on d \r\and 1—i/rr.ihu-re and /~\f.ces<;or'ie<, 102ZDuvai Stree; , Key West, Florida 33040 ('305) 294-2032 • who call him "Mr, Iggy," and with the older players who take lessons, too. He's the only $1 a year man on the Monroe County payroll, teaching lessons at the county's courts. "It runs in. the family—maybe there's such a thing as a 'tennis gene.'" Iggy laughs. His daughter Paula has numerous tennis cham- pionships racked up in Key West, and his other daughter, Ygnacia Conchita "Coni" Loftus, of Shrevepori Louisiana, plays the game but has no titles, yet. His grandson Darren DeYoung, of Boca Raton, won his first tennis championship last year in Key West All work and no play? Not for Iggy. He was one of the best-liked of the nighttime wanderers in the 1950s when the Sun And Sand Club (at the ocean end of Simonton) attracted the navy officers and the towns racier set, at the Birdcage Lounge in the Casa Marina, Pena's Garden of Roses, and he took a leading role in the high-life activities of the Cuan Club, on Duval. during their costume balls and fancy events. "It's a wonderful life in Key West and I've enjoyed it all. It's my hometown and I'm not leaving." He winks, smiles and walks toward the tennis courts—Iggy Carbonell, in his element. assortment inc. 404 DUVAL • KEY WEST The. New York Times says it's "excetiettt" The New York Times says it's "consistent" The New York Times says it's "popular" The New York Times says it's "special" You'll find it speciat too. zhehuucetiy 1208 Simontott/Key West 305-294-0717 Theres rumor of perfection... LASPALMAS ORIGINAL^ INVENTIVE CUISINE Dinner Nightly 6-12 Sunday Brunch 10-3 Reservations Please 1029 Southard at Frances 294-7991 Piano, flute, guitar during Sunday Brunch fncn! Congratulations to Bill Huckel and the staff of Solares Hill Paper on your I Oth Anniversary I Its an honor and a pleasure being associated with you. We look forward to sharing your next ten yearsl TypeTech, Inc. 901 Fleming Street/Key West ••-} 294-9596 34 Si y@u have mere family tfvien family cur, Rent mare cur from Thrifty. If your town size car's got you stuck in the city pack up the whole family in one of Thrifty's full size, air conditioned cars, and Rent A Weekend, or even Rent A \fecation. We have special low rates that'll save you money getting to your vacation, and save you money getting back. And with Thrifty you'll travel in comfort, in one of our new, air conditioned cars. Thrifty features quality products ot the New Clirysjer Corporation like this Chrysler LeBaron 4'Door. HRIFTY RENT-A-CAR \\ 296-8514 2516 N. Roosevelt Blvd Key West. Florida A Weekend front Thrifty, PRICEE* GALLERY HOPPING by Gordon Lacy Bad, sad news this month: Fred Gros will close his gallery the 1st of May. His Roberta Marks show, to illustrate a point, was very fine, her constructions reflecting her personal sense of history arranged with humour, or we can cite the cool repose of Beth Nablo's latest works. Fred found and encouraged Stuart Vaughan whose drawing and visions have matured and solidified under Fred's patronage. He has always striven for the best and it was under his gentle aegis that Jordon Meinster gained the confi- dence to show what is certainly the most excit- ing painting we know of. He had much to do with Ron Van Balen's imaginative and perfect works of sculpture. Through the 11th of April he will be showing Richard Clank's abstract paint- ings after which he will have a clearance of his own paintings and things from his attic col- lected over the years. His last words are "I am not a businessman." As far as I am concerned, businessman and gallery-owner is a contradic- tion of terms. Lucky Street Gallery will show John Ran- kine's large canvas wall-hangings, dyed and painted in conjunction with John Martini's cut steel sculptures through the 7th of this month after which they will feature their stable of artists. Ned at Farrington's has been giving symposi- ums for artists and students on the newest tech- niques and materials and their uses, most recently for the Key West Art Center. The gallery is showing new oils by Michael Shannon of Lexington, an ex-student of Henry Faulkner ROSE LANE ANTIQUITIES Pre-Columbian Pottery & Gold Primitive Art from Africa Noon to T P.M. Or By Appointment 524 Rose Lane » 294-1873 .' llU-k ot Di.v.il) COMPLETE LINE OF ARTISTS MATERIALS , • ORIGINAL WORKS BY KEYS ARTISTS • MARIO SANCHEZ EDITIONS • AUDUBON BIRD PRINTS • ANTIQUE MAPS a CHARTS • MUSEUM-QUALITY MATERIALS • NEEDLEWORK FRAMING • ALL WORK DONE IN OUR SHOP CUSTOM WOOD & METAL FRAMING 711 DUVAL ST. 294-6911 FREE PARKING IN REAR • MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED ARISTOS G A L L E R Y Barbara A. Cooper (305)206-0218 219SIMONTON / OLD TOWN KEY WEST, FLORIDA 33CMO and whose work has a 19th century quality about it. Very soft focus. Burgess-Meinster recently sold their Matisse to some out-of-towners at a third of the price that many of our local painters are asking for stuff not known beyond Marathon. John Bur- gess is having some success with his witty col- lages, which can be seen at Jordon's Cafe next door. Before you all get at me about pushing food, etc., when giving your next party you might try Croissants de France's mille feuilles for dessert. It gives the guests the impression they have just been proposed marriage. Karen at Artist Warehouse is still griping about too much framing, but she's getting up to the season's end and will be able to get back to painting soon. It's the zaniest craft studio on the sunny isle of Key West. Soft sculpture lizards, geckos, alligators and their tropical friends cling to windows and lounge on the work tables. A "soft porn" lizard sunbathes topless in a swaying hammock (don't tell the city fathers) while the Lizard Lady works. While you're in Key West, stop and see the Lizard Licks studio in Guild Hall Gallery, 614 Duval Street. .._ • 4 \L\zm\) DUVAL] WHITE'STREET 901 WHITE STREET STABLE Baj Henocque Caballero Loijott Gibson Telemaque Hughes Terry APRIL 10TH GREGOGNA ALUMINUM FIGURE WITH TRIANGLE by JOHN MARTINI Congrats... LUCKY STREET G A L L E R Y CONTEMPORARY ARTS AND CRAFTS 322 MARGARET ST. / KEY WEST, FL 33040 / (305) 294-3973 On the 14th Gingerbread will launch its end of season group show with Turner, demons, Biondi, Van Eno, Salinero, Hoppick, Wagner, Salem and John Kiraly. Richard Heyman will be auctioning off (something he does very well) paintings for the benefit of Marc House, so it behooves all of us to get there on the evening of the 18th, checkbooks in hand. Jack Baron's "A Wedding" at East Martello was an elegant affair and I am happy to state that out of 34 pieces offered, 27 were sold right off the bat. Jack put in a year's work on this theme. He is hard at work on next year's, but not talking about it, yet. Aristos will celebrate Spring as of the 2nd of April in a Flowers-and-Gardens show with water colors by New York's Susanna Brown and our Helen Bertles. Speaking of novelties (no one would call this art) vis-a-vis the comet show, we can all be grateful that it will not come again for 76 years. Sorry Barbara. After the 16th the stable of painters plus Trog and Nancy St. Lawrance. I went to the Haitian Art Company and was impressed by the order and tidiness of such a large stock of merchandise under one roof. There is something for everyone, man, woman and child, of us, and for every pocketbook. Alice Terry's show at Gallery 24 in Miami is doing very well and she is busy packing for her summer show in Ogunquit at PS Gallery. When I said last month to get there early to buy, I found I was not kidding in the case of 35 1 >*cWJ0^ SPECIALIZING IN EXOTIC BIRDS ONE OF THE LARGEST SELECTIONS OF BIRDS IN THE FLA. KEYS! LARCJE SEIECTION of FEECI, rut supplies 294-4459Vi S'IMONTON STREET KEY WEST Craig Biondi at Gingerbread. By 7:00 pm it was practically too late. This month Craig's one-man show is at East Martello on the 8th, and will feature his latest oils. I presume they will be not quite dry. No title. Craig says "Mostly Mangoes." Judi Bradford at the Guild Gallery will be showing life-sized soft-sculptures of Love 22 and Hemingway. Ask to see their built-in fea- tures. Sonia Robinson has a for-Spring line of bags, and new for her, many in canvas. Gary Zimmerman is showing his painted mirrors, and under Poochie's pushing, Ann Irvine and Caro- line "Cappy" Seiler have taken to the fields and are producing freewheeling untypical acrylics and Loys Locklear has gone into ceramic jewelry, an innovation for her. Sanford's great bags can be found at Spirit on Duval Street. The magazine Southern Accent has been down to SoMo to photograph her chairs, fabrics, et al., for their next issue. v--- ' Red Barn heatre PRESENTS IRMA LaDOUCE THE TUNEFUL, DANCEFUL, OH-SO-FRENCH MUSICAL COMEDY APRIL 9th - MAY 4th SHOWS: WED.-SUN. CURTAIN: 8:30 P.M. CALL 296-9911 FOR RESERVATIONS BOX OFFICE OPEN 12-5 EXCEPT MONDAYS 319 DUVAL STREET (REAR) ' - ' S I E - f i . * r • " . ' • ' * 35fHS.KoatevellBlvd {ol airport enUance) museum Paintings by Craig Biondi April 9 - 30 East Martello Gallery and Museum 3500 S. Roosevelt Blvd. (at Airport Entrance) Key West, Florida Key We&t ALL BAR DRINKS $1.75/DOMESTIC BEERS $1 IMPORTED BEERS $1.50 ALL WELL DRINKS $1 ALL CREAM DRINKS $175/ BAR DRINKS $150 BEST JUKEBOX IN KEY WEST/LIVE MUSIC ON FRI & SAT NIGHTS/TWO REGULATION POOL TABLES POOL TOURNEY THURSDAY NIGHTS/DARTS PACKAGE GOODS, ICE WINE & COLD BEER SOUTHARD & WHITEHEAD/296-9198 DOLPHIN ENCOUNTER by Linda Erb "Dolphin Encounter" is a complete dolphin experience brought to you by people who love them and know them. The Dolphin Research Center, located at milemarker 59 on Grassy Key, is a not-for-profit educational and research ven- ture dedicated to learning more about Earth's most fascinating and beloved aquatic creat- ure . . . the dolphin. They are also eager to share their kowledge with those of you willing to learn; and for the more adventuresome of you, to share the experience of these magnificent mammals one on one. Your encounter begins when you meet your trainer/tour guide. The trainers at D.R.C. have anywhere from 6 to 16 years of experience train- ing dolphins and they still love it! Their excite- ment and love for their friends, the dolphins and sea lions, is contagious! During the narrated tour you are introduced to one of the only natural-environment breeding colonies of bot- La Crcpcrk • Steak • Seafood • Wine/Beer 124DUVALST. 294-7677 6 nights 6-10, closed Sunday FRENCH CHEF/OWNER tlenosed dolphins in captivity. Don't miss their 8 month old baby sea lion, Lincoln (say "hello" by blowing in his nose!). Listen to the trainer as she tells you anecdotes and facts (like the story of the dolphin who was "rescued at sea" by 2 other dolphins . . . and the fact that dolphin babies nurse from Mom for up to 2 years). In your private group tour questions are welcomed and encouraged! Then . . . after you've become acquainted with their dolphin family above the water, you are invited to slip into the dolphin's world. Imagine watching minnows swirl around you like confetti. Suddenly you hear, almost feel, a presence. Turning you see a large, silky sleek body swimming toward you . . . your eyes meet and you see a twinkle of excitement, inquisi- tiveness.and . . . intelligence? You will have to be there to decide that long debated question for yourself. As you dive down to the bottom, a curious companion is at your side. Listen for the "clicks" of their echolocation, and the high whistles of communication and excitement. Your free time with your new friends is followed by some choreographed behavior. The dolphins will offer their dorsal fins and give you a wild ride! A great thrill (and spectacular picture!) is to feel and see them leap right over you! By getting involved in a Dolphin Encounter you enrich far more than yourself. You enable the Dolphin Research Center to continue with the work they've been at since the late 1950s. The $20.00 tax deductible donation goes directly to the dolphins, the love and thanks go directly to you. D.R.C. asks that you call for a reservation in advance. Dolphin Encounters are offered Monday through Friday. The phone numbers are 289-1121 or 289-0002. Don't miss the experience of a lifetime! Open your eyes, ears, heart, and soul to your own personal Dolphin Encounter. It is a very unique and special privilege . . . and a chance to make some very unique and special friends! The finest selection of I table and floor lamps, track J lighting, celling fixtures, yard lighting, outdoor fixtures & chandeliers In the Florida Keys. LIGHTING 1025 WHITE ST. 1SLANP OENTAL ASSOOAf El GUM DISEASE . . . is one of the most prevalent maladies in America today, and the leading cause of tooth loss for adults. GOM DISEASE AND TOOTH DECAY ARE PREVENTABLE! . . . Modern dental techniques, along with your com- mitment to daily home care, will result in a lifetime of good oral health. In our .:'• :.:,nv. to provide you with comprehensive dental care, we are pleased to announce that L M. GARCIA, D.D.S, (Gum specialist) has resumed the practice of periodontics in Key West. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT LOOSE TEETH OR UNHEALTHY GUMS. SEE YOUR DEWTiST OR CALL FOR A PERIODONTAL CONSULTATION E. Win. Goldner, D.D.S. M. H. Eaton II, D.D.S. B. J. Mayfield, D.D.S. J. M. Hartog, B.D.S. lORAL SURGEON. OFFERING I.V.SED'TIO--. 1721 Flagler Avenue • 294-66S6 Appointments are available evenings and Saturdays, We welcome new patients and thank our clients for their referrals and continued support. 38 CONVERSATION: Mrs. Dorothy Castillo by Carol Shaughnessy S ome days in Key West are cold. Gloomy days, overcast, with the wind a live taunting thing that sneaks through the cracks under doors and settles in. Beaches are populated only by those tourists who are paying several dollars a minute for their time here. Under such circumstances, the best thing to do is hole up inside, with plenty of hot tea to drink and a good friend to talk to. Days like that bring on, between friends, an almost tidelike ebb and flow of talk and gentle reminiscence. It was on such a day that I first spoke with Dorothy Castillo. She is a small woman, with a laugh that seems too big for her frame, but is always reflected in her merry eyes. She seems to possess a hard-won serenity, to be a person who can enjoy the past while acceepting a very dif- ferent present. Her past is shared by many women who came to Key West as military wives. "Well, when I came to Key West it was in... I think... 1954... I was married. He was on the U.S.S. Bushnell. At that time... they had something like little Quonset huts... out here in Fort Taylor, and that's where all the black people used to live that were in the service. It's only in recent years that people have realised that the beach property is important, you know, and very valuable." "The town was very open, the people were very friendly—I grant you there was a lot of vice and sin going on... still is, but under a little different umbrella now... even with the military in and out, about the only time you'd hear of fights and such would be when the fellows would be fight- ing... over the girls. Once in a while you would have some type of thing that would go on with gambling... but by and far it was just a very Dorothy Castillo. friendly town." Dorothy Castillo remembers the military presence in Key West as a very strong one. "President Truman used to come down for his vacations to the Little White House. The base was open at that time, you know... we had the Bushnell, the U.S.S. Gilmore, and then you would have the subs... and practically everybody worked on the base in some capacity or other. Civil service... or the ladies, if they did any type of domestic work they would work for the Cap- tains... the base was the backbone of the city." She remembers vividly the town's physical makeup when she first came here. "Old Town was as you see it... over by the High School, that was marsh ponds, salt ponds. They were just beginning to build out that way, out Flagler Avenue. I have seen quite a lot of building... quite a lot of growing. When I first came here it was nothing but mangroves and things out Flagler way." "Fast Buck Freddie's used to be S.S. Kress... it was a variety store and that's where you'd go buy all your little knick-knacks. That corner," Dorothy says, "still is the windiest spot in town, right across from the La Concha. The La Concha was in full swing—John Spottswood was the Senator—I mean he did become Senator, he wasn't Senator at that time in the fifties... he was a political figure in the island for quite a while... that's during Bernie C. Papy's time." Dorothy and her first husband parted ways not too long after her arrival in Key West, and shortly she began spending her time with Fran- cisco Pedro Castillo, whom everyone called Pan. "We did a lot of things together... I had a good time. I loved going to dances and parties, and I liked giving parties at the house... and Pan was, and still is, a comical fellow. He just loves to get up on stage. He's always on stage, acting and telling jokes, and he could sing... dance... we used to do a lot of programs and things over here to the VFW on Emma Street... well, that's a landmark in this neighborhood. That was where all of the black activity was... that was THE When you finally see the light we'll he waiting for you at Shades. a sunglass emporium 3O6 front street © 9 6 Congratulations & much Success in the future from Paul Tripp and all the Raw World employees. GOLFING THE KEY WEST RESORT The Key West Golf Course is an 18 hole championship golf facility located just minutes from Old Town Key West. Designed by Rees Jones, this course offers spectacular beauty and golfing fun for golfers of every caliber. Play our course, experience our hospitality and enjoy this tropical golfing pleasure. We invite you to call the Pro Shop for more information. Pro Shop 294-5232 Tee Times Required Rental Clubs Available DIVING FISHING DRY TORTUGAS TRIPS THE KEY WEST REPORT'S Oceatiside Marina, You'll find a boating and SCUBA paradise in historical Key West at "THE KEY WEST RESORT'S, OCEANS1DE MARINA AND DIVE CENTER," the largest, best equipped facility for sportfishermen, cruising yachtsmen and SCUBA enthusiasts. We are the closest Marina and Dive Center to the many spectacular, prolific offshore reefs of Key West, entering a quiet protected harbor through a clearly marked channel directly from the Atlantic Ocean. Plenty of dock space with all the ameni- ties for convenience and comfort. Also a complete stock of accessories, fishing tackle, bait, marine supplies, fuel and complete mechanic's shop. Our Dive Center is a full service operation as well. Friendly qualified staff give custom classes and reef trips for Snorkelers and SCUBA Divers alike. The safest, most modern SCUBA equipment available and expe- rienced equipment repair shop to promptly meet your every need. At Oceanside Dive Center we ensure pure filtered dry air and daily shuttle service to and from local hotels. You are our most important guest. KEY WEST FISHING Whatever your fishing pleasure—deep sea, reef, wreck, flats, drift or bottom fishing—they're all here for you! Known worldwide for its Marlin, Sail, Wahoo, Tuna and Dolphin fishing, Oceanside the largest marine facility in Key West has a large compliment of the world's top and best known U. S. Coast Guard Licensed, professional light tackle fishing guides. Call or visit our Bait & Tackle Shop and charter one of our guides and enjoy a fabulous day of fishing upon the waters surrounding Key West—the fishing capital of the world. ' DRYTORTUGAS Visit historic Fort Jefferson built prior to the Civil War on Garden Key located 75 miles west of Key West, in the Gulf of Mexico. Named by the Spaniards because of the large number of sea turtles inhabiting the keys, the Dry Tortugas is a fabulous vacationland—excellent fishing, diving, snorkeling, or just lounging on the snowy white sand beaches. Call for details on fishing or diving and snorkeling charters. We invite you to call the Marina for more information Marina 294-4676 Foot of Maloney Ave • Stock Island • Key West Guide your canoe silently over clear, protected tropical island waters Treat yourself to a feast of the Lower Keys' most serene beauty, guided by an experienced local naturalist. ' "Ja>- Don't miss this unique experience! 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. * $45.00 per person (S40 per person four or more EQUIPPED CANOES & LUNCH For more information, write P.O. BOX 62, BIG PINE KEY, FL 33043 CALL 305-872-2620 T)ancing Shoes 929 TRUMAN AVENUE Next to the Overseas Fruit Market Open Monday thru Saturday, 9 to 6 SHOES FOR MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN Women's Leather Pumps in All Colors at Very Low Prices Reg. $55.00 Reg. $41.99 Reg. $45.00 Price $37.99 Price $29.99 Price $36.50 Name Brand Tennis Shoes for Men & Women Nike * Etonics • New Balance »Avias Men's Converse $19.99 Women's Leather Hi Tops $19.99 Men's U.S.A. Hi Tops $12.99 Boys' U.S.A. Hi Tops $9.99 So Come See Us Tit TDandng Shoes 41 40 place to go, to the VFW. We had all the dances and the shows, they would get people from Miami orwherever . . . to come down and put on shows. It was nice—you'd dress up, and you'd go out for an evening of fun. Pan would always be on the shows, and I would be with him, so it used to be a lot of fun. Living with him was... was..." She lets her big laugh out, at a loss for words to describe this time of her life, "...was a joke... he was always on stage, Pan was," she winds up fondly. After their marriage, they proceeded to have a family of five boys. Dorothy's sons still live here, and she speaks of them with pride. Their framed photographs, with those of their various wives and children, adorn the walls of her living room. "The oldest boy is Vincent—I almost said Alfred—he hates to be called Alfred; his name is Alfred Vincent Coleman, Jr.—he's the son of the husband that I had when I came to Key West... and I had five sons for Mr. Castillo of which Randall is the oldest, and he was born in '58.1 think. Now I'm not very good on the years of my children's ages because... I just never think about it. I have to ask them, 'How old are you? How old are you?'" She laughs. "But Randall was born in '58." "Randall works for the Pro Dive Shop on Truman Avenue and he's a diver. Vincent... the oldest boy, he sells cars for Bob Change Michael, my third oldest, is in Germany, and in fact they had a write-up about him in the paper this week. He's in the Army. Warren... lives here also... he works for Suddath Moving and Furni- ture out on Fogerty. Grenville works for Duncan Ford... he works in the rental section over there cleaning the cars and what have you and also he's the guard at night. All of my sons are very good looking. Joseph, that's my baby." "I am a very stern parent... I was quite like a mother hen. I kept my children underneath my wing till it was time to pitch them out," Dorothy says, chuckling. She recalls, however, one instance whern one of her children out smarted the mother hen. "Grenville... he was a very obedient child. He didn't like to get spanked. We had this little bar on the corner at that time, his dad and I. His daddy had retired and got the bar so that he'd have something to do... The Silver Slipper Club... Pan's first cousin Buck owned the place... he still does. We ran it for several years... round about 73 to about 7 5 or 76... it was in that time frame." "But anyway we were running the bar and Grenville had done something... sufficient enough for me to want to chastise him... I was at the bar and I told him to go home. We lived at 1127 Thomas Street then, down there right across from the pool, that big house there... I went home and then I was gonna give him a spanking. And when I went to get my belt, honey, he took off—and he ran out the door and I said,'Don't you come back. I'm gonna get the police for you, running away from home!'" She laughs long at the memory now. "Well, honey, he ran to the police station! He... told them that his mama told him not to come back home and she was gonna beat him. And the policeman, I think it was Richard How- ard, came by the bar and said what did you do to _Grenv]lle? Grenville was down to the police sta- ONE PAY PRICES, SAME SAME SPEED, EVERYTHING! PRlftTS &FRAMBT THE &AL $16 BROTHER tion and his daddy had to go get him! And he was just sitting there saying he was not going back home because his mother was going to beat him. He ran to the police station," she repeats, shaking her head—and then, with fond pride, "He was something!" During this story Dorothy laughs so that the words are hardly clear. She obviously enjoys this tale of the.naughtiness of her usually good son. One of Dorothy's clearest memories from her sons' childhood is that of Hurricane Donna. "When Donna came through my children were small... my husband was gone because he worked in the Navy, and he was out... up on the highway driving buses and things back and forth to Marathon. I just walked up and down the hallway with the radio on, looking in on my babies... and I'd look out the window, look out the door at the winds..." "God was good to Key West, because the eye of the storm was supposed to pass directly over Key West and it veered. Did quite a bit of damage in 'Marathon. In fact, one of the people I knew was drowned up there. We housed quite afew of the people from Marathon after the storm was over. It was quite a storm. By and far Key West was... not lucky, but blessed, and escaped with just minimal damage." Donna is only one of the storms Dorothy Castillo has weathered during her 31 years in Key West. She recalls another storm that virtu- ally walked down U.S. 1. And on some occa- sions, "...we used to have hurricane parties— play cards, and drink. I used to drink then—I used to drink Scotch. With milk. Love that Scotch and milk—not just Scotch, Johnny Walker Red." Her rich chuckle rolls out. "We used to have fun—not knowing we could have gotten wiped off the face of this earth." She is earnestly serious, however, when speaking of the reason she believes Key West has escaped being hit by a major hurricane. "Of course we have a lot of people who think that the reefs have something to do with it, but I'm here to tell you, that reef has nothing to do with it. It's Gods' doing, all of it. For God's reasons... He chooses to bless Key West. It is His grace tHat we haven't had a severe storm." ; Not long ago Dorothy became a fervent Chris- tian, and her church is now an integral part of her daily life. Among her other chureh duties, stye is the Superintendant of the Sunday School. "I belong to St. James Missionary Baptist Church... it is the oldest black Baptist church in South Florida. We are 110 years old, and we're a very small church, but this year we'll celebrate our 111th anniversary." It is to the church that Dorothy goes every evening after her work day at the post office is over. Now the Window Technician at the post office, concerned with the day to day supervi- sion of the window clerks, Dorothy likes the work she has done for the past 19 years. "It's important that you like to deal with the public when you're working on that window... lots of times people get into Key West and the first place they stop may be the post office, so it's important how we greet them. Sometimes it gets to be too much." Dorothy clears her throat and grins confidentially. "Sometimes we get a little cranky. All in all, though, it's a very rewarding job." She credits her religion with helping her to deal with this often stressful job, as she credits it . continued on page 71 From thoee fast efficient guys K-l Almost 20% Lower Rates than other Key West Metered Taxi CALL when you need a ride or make a ation 42 Commentary The Key West RDA, Part VI: The Emperor's New 'Close' by George Murphy Further Fear and Loathing >rt the Harry S. Truman Annex: deceit, coercion, stonewalling, threats, curious business deals, surprise contracts' conflicts-of-interest, buck-passing., stalling, and misinformation in what may be •; »ne of the great- est reai-estate rip-offs in Florida history. "DEJAVU" In researching the history of the RDA, a number of uncanny similarities between current situations land previous events have been found. Throughout his article, where appropriate,; they have been in- serted. Draw your own conclusions. We Told You So! Six months ago, we reported our suspicion that Key West Harbour Development had no intention of developing the Truman Annex at all and that the "secret plan:' was to flip-flop the entire project and sub-lease ail of the develop- ment. We were right!. Key West Harbor Development is not a devel- opment corporation jri.the true sense of the word at all. It is a front for a number of lawyers and architects who have been planning to make the down payment on the purchase of the property and then sell off rights to develop portions of the Annex to other arfua/development companies. 1 THE BOTTOM LINE KWHD has been intending to purchase the development rights to the Truman Annex for a $500,000/year lease payment to the city of Key West. They were then planning to sell the development rights to numerous other compan- ies. Based on financial statements left at city hall by Sam Brown of .Centennial Partners, Ltd:, they would sell those rights for $37 Million—an Instant profit of $33 million* over their down payment. In addition, they will receive approximately $4.6 Million annually in assorted fees: Items • $4/head cruiseport dis- embarcation fee • Marina dockage fees • Marina commercial fees • Commercial maintain- ance fees • Residential maintain- ance fees (90*/sq ft) ® Tank Island annual maintainance fees • Hotel (2% of gross + 8% of food/beverage revenues) Annual Estimate $543,660.00 $574,875.00 $410,000,00 $630,000.00 $873,000.00 $924,000.00 $700,000.00 Solares Hill Exclusive: in a conversa- * tion last Friday, Earl Jones, Commissioner for Federal Property Resource Manage- ment at the GSA office in Washington D.C., was informed of the GSA-Atlanta claim that it will begin auction plans on April 4th unless the city and the RDA can show that the sale will be completed by the end of the month. Jones said this matter could be easily superceded. He said that the April 30 deadline will stand prior to any auction plans as long as there are some assurances by April 4 that the city is making progress toward the purchase of the Truman Annex. If the KWHD deal falls through—which at this juncture seems likely—the GSA -̂ T plans to go to open market. Thirty days "A later (in early June), the GSA would begin advertising for bids for a 60-day period. :-._! However, Jones said further that if, dur- ing "anytime up until 30 days before the opening of bids" (early Aug.), they would "surely listen to any proposal by the city." This means that if, by early July, the city were to make an offer on the property, the GSA would be receptive. Beyond that, if they went to bid and none were to bid as high as $13.8 Million, they would be wil- ;; ling to reassess the situation and be wil- ling to come back and negotiate with the - city for the purchase. This new development means that the , city has 90 days from April 4 to either float a bond and come up with cash to close the •fa deal or find a new developer. -4 TOTAL: $4,615,535.00 is there any truly legitimate reason the city shouldn't float a bond and make that profit for the benefit of taxpayers? The Would-Be Developers According to a prospectus delivered by KWHD to the Key West RDA in 1981, the corporation is composed of the following investors: John C. Dent, Jr.— A lawyer who has been partners with Ralph Haben, Jeffrey Pflugher and Hugh Culverhouse. Ralph Haben— A law partner with Dent and Pflugner and a former Speaker of the Florida House of Repre- sentatives who was instrumental in the creation of the RDA as an autonomous agency (which later selected his own company us developer). Haben is also a Director of the Southeast Regional Bank Board. Jeffrey Pflugner— A law partner with Dent and Haben who special- izes in "legal and governmental requirements for large developments projects." Pflugner is the primary author of the lease which was lambasted by the Peat Marwick, Mitchell Report. Harold Holder- Chairman of the Board and chief stockholder for American Agronomics holding the "largest orange grove in the world," who is "representa- tive of the financial character and stature of the firm." Holder is presently purchasing radio sta- tion FM 107 from former RDA board member John Magliola. (See "New News . . ." below.) Robert F. Bluck— A development and investment consultant, ex- perienced in "'syndication, marketing and oper- ation of resort and commercial properties.'' David A. Wolfburg, AIA— Treasurer of Wolfburg/AIvarez/Taracido & Associates, a Miami-based Architectural, Engi- neering and Planning Firm. Walter Revell— President of Post, Buckley Schuh & Jernigan, Inc., Engineers, Architects, and Planners. Frederick Lloyd— President of Bay Capital Corporation of Tampa, a venture capital and equity holding Company! In addition, since that prospectus was issued, another board member, corporate secretary George Perrin, also of Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jemigan, Inc., has been representing the corpo- ration at numerous city commission and RDA meetings. In brief, it appears that the city is facing a group of moneyed investors who are planning to turn-over a quick multi-million deal and leave town. You Scratch My Back, I'll Scratch Mine Too . At last Monday's City Hall workshop, George Perrin of KWHD was informed of the likelihood that KWHD would be limited to a maximum of 600 units (see "Buying Time" below). Perrin said that an estimate he'd recently made of 700 units would cost $200/square foot. He claimed that, if limited to 600 units, it. would be too costly for them to pursue their plans. Two days later, he made a proposal to sell-off a portion ot the land—acreage south of Sou- thard Street—to the city for $300,000/acre in exchange for a variance which would allow KWHD to go forth with their plans for a 250+ room hotel on Front Street. Such a d e a l . . . ex- cept that KWHD will be purchasing the land for less than $200,000/acre! Perrin claimed that unless KWHD could pro- ceed with the planned hotel and have a total of 1300 units approved, it couldn't afford to go ahead with the deal. If it /state that KWHD cannot build without a 200%+ imposition on the city's new density plans, c'est la vie. They should go elsewhere. Taxpayers in this city have made their wishes known. But there's more than zoning problems to our general resistance to KWHD. The corporation has been scratching its own back for years. Numerous studies have been commissioned by KWHD to determine, among other things, the condition and status of the infrastructure of facilities on the Truman Annex and the condi- tion of historical structures—looking toward recommendations as to whether they should be restored or demolished. Their recommendations for demolition would cost them less than resto- ration as well as allow them more room for new construction. In 6 instances, KWHD hired "itself," (inves- tors' firms/investors names italicized) rather than independent sources for such services: 1. Jeffrey Pflugner (an investor) was the primary author of the lease which the independ- ent accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell said was very detrimental to the city's hiterests. Having a lessor write his own lease is, to say the j least, highly irregular. j 2. In 2/81, Andy Carlino of Post, Buckley, Schuh & jernigan..'-determined" that the sew- age system was "beyond repair,'-' and thata new Alphabet Soup KWHD - Key West Harbour Development Cor- poration ofSarasota RDA - The Key West Redevelopment Agency FCC - The Federal Communications Commission FBI - The Federal Bureau of Investigation PMM - Peat, Marwick, Mitchell &Co.-a national accounting firm PBSJ - Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jemigan - a Miami Engineering and Architectural firm whose owners are also KWHD investors. one was needed. However, it has worked fine during the five years since his report. The result could be inflated estimates of needed repairs that might make the city balk at pursuing the purchase on its own. 3. In2/81 , astatementbyAnthonyJachim of Morton, Wolfburg Associates indicated that "most" of the historical structures were "in ter- rible disrepair." In April, 1981 a study called "Predevelopment Studies Bolume II" was released by KWHD: 4. Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan were party with . . . 5. WoMmrg/Alvares/Taracido and Asso- ciates in an "Analysis of Historically Significant Structures." 6. In October, 1985 Lawrence Essman of Post Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan released to George Perrin also of Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan a study of two buildings (Quarters 'F' and Building 39) recommending that they be "demolished." Contrary to the recommendation regarding Quarters F, an independent Miami historian, Arva Moore Parks, did not recom- mend destruction. Sharon Wells of the Historic Preservation Board also expressed the opinion that "the building is in much better condition than many," and that, in her opinion, "it could be restored." What does this mean? It does mean that the studies have a built-in bias. It could mean deceit. The recommendations of these studies may have been written with an intent of increasing financial benefits to the development corporation. Draw your own conclusions. Atlanta 1, Washington 0, Key West? The GSA in Atlanta has refused a request by the city of Key West for a 6-month extension to the present April 30 deadline for the transfer of the Truman Annex. In a letter received on Wed- nesday of last week (as usual, it was received minutes prior to the meeting), Patricia Bailey of the Atlanta GSA office said that they will give 43 THE EMPEROR'S OLD CLOTHES A Brief History of the Key West RDA 7/8/77 - GSA declares 92 acres of the Truman Annex as surplus. 4/17/79 - City Commission formally declares the Annex "a blighted area in need of rehabili- tation and redevelopment." A 5-memberRDA is created by the city commission. 6/7/79 - From three alternatives of conceptual plans for re-use of the Truman Annex the preferred plan provides for 26.4 acres of luxury ($400,000+) condominiums. 7/19/79- Lawsuit filed by local businessmen to abolish the RDA. 7/24/79 - Conceptual Plan approved by com- mission is withheld due to citizen opposition. 9/25/79 - David Paul Horan contracted as RDA attorney for $250/month plus $45/hour. '. 11/30/79 .- Conceptual Plan approved over citizen opposition. 12/19/79 - County Planner charges that the RDA has "detrimental"and "destructive"ideas about tourist-oriented uses of the Annex which ignore local impact and affordable housing. 1/22/80 - Commissioner Richard Heyman calls for the dismissal of the RDA Board for failure . to gain public confidence. RDA fails a "vote of confidence" at City Commission meeting. Paul Sher promises to resign "in a spirit of cooperation with the city" then refuses. 5/7/80- City votes to enter into agreement with Monroe County and gives them 2 seats on the RDA Board: 5/9/80 -GSA deadline for city-county disposal of Annex. 2/12/81 - PBSJ study declares sewer system "beyond repair." Morton, Wolfburg study declares structures in "terrible disrepair." 5/19/81 - Bill to redesignate the RDA as a state agency with autonomous power to handle its own bonding procedures passed by the Senate. 5/27/81 - 24 prospective developers of the Annex come forth. 7/8/81 -GSA will transfer portions of property tee as long as no profit is made from those portions for 30 years. RDA Director Dennis Anderson advises against it. 8/81 - Navy imposes freeze on the sale of the property to explore military needs. 8/28/81 - GSA drops appraisal to $8 million. 3/7/81 - GSA appraisal of the Annex (now 141 acres) set at $11.2 million. 10/16/81 -3 firms, including KWHD, selected as possible developer. 5/8/81 - Michael Lowe, Financial Director of RDA, announces his resignation. Though he had no confract orpersonnel record, heispaid $2,682 severance pay without board approval. $45,000 of equipment had been purchased without following required bidding procedures. 12/20/81 - KWHD selected as master developer. RDA seeks power to levy ad valorem taxes to pay for constructing streets, utilities and to allow RDA to float tax-free bonds. 1/17/82 - John Dent commits his firm to put up $10 million in a preliminary agreement with RDA. 3/23/82.- After investigations by the State Attorney and FBI for "financial improprieties" RDA removes Dennis Anderson as its Director and appoints him "project co-ordinator." 3/26/82 - Bill for the Annex as a special taxing district killed in the Senate. Senator Richard Renick cites an apparent conflict of interest on the part of Speaker of the House Ralph Haben as being a partner with KWHD. 4/2/82 - RDA Director Dennis Anderson resigns. Audit reveals that Anderson reimbursed him- self for personal items from RDA funds. 4/9/82 - Navy audit listing numerous incidents of financial m ismanagemen t is turned over to the FBI. 5/6/82 - Salvager David Fassold presents list of 16 locations where tenants are living illegally on the Annex. 7/8/82 - Former Financial Director of RDA Michael Lowe arrested at the US border in Buffalo on charges of gran d theft and forgery. 11/18/82-Commissioner Heyman calls for RDA board to resign, then withdraws demand. 3/1/83 -Navy audit declares a "complete break- down in accounting and reporting, general mismanagement of inventories and subleases, separate and undisclosed bank accounts, false financial statements, even $2,000in improper Christmas bon uses. "As a result, $423,104.64 is owed to the Navy and to other governmen t agencies. As well, 63 pieces of furniture are missing from the Little White House and $41,000 in unpaid social security taxes are uncovered. AswomstatementfromJuneFasio,anRDA bookkeeper, asserts that the RDA kept 2 lists of subleases, one reported to the Navy, the second kept secret. 3/4/83 - Louis Signorelli files suit against the RDA for failure to release public records. 3/7/83 - RDA Director Deborah Antonucci resigns overissue of her ownership of a con- fiscated Mariel-lift boat, the Holiday II, sold to dockmaster Joe Farrel (aka Tony Fazio in possession of 2 social security n urn bers) for $10 thoughthe receipt says $2,592. Boat seized by Customs officials at Monroe Marina. Anna Stack appointed as new RDA Director. 7/19/84 - GSA sale price increased to $15.5 million for 71 acres. 7/22/83 - Steve McDaniel appointed new RDA Director saying that, though he resides outside the county, he had read all of the information published about the RDA activities over the years and considered the project "one of the finest and most ambitious projects" he has seen in a long time. 4/11/85 - RDA Board member Gus Mirzaoff sub- mits a list of24 criticisms of the lease agreement. 9/85 - RDA attorney Robert Feldman resigns. continuedon page 82 'Si 44 45 THE REACH The most splendidly luxurious and stunningly beautiful beach resort south of Hudson Bay on the smoothest, whitest and only natural beach on Key West White on peach, Victorian gingerbread, its own library, a health club, afternoon tea in the lobby lounge . . . French tile floors, Indian dhurrie rugs, Japanese kimonos . . . An orchestration of the sounds, images, tastes and textures of Key West To indulge your senses. Emmas From 7 A.M. t i l 10;30 P.M. The mood is azure blue and sunny yellow reflecting the sun and the sea. The fare is tropical, spicy and exotic. The new power breakfast spot from 7 to noon. Breakfast at Emma's has more gusto weekdays than any Sunday brunch in town. A langurous luncheon outdoors on the sunshiny deck or view the Atlantic from the coolness of the room itself. Dinner by flickering candlelight inside or out Romy's Wonderful Fish Muddle, Black Bean Cakes with Green Salsa and Spicy Chicken over Deep-fried Noodles. From10s30 PJL t i l . . . The mysterious mood after dark on the terrace at Emma's flows from the relentless motion and vastness of the sea. Inside there's live music from 10:30 'til after 2 every night but Monday. Back from their European tour, it's Leisuremania, Key West's most popular group playing their own brand of jazz fusion- through April. The late night supper menu only begins with burgers. How about Walnut Chicken Fingers with Szechuan Sauce or Sweet and Spicy Chicken Salad with Fresh Pineapple at the bar at a quarter to two. CELEbKATlON|-| The serenely elegant New American cuisine restaurant that sets a new mood of sophistication in Key West Fare that combines freshness, creativity and spectacular presentation. Soft brown leather, white marble and mahogany, Celebration looks out through French doors across abroad terrace suspended above the sea. With lacy, moonlit gazebos that are intimate private dining rooms. Makes every occasion a celebration. A WYNDHAM RESORT Simonton at the Ocean Key West Florida 296-5000, for reservations Sit at the edge of the Atlantic on a pier stretching toward Havana. Unwind with the tradewinds at your back arid the dazzling Key West sunset over the bartender's shoulder. Frozen Margaritas with fresh lime and Rum Runners, a Keys concoction, keep you company. This may not be the end of the world, but you sure can see it from here. Open from 10 a.m. until sunset NIGHTFALL What would you call an island bar on a fourth floor terrace with a 180° panorama of the ocean, the city and the bay? The breeziest, highest and most romantic place to watch the sun disappear. How about "Nightfall"? Secluded and remote, but under a canopy as high and wide as the heavens^ NIGHTFALL is the sunset bar overlooking the world from The Reach. There's live music and dancing by starlight after nightfall. Special Reach food too! J ' ' H 46 rcj3 KYUSHU # 9 2 1 TRUMAN AVENUE, KEY WEST 294-2995 Best Wishes on your 10th Anniversary LOBSTER HOUSE Reservations 294-15O0 at the foot of Slmonton Street 47 MOE'S-MORE THAN JUST HAIRCARE • Celebrating our 35th year * BEST WISHES TO BILL HUCKEL AND SOLARES HILL ON THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY HAIR STYLING STAGE LIGHT COSMETICS TIMEX WATCHES SUNTAN PRODUCTS PERMS AND COLORING REDKEN ROFFLER NEXUS MOFS HAIR CARE CENTER 294-9728 607DUVALST: 294-5357 Dine on the Ocean a t SOUTH BEACH ALL YOU CAN EAT DINNER BUFFET — 5-9 PM — "H A CHOICE OF LOCAL FSH ••BABY BACK RIBS CHiC^H\ rUM SERVING KEY WEST FOR OVER 45 YEARS ACE HARDWARE SCEY 1MEST TO i§G PIME KEY 296-9091 120 Simonton St. Mon.-Fri. 7 AM - 5 PM Sat. 7 AM. - noon CO LA LA Our La Te Da lady went to Paris. She fell in love! When asked to describe her experience, all she.could say was: O O LA LA! We got the message. We changed the name. La Te Da became OO LA LA! The same great fragrance . . . same design . . .same package. Only now you say OO LA LA! There . . . don't you see? We say it better: OO LA LA! 4 524 Front St., Key West, FL/ph. 294-5592 Lab—540 Greene St. When in Key West, watch our lab at work! 51 50 CHEAP ROOMS Day Week Month | TV - AC ) Off-Street \ Parking i The TILTQN HILTON 511 ANGELA ST. 294-8697 NIGHTLY POST TIME 8:00 P.M. THRU APRIL 19 SATURDAY MATINEE 1:15 P.M. KEY WEST KENNEL CLUB ''Southernmost Track in the U.S.A." Slock Island Phone:294-9517 43 YEARS IN KEY WEST FRANK & HONEST MADELINE TSyCHIC 305 294-3558 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Past, Present Madeline Williams, and Future Clairvoyant 9-5 MONDAY THRU FRIDAY SATURDAY BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT 1411-A FIRST STREET KEY WEST, FLORIDA t NOTES & ANTIC-DOTES by Dorothy Raymer T he legend of Prince Charming—in reverse—is the story of Julius F. Stone Jr., a brilliant man whose luster became tarnished as he pro- gressed toward a career of power and acquisition of money. He was a native of Ohio, where his father was a wealthy man and a director of the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio. In fact, my Mas- ter's Degree diploma from Ohio State was signed by Julius F. Stone, Sr. Young Stone left his home state and furthered his education at Harvard University, where he received a doctorate in organic chemistry in 1926. Fourteen years later, in 1940, he earned a law degree there after three years of study, according to a top echelon writer, the late Richard Rovere, who produced an article of Key West and Stone appeared in TheNewYorkermagazine, December 15,1951. Stone had been a millionaire back in the Coolidge era when he ventured into the stock market. Came the crash of 1929, and he had lost his first fortune. But he wa not at aloss for a job. He became a talented administrator in New York State, doing social welfare work under Harry Hopkins. This link ultimately forged Stone's career in Key West, since Hopkins became one of President Franklin Roosevelt's chiefs. Eleanor Roosevelt, also a friend of Hopkins and of Stone through her profound interest in social welfare, very likely had great influence in Stone's appoint- ment, via Hopkins, as director of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (F.E.R.A.) for all of the Southeastern United States, including Florida, Puerto Rico, and Caribbean possessions, such as the Virgin Islands. The tremendously important assignment was made in 1933, and in 1934 Stone came to Key West to survey his territory and decide what could be done for the island, which was virtually bank- rupt as far as the city government was concerned. Nearly everyone was on relief, with only a few wealthier citizens free of debt, if not of worry. A staff of 11 FERA workers was established in Key West. Although Stone spent much of his time.and effort here he also had duties elsewhere in the vast project, and assistance was needed. He applied his energy and expertise through 1934 and 1935, and achieved a general cleanup of the town, which had streets piled high with uncollected garbage. He established a WPA div- ision, bringing artists to the island, among them Bill Hoffman, who still lives ftere. He got people to paint their homes and fix up property, with the f&fr Florida's Keys Finest Since 1940 B€RCHCOM66R J € UJ € L € R S OFFERING Fine Jewelry China, Giftware and Custom Designs Key Haia Shopping Center 296-5311 BOGA GHICABAR aim of making Key West a resort town that could cash in on its natural attraction as a tourist mecca. One of the amusing asides of Stone's efforts was his attempted introduction of wearing shorts, as was done in the Bahamas and the Bermudas. He set a personal example of donning the abbre- viated sportswear, but as far as Conchs were con- cerned, the innovation was laughable. For exam- ple, as told by Walter Norman in his book Nicknames and Conch Tales (reviewed in the November issue of Solares Hill), one of the Volunteer Work Corps laborers appeared on the job in his underdrawers. Declared he, "If Julius Stone can come to work in his underwear, so can I!" The local nickname for Stone, by the way, was "Kingfish," after the enterprising character on the popular radio show of the times, "Amos and Andy." Bold methods furthered the administrator's success in putting Key West back on its financial feet. He declared the island was "in the existence of a state of emergency." He ignored standard procedures for a system that was at least on the fringe of being illegal. He confessed to writer Rovere that he used FERA funds to subsidize air service to Key West and to get the Casa Marina Hotel back in operation. This, and the fact that he risked government funds, should have been clear indication of Stone's later ruthless methods in manipulating other peoples' money. But at the moment there was only a brightening on the horizon of Key West's future. Stone seemed to be a modern knight in impregnable armor. The front cover of Florida Motorist for October 1934 features Stone's photo along with that of President Roosevelt and Dave Sholtz, Governor of Florida. That year he was approaching middle age. He appears as a handsome sophisticate, with black mustache, slightly receding hairline over a deep and broad forehead. He looks alert and con- fident and is posed with significance, holding a pen over a sheet of paper. Indeed, his most quoted saying was, "With a stroke of the pen I can give it to you—and with the stroke of a pen, I can take it away." In following decades, he was to do just that! The motorist magazine complimented Stone and his staff on rehabilitation of Key West and Monroe County. The editorial page carried a drawing of a rainbow arched over the letters "F.E.R.A." and Governer Sholtz's comment, "The Dawn of a New Era." A declaration by Stone stated visitors to the island were welcome, but that the FERA would prefer that they would not come at all, unless prepared to spend at least three full days. "A shorter trip'would be unfair to the visitor and to Key West," he emphasized. Endorsements of the plan were made by prom- inent citizens and businessmen, including Wil- liam A. Freeman, Allan B. Cleare, A. Villate, Paul Lumley, and Porter-Allen Insurance Company. This was a challenging policy, but one which was successful." The parade of tourists began to increase. Good publicity lifted the gloom which had beset the Keys in general, and by the time Stone departed irt 1935 to engage in WPA "trouble- shooting" elsewhere, realization of his vision was shaping into reality. After two years more in government service, Stone enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1937. He was graduated in 1940 and returned to the scene of his FERA triumphs. He set up his law practice here and became a real estate dealer and' an investment expert, and in a short period he was a leading citizen. During one period, after becoming a member of the Florida Bar, Stone was in partnership with attorney W. Curry Harris. When World War II came along, Harris joined the military service. After the war was over, he returned only to dis- cover that his former law practice was non- existent. It had been absorbed by his erstwhile partner. There was, of course, estrangement and a bitter residue for some time. Harris, however, reestab- lished himself and became a prominent attorney all over again, with a specialty in town property and deeds. He retired to Sarasota just recently. Skipping back to the early days of the "Stone Age," as it might be dubbed, Stone formed an association with a lawyer from Jacksonville, Dine Beakes. They purchased part of Boca Chica Beach from Luther Pinder and planned a home division. The pair managed to get an okay from Stone's friend, Governor Sholtz, permitting the tearing down of the old Boca Chica bridge. This happened in 1947, and there was a protest by local people. The beach homes hope did not materialize, but Stone did organize another hous- ing development off Rest Beach, and with reputa- ble backing and solid partners the subdivision prospered. , Loans were easily obtainable through Stone's office at an exorbitant rate of interest—12 per- cent. A banker explained that, since this was outside the recognized limit, a way around the difficulty was devised. The trick was to borrow say $10,000. But the borrower actually received only $8,800. A clever attorney, as well as a sharp business- man, Stone's status in the community was increased by his legal prowess. He was the defense counsel, for instance, in the sensational 1949 Weavermurder case, wherein a woman shot her husband 11 times and went free on a verdict of "justifiable homicide." He was attorney for Aerovias Q, the Cuban airline that operated between here and Havana, and he sold stock in it, as well. He represented a gas company and a grocery market, among other businesses. He doubled in these through invest- ment guidance. This meant extra legal fees for advice and for legal services rendered, not to mention the investment procedure itself. The list of clients in intermeshing interests is too long to report in full, but here is one personal example: In 1949, I bought the gift section of Sou- thernmost Flowers and Gifts, then at 616 Duval Street. The shop owner was Norval Reed, and Stone was his lawyer as well as becoming mine. Eventually, when Reed left Key West for Miami, he sold the flower shop department to my mother, Lila (Mrs. Earle) Raymer, a widow, and Stone handled that transaction, too! We all paid fat fees for Stone's multi-faceted work. In 1951, circumstances beyond control (too complicated to go into here, including a death in the family and my mother's return to Pennsylva- nia), cropped up. At that point, the financial drain for extra help, building repairs, a rebuilt refrigera- tor for the florist trade, and so on, was too much to sustain without going into debt. A new potential client with money to spend wanted to buy the business. Stone put on pres- sure, and we had to cut our losses and sell at a m^-^-%. Peacocks at 20% off! From the tiniest to the tallest, thtv're all on salt- this month. Prettify a corner or use Mhem as di'nin^chairs for all-out C isablanca.ffiRfflRft.fev ^ *.»At't.'V.i.i|lli..i.V...A 1 :" * "^S.* 1 *** Open 7 days • 520 Front Street, across from the Pier House • 296-3343 or 294-5050 53 52 CASH REGISTERS SALES * SERVICE • SUPPLIES UEM1 * LEASE From basic cash registers to complete computer- linked systems for: Restaurant S. Lounges Hotels & Motels S. General Retail FOR INFORMATION CALL OASH HE@!STEH CO. 296-6698 1100 TRUMAN AVENUE ESwecSa international Litton discount. Abanking official informed me later that it was Stone's habit to take advantage of demand notes and to bring about foreclosure on very short notice, not giving a chance for time adjustment. And so it was with many other persons and businesses. Administration of estates was another field which led to Stone's benefit. In one case, the young man who inherited his father's estate found out that it "had been administered out of existence," as his uncle told me. A curious case came to light in August 1955, when the Public Gas Company was sued by the Keys Bottled Gas Company, doing business as the Keys Propane Gas and Marathon Gas concern. A bill of complaint was filed by Julius Stone, as attorney for the latter. He was also a promoter and had gotten various people to invest in the gas corporation. In the complaint, Stone alleged that former employees of the People's Gas firm had taken records and documents when they shifted com- panies. He claimed the Public Gas concern refused to return the documents and asked Cir- cuit Court to enjoin the Public Gas Company from "tampering with tanks and damaging bottled gas installations." But Judge Pat Cannon of Miami denied the injunction and pronounced that the suit failed to prove all the charges. The resulting "scandal" was a discredit to Stone, and more than one person lost invested money. When the Stones bought the former dwelling if novelist Thelma Strabel, who wrote Reap the Wild Wind, claim was made that the residence was the true Southernmost House, and that geo- graphically, the mansion now owned by Hilario Ramos, Sr., was the "Southernmost" in name only. Ramos Jr., known as "Charlie," hinted the actual survey was never made. He also said that Stone admitted he designated his abode on South Street, near the corner of Whitehead, as the genuine Southernmost house simply for "com- mercial enhancement." The hassle disrupted a friendship between the Ramos family and Stone for a while. Stone and his attractive wife, Lee, whose first name was actually Lucille, had become part of the upper social structure of the town, and they acquired many friends, which of course aided Stone in his monetary ventures. He was president of the Key West Art and Historical Society along about 1953-1954, and he became a director of the Florida First National Bank. Stone juggled all of his diversified financial schemes with a wily skill for more than a decade, reputable bank official noted that Julius Stone kept his various investments extremely secret, and no one but he knew exactly what was being transacted. Ultimately, his wizardly juggling of a wide range of business interests and investments became too complicated. He began to lose control of the precarious balance system. In short, money acquired for one thing was put into something entirely different, and some investors sustained losses. In a number of cases invested funds disap- peared entirely. Lillian Lopez, widow of thelate Judge Aquilino Lopez, who was so closely associated with Stone for a long period in early years, said that her husband's law practice was separate from Stone's, and that although they were together for some- time in real estate, Stone and Lopez broke off business relations and severed even friendship when it was revealed that Stone was engaged in suspicious financial activity. "My husband was upset and decided that Julius was too much of a dealer," Lillian Lopez said. "He became a judge and was a dedicated man in judiciary matters, while Stone continued to mix law and investment involvements." The roster of "victims" lengthened. Among the losers were Frances Edwards, who operated the Banana Tree Grill; Ruth Alfeld, who owned a trailer park and bought the Flame Restaurant; Gertrude Ricketts, who operated a private school (she later married Cmdr. Ray Byrns); Ethel Decker, a crippled florist who got caught up through mortgaged property in Mexico; and Dr. Aubrey Hamilton and his wife, Belle. Stone was fno! ISLAND I N T E R N A INC, APRIL LUCKY 13 PRIZE PARTY Sea Fox Lounge Sun. April 13 5:00 - 8:30 pm foci! foci! CLUB foo! fool T I O N A L Annual Membership $40. P.O. Box 4250 Key West, FL 33041 296-3280 O O THE f GO! CARD Saves you money, not costs you compound interest, every time you use it, wherever you see the sign of the friendly seahorse. A SOFT TOUCH.. .ALAMO RENT A CAR. . .ARISTOS GALLERY ... BAGATELLE...BAY POINT INN... BE-BQP-A-LULA. . .THE BIRD NEST...BLANCA ROSA. ..BLUE LAGOON RESTAURANT & PUB. . . BODIES BY BODY...BOTTLE' CAP LOUNGE & LIQUOR LOCKER...BUBBA'S BIKE RENTAL...CAPT.' 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TOM'S MOM'S CHEESE' & WINE SHOP...TREASURE SALVORS...TROPICAL RENT A CAR...TWIG'S ITALIAN RISTORAN.TE. . .VOYAGER LOUNGE .. .WAGS ••• (Pi) o ( y i • ' ' • • • . • . . . " • • • - to? to? loco! ioo? loo? loco! focol face! godfather to the Hamilton's children, but even this togetherness was violated when Stone de- manded several thousand dollars more than Hamilton had put into the building of a semi- supermarket. Sometime, somewhere, along in this mid- 1950s chronicle of wheeler-dealer expansiveness, two widows fell prey to the complicated designs of Stone's financial intrigue, and the attention of federal authorities was brought to bear on the situation. As far back as 1955, the Stones erected a new home at Trinidad, Cuba, and numerous friends from Key West were invited to inspect it, includ- ing Adeline and P. J. Ross, Lillian and Aquilino Lopez, and Burt and Betty Garnett, to name a few. So it was no secret that the Stones intended to establish another residence out of the country. Despite the revolution in Cuba, the Stones went ahead with plans to leave the United States. They liquidated holdings here and began moving possessions to Trinidad. Fidel Castro took over Cuba on January 1, 1959, marching into Havana, and at first his triumph was met with approval by sympathizers here. In the summer of 1959, Stone was still a direc- tor at Florida First National. His picture was published in The Key West Citizen on July 1, 1959, as a member of the Grievance Committee. Ironically this group was set up by the Florida Bar to watch over the legal ethics of lawyers in the organization. Meantime, bank officials began to ease Stone out of his bank directorship, and, although it can't be verified, due to a governmental policy Stone's business adventures, or rather misadven- tures, continued 1» be probed. I spoke with at least 20 Key West people, and all of them agreed that he was on a "wanted" list and seriously in debt. - Charlie Ramos had a note from Stone, dated September 12,1959, in which Stone wrote that he and his wife were busy packing in preparation for the move to Cuba. Lee Stone went back and forth, supposedly on Aerovias Q missions and once to pick up valuables which belonged to Oscar Morales, Cuban Consul in Key West. But Lee was also transferring per- sonal property, documents and funds. Now for the final severance move, and Julius Stone's method of evasion by making restitution of any debts or taxes. He arranged secret contact with Old Island Realty Company for transfer of the deed to his home on South Street. His wife went to the consulate's office in Havana, where Consul Wayne Gilchrist executed the deed for the property for which Lucille (Lee) Stone signed January 19, 1960. The stamp value was duly registered later and was recorded as $45,000. The house was pur- chased from the Stones by Granville and Evelyn Smith, of 1120 Von Phister Street. The warranty deed was signed "Julius F. Stone, Jr.," but no address was given for him. Shortly after the official registration of the sale in the Monroe County Courthouse, Stone flew to Key West in a small plane and landed at the Key West International Airport. The popular version is that he did not leave the plane at all, and that the exchange of the deed for a prescribed sum of money took place aboard the plane. The late Aileen Williams of Old Island Realty was the courier. . However, Stone DID leave the plane, and DID Mexican Food & Cocktails Open 12-12 Monday - Saturday 1-12 Sundays . 5O9'/2 Duval 294-9215 set foot in Key West. First of all, he was seen off the plane and at the airport here by Anne (Mrs. Guy) Carleton. She says he did not speak to her but turned around and vanished in the terminal. Secondly, Mrs. Aquilino Lopez asserts that the plane sustained mechanical trouble, and Stone was obliged to stop overnight at a motel. He did notify the judge and his wife of the sale of the house on South Street. He took off the next day as soon as possible, flying out of Key West for the last time. He was in possession of the purchase money. The plane may have been the one he owned privately, which was flown by a special'pilot. During a summer vacation in the very early 1960s, Chief Photographer of The Key West Citi- zen, Don Pinder, went to Nassau in the Bahamas. It was known then that Stone, if not an actual fugitive, was being investigated for his fast Featuring Native Seafood & Prime Beef. Daily Specials. AND The Raw Bar The Raw Bar offers a complete lunch menu and specials daily... in a more casual atmosphere. RAW BAR 1130-5:00 LOUNGE HAPPY HOUR 3:00 • 6:00 DINNER 6:00-11:00 294-9343 Reservations Suggested Overlooking the water at Garrison Bight Marina. showFisher g a treasure to behold" Treasure ' Certified 1715 Mounted Silver Coins - $290 each • 18-K Gold Toothpicks, $90 to $95 each AND MORE... IP 1 Certified Gold Chains from the Margarita > Gold and Silver Coins 1 Various Artifacts > Musket & Cannon Balls • T-Shirts , » Treasure Hunting Book liS'W FKEE ADMISSION TO THE GIFT SHOP 200 Greene Street, Key West, FL 33040 - (305) 296-9936 Admission: $5 / Children $1 ^ * # ^ ion admission to exhibit J i iwith this coupon 54 "deals." Pinder met Stone on Bay Street, Nassau, and they had a drink together in a bar. Stone said then he was temporarily living on one of the out islands of the Bahamas. He did not disclose the exact location. The relationship between the Castro govern- ment and the United States became more troubled, and, as 1960 advanced, Americans were in disfa- vor in Havana. Trinidad, as an outskirt locality, was considered dangerous, so the Stones left for the comparative safety of the capital. There they operated an antique furniture store on the famed Prado of Havana, but only for a short time. They retreated to Jamaica, where Lee died in 1963. She had been abeautiful woman, notedforher charm. The day I met her, she was wearing brightly colored ribbons braided into her hair, COME VISIT S. BROWSE THE FLEA MARKET SHOP 730 Duval (corner Petronia], Key West 10 am to 6 p.m. daily Mexican style, and impressed me with her genuine warmth of personality. There is a gap in the history of the Stones following Lee's demise in 1963. Little or nothing is known of his maneuvers between then and May 1965. It was then that Anne Carleton once more, unexpectedly, encountered the ex-patriate. She was getting ready for a coach tour to Scot- land and was standing in line at the American Express in London, England, when she saw Stone. They renewed acquaintances, and he told her that he had been married just the day before to Christine Beakes. The very attractive Christine, widow of Dine Beakes, former law partner of Stone's in years past, was known as the Hibiscus lady, because of the blossoms she wore in her hair. She lived in a house on the waterfront during World War II and Records used Goods Old Bottles Collectables Toys JOSE MARTI, LIBERATOR OF CUBA LIVED IN THIS HISTORIC BUILDING. used Book Exchange Shells Hardware Hand Tools Shell Jewelry 27 YEARS IN KEY WEST B. 1—« CLEANERS &§-« AND I L A U N D R Y 1OO1 Truman Avenue Telephone: 294-1818 was at one time suspected of being an enemy spy. This rumor was unconfirmed and was denied by people who knew her well. But, as usual, this island was a hotbed of gossip, and Christine never did live down the suspicion. The newly marrieds were staying with an aris- tocratic English friend, and they were leaving the next day for Spain. Anne told Julius she wanted to speak with her old friend, Christine, and he gave her the telephone number. After a conversation with the bride, Anne went on her tour and the Stones to their new destination. There the communication ceased. Hilarios Ramos, Sr., said that the Stones lived in Spain proper for a time, then took up residence on Majorca, a resort island off the Spanish coast. Within the next two years, wanderlust, per- haps compulsory, took over again, and Stone, presumably accompanied by his second wife, tra- velled on toward the East. The aimed-for destina- tion is not known, for in 1967 Julius F. Stone, Jr., died in Australia. Details of Stone's death are vague. It was said that he died of a heart attack. The news did not reach Key West until he had been dead for a long time. His only child, a daughter named Julia, who was graduated from Bennington, married twice, and her whereabouts at present are unknown. And so ends the Prince Charming saga, on the other side of the world, far from Stone's home- land, like the central character in the story, Man Without A Country. Reprint Solares Hill, December 1979 55 BEST WISHES TO SOLARES HILL ON THEIR IQTH ANNIVERSARY "FINEST LIVE ACTS IN THE SOUTHEAST NIGHTLY"APRIL SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Groove Monsters SUNDAY APRIL 2-4 Michael & John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Groove Monsters SUNDAY APRIL 2-4 Michael & John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Outfit 13 SUNDAY APRIL 2-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Outfit 20 SUNDAY APRIL 2-4 Michael & John 5-9 Geoff & Joel 10-2 T.B.A. 27 MONDAY 31 MARCH 12-4 T.B.A. 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Groove Monsters MONDAY APRIL 12-4 Michael & John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Groove Monsters MONDAY APRIL 12-4 Michael & John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Outfit 14 MONDAY APRIL 12-4 Michael &John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Outfit 21 MONDAY APRIL 12-4 Michael &John 5-9 Geoff & Joel 10-2 Fury 28 TUESDAY APRIL 12-4 Ken McGee 5-9 Michael& John 10-2 Groove Monsters TUESDAY APRIL 12-4 Michael & John 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Groove Monsters TUESDAY APRIL 12-4 Dan Mulberry 5-9 Michael& John 10-2 Outfit IS TUESDAY APRIL 12-4 Ken McGee 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Outfit TUESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Fury 29 WEDNESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michae! & John 10-2 Guitars & Drums WEDNESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Guitars & Drums WEDNESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Alkaphonics WEDNESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Alkaphonics 23 WEDNESDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Fury 30 THURSDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Guitars & Drums THURSDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Guitars & Drums 10 THURSDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Alkaphonics 17 THURSDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Alkaphonics 24 THURSDAY MAY 12-4 Ron & Mark 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Fury FRIDAY APRIL 2-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Michael & John 10-2 Guitars & Drums FRIDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Guitars & Drums FRIDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Alkaphonics 18 FRIDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Feils Point 10-2 Alkaphonics 25 FRIDAY MAY 12-4 Ron & Mark 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Fury SATURDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Guitars & Drums SATURDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Full Sail Band 10-2 Guitars & Drums 12 SATURDAY APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Alkaphonics SATURDAY 26 APRIL 12-4 Geoff & Joel 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Alkaphonics Special Coup d'Etat Party, Conch Republic Days Celebration SATURDAY MAY 12-4 Ron & Mark 5-9 Fells Point 10-2 Fury 3/30-4/1, 4/M/8 Groove Monsters Five veteran musicians who have appeared with giants fike T-Bone Walker, |ohn Lee Hooker, Chuck Beny & the Allrran brothers. Together'they're an incredible force of rock S blues. 4/2-4/5. 4/9-4/12 Guitars & Dfums: One of Sloppy Joe's most popular bands. High-octane power rock S roll. 4JI3-4H5, 4/20-4/22 O u t f i t Top 40 & golden oldies. Rock & roll with a hot sax. 4/16-4/19, 4/23-4/26 Alkaphonics: Blitering R&B, shake-down rock, soul & Motown. Incredible song list & wailing sax. Mlli Special Event N igh t with the Fabulous Alkaphonics when Sloppy Joe's hosts their own Conch Republic Days Celebration. Coup d'Etat Night at Sloppy's, the bar will be transformed into a M.A.S.H. unit & everyone receives dog tags (or the 4/28-5/3 Fury: Hi-energy rack with high-powered presentation and incredible visuals. i THE OUTSIDER DECADE by V.K.Gibson It occurs to me that Key West is now well into another major period in its history. We are living through what may be called the "Affluent Out- sider Decade." But, before I talk about that, please bear with me as I take a stroll down memory lane. What is the landmark decade of your life? At what time did you feel that all the world was young—or should be? Where were you then? The journey forward and away from such a time usually seems downhill, unless you are one of those very rare individuals who live mostly in the present. Recently I picked up a copy of Jack Kerouac's - testament of the "Beat Generation" of the 1950s, On The Road. On page twenty-two was an account of six or seven young men riding in the back of a pickup truck, eagerly moving across America and toward their destinies. At that point I had to put the book down, for I was overwhelmed by a painful sense of nostalgia. I examined these feelings and concluded that what I suffered was an acute sense of the naivete which saturated the young in On The Road. The young, it seems to me, always feel that they have the answers (or are the answers?) to age-old problems. They behave and talk as if they are the first generation to discover sex, social conscious- ness, idealism, and honesty. Now, I was six when Mr. Kerouac's book came out and the Beat Generation meant nothing to me. Why do I feel nostalgic about it? And the 1960s, which I did pass through as a teenager, meant even less to me than the previous decade. Yet, I find myself looking back on the 1960s with fondness. It now seems to be "my" decade. To my amazement I even suffer a mounting affection for rock music, which I disdained it its golden years, Bob Dylan seems very important to me, now, in ways which would have been laughable (were laughable) twenty years ago. It disturbs me to think that I came of age during one of the most important decades of this century and that I passed through that time totally indifferent to the human quakes which rocked the world. True, I watched the evening news each night. The bloody pageant of Viet Nam slid past at suppertime and, later in the decade, college kids threw their bodies in front of the great machinery of government which was, the young knew, run by a bunch of old fossils who had lost contact with life itself. I watched it all, very aware of the dynamics, but was engrossed in other matters. Perhaps I was never really young. That period of American history is far enough distanced that I can filter out the nasty little details which, at that time, caused me to turn away. History is not so much an act of record as a process of editing. It's fun to watch an academic leap from the top ropes of the historical arena, onto the face of an opponent. It's all done with words, terribly boring words for the most part, but the effect is the same. But academe does not control all the slices of the historical pie. We all edit the past. It is with considerable effort that I recall that the "flower children" of the 1960s were a mixed blessing. They were, many of them, dirty, scatter-brained leaners sponging off a society which they scorned. Yet, I feel a great psychic pressure which compels me to regard them as noble savages who rebelled against many sicknesses prevalent in society. I do not enjoy realizing that these people are now well into middle age, and prefer not to think of the compromises they have inev- itably made. All of us lay claim to various domains of the past. They are histories which span individual lifetimes, memories both accurate and expe- dient. The backward visions of the old some- times mesh with the forward rush of young adults, and sometimes the young infect their elders with their own sweet conceits. This happens most often in the tightly knitted webs of families, and in isolated and compressed communities like Key West. II. I like to call Key West a "terrarium society." People are effectively contained, and thrive or perish in the moist environment of the sub- tropics. All of us sail to the future in the same leaky jar. i Yes, we still offer... (no monthly sen/ice charge & no minimum balance!) CHECKIN Most banks make this offer only when you maintain a minimum balance in your checking account. If your balance goes below that minimum, you must pay a service charge. At The Marine Bank FREE CHECKING is ABSOLUTELY FREE. You do pay for the printing of personal- ized checks if you want them, but never for writing checks. And with a 24 HOUR GENIE CARD you have access to your checking account anytime and almost anywhere. At The Marine Bank when we say FREE CHECKING we mean it— no service charge, no minimum balance, and ... Just a personal service from The Personal Bankers! OF MONROE COUNTY Key Largo 451-2012/664-5507 MEMBER OF: Plantation Key 852-4500/664-8105 Marathon Shores 743-7300 Marathon 743-2231 Big Pine Key 872-2237 Summerland -.745-2739 Key West 294-9593/872-4197 ANDHOME OF: 10O% FFtEE CHECKING Watch For Us Soon On Simmerlantfl 56 This island's history had an abrupt begin- ning, Its past is like the mouldering layers of the terrarium, and its roots do not merely wind down into receding time but sometimes cur! up from the hard bottom of the Key West beginning and emerge into the present. Our local history, as with the greater world, seems to be conveniently segmented into dec- ades Each ten-year period can more or less be defined by a major event or shift irs regional conditions. It's easy to spotlight some ot the plateaus: The gay influx which sparked much of the revitalization and face-lifting ongoing today; the period of depression following the pull-out of the Navy; the massive Navy presence during the war; the Great Depression of the 30s; the brief boom after the Overseas Highway was built; the destruction of the Overseas Railroad and the subsequent local slump . . on and on. As we go back in time, however, decades seem to begin to melt together 1 suspect that this is the myopic effect of hindsight, and that the decade format holds true throughout the history of Key West. III. But back to the Affluent Outsiders. Being a relative newcomer myself, it behooves me to say that some are a positive force. I am not so much concerned with the fairly young tor young thinking) individuals who continue to arrive, as with the middle-aged, retired upper-middle- class and rich who come here to finish their lives in balmy comfort. It's fascinating to observe the effects of wealth flowing briskly into a closed-end com- munity. It's rather like a physical obstruction where diamonds take the place of kidney stones. The inflation of real-estate prices is the most glaring effect, but there are others which are far more important. When the affluent class, tourist and resident, take over a place they set powerful forces into motion. Today, with the process far along here, a hurricane would slow it down bu? «' wouid take another Great Depression to stop and reverse it. One of the symptoms is always "His- torical Preservation." which mean.*; nothing more, in this context, that the pickling of his- tory and the ascendancy of pastry chef esthetics. It would be interesting to ask some of the oldest residents of Key West, who recall when most of the houses were unpainted, whai; they think of the present vogue for beige and paste! colors. So much for "history." Is this so bad? Change is inevitable, and Key West has weathered much of it. It's hard to imagine what may come after the Outsider Decade. It may very weli last: longer than ten years. Twenty? A lifetime? that these birds must eventually dirty the nest enough that they'll sniff and fly off to other roosts, leaving behind pate de fois gras as the official local food, And there is another factor which may pror long the metamorphosis for many years to come. If the new Executive Director of the Monroe County Fine Arts Council succeeds in establish- ing a major international arts festival here in Key West, then the fat lady will not only s i n g - she'11 probably live in the cottage down the lane The flood of the affluent will have the same, eventual effect of driving out tht home-bred young, and the old-timers, who will not be able to afford the country-club version of paradise. Impotent but well-meaning gestures such as the fairy tale of "low cost housing," will doubt- less be attempted for low income citizens I predict that any such housing will end up in the hands of the middle class, and not the poor The only exception, a major one, will be shabby rentaf units, probably built on Stock island (real-estate speculators take note!;, for the many waiters, maids, and other service personnel which will be considered essential to the good life Only those Conch* who prove clever and enterprising wili continue to live in dignity anc- comfort But most of the Conchs who have become rich have done so by being of service to the very elements which will, within the decade, transform this town from a place where the young get aboard life, to one in which the Afflu- ent Outsiders ride comfortably to the end. of life and get off They will make merry in their gussied-up houses and the social page will become the most important section of the newspaper. These peo- ple bring their own histories with them, golden decades which have nothing to do with Key West And as they die their remains will be shipped back to where they came from Hycon to all extents and purposes; buried White Street Gallery the second week of Vaughan Gibson's show We became not only- inaccessible but also unbreathabie to the point that we were forced to go the by-appointment- only route for a week. Luckily the show was a confirmed success before this interruption On the ! Oth ot this month there will be the usuai bash, tor our French painter Gregogna, a lyric- abstractionist tmy term) including his Mediter- ranean grafitti series. On the invitation he is painting a halt-mile of rock jetty, an act which put him in jail and for which he has only recently been pardoned and5 commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to continue. „ 57 half shell Masterchaige Visa American Express fish market Best Wishes On Your 10th Anniversary FRESH FISH, LOBSTER, SHRIMP, STONE CRABS, CLAMS & OYSTERS • BEER 8c WINE MONDAY - SATURDAY .', 9 - 6 SUNDAY 12.-6" WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. LANDS END VILLAGE FOOT OF MARGARET ST. WHOLESALE • RETAIL • 294-5O28 erve m SD e Pluck is the essential in- gredient that separates Sol- ares HUHrom all other publi- cations in Key West. For 10 years now, Soiares Hill has gone about the business of. reporting on Key West with a peculiar jauntiness, a nettlesome curiosity and an obvi- L ous affection for its subject. But its purpose has been larger than just to report facts and enter- tain with graceful fictions. Soiares H///tries to tell the truth. The truth, as it pre- sents it, may sometimes be argued, but it is nevertheless the honest truth, as fo- cused and fretted over by founder and editor Bill Huckel. So/ares Hill is fully grown now. It is no longer an oddity. It is a real newspaper with its own purpose, its own personality, its steadfast readers and its loyal adver- tisers.resolve So, Happy Birthday, Soiares Hill! — YOUR STEADFAST READERS & LOYAL ADVERTISERS AT b e a c h ADVERTISING 58 EARLY DIMMER STIR TRY Served 5:30 until 7:00. Monday thru lrid.i_\ CHICKEN, BEEF Otf-PORK STIR PKtCD Wl Til .AM ASSORTMENT OF'STRAW MUSHROOMS. SNO PEAS, BROCCOLI, CARROTS, riiANIJTS, SCALLIOMS, SPROUTS AND OTHER CUKKtN I I I AVAILABLE FRESH VEGETABLES. SERVED WITH SALAD AND FRIED RICE $ 7 . 9 5 SHRIMP STIR TRIED AS ABOVE $8.95 tvt USE no ns<; Champagne and Wine available to complement 1990 N. ROOSEVELT. 294-2180 WATERFRONT CAMPGROUND & TRAILER PARK IN DOWNTOWN KEY WEST rA.MPt . I'.'Slr. 10 11(11 Ui'.vri AlIRftlllONS - MtjBU.t HOMfc A P i f t l M i M U T U l i t RSNI i l . - . l iMI '.'»(« MOIOR HO'.ll i I K A l l t H ; . ! l t S ' I L l L i HOOUK'S HOI SHUWfclft [ ) U M I " i U i l O H OLD TOWN BICYCLE RtNTALS . 223 ELIZABETH ST., (3O5> 294-5723 RESERVATIONS WELCOME *? THE CASA MARINA .Marnttlt*' K.-vU.-r W.-m i K ' C U H M i l s S M t - i - i u i i i l i r O n . i n . H i y W t - i . K I . l . i U I t i sends its conaratnlationsl KEY WEST Pirates Alley Key Wesi SEE QUALITY HAND-MADE CIGARS ROLLED DAILY we fill mail orders PIRATES ALLEY in historic OLD KEY WEST I Reprint Solares Hill, January 1979 SNOW JOKE by Amy Lee de Poo I here is something very appealing about the cool side of a house. Growing up in Key West is quite unique, if not for the location, then for the way houses must be built so close together because of the lack of space and for protection against hurricanes. The cool side of our house on Dey Street was always my favorite spot to play when I was six years old. If one faced the house from the street, then the small path on the left was the side that received only the morning sunshine, and for the rest of the day it would remain forever shaded, damp and mystically alluring. There were few large snow-on-the-mountain bushes growing there, the ones with the oval-shaped leaves with pure white blotches that looked exactly like real snow had fallen on them. For some strange reason, a particular kind of caterpillar—the inch worm—seemed to prefer these bushes and never set foot on the neighbor- ing aurelias, hibiscus or Turk's caps, a fact that always puzzled me as a child. I would capture these innocuous worms and make them start at the bottom of the snow-on-the-mountain bush and pretend they were climbing expeditions making their way up the Matterhorn or some other steep climb like Solares Hill or the Court- house steps. Along towards the back of the house there was a small spigot and table where my mother washed out the kitchen mop. It was here that I had the most fun pretending to cook and play house as most little girls do. I was quite the serious cook and very well behaved for such an energetic six year old! One Saturday morning in late spring I was, as usual, setting up my mock kitchen on the rick- ety little table, assembling whatever cast off pans and utensils my mother would give me and deciding what delicacy I could conjure up with the vegetation at hand. Having tired of the same old palm-frond salad and marl soup with papaya blossoms, I decided to scout around the kitchen and see if there might be something lying around that would lend a little authenticity to my scheduled grand dessert. i 1 European Resort Wear 721 DUVAL STREET KEY WEST My mother was always busy painting in the morning, so I had a pretty easy time of taking what I wanted without having to explain to her my needs or intentions. As it happened, there was no cornmeal or sugar lying about, which would have pretty well sufficed as an exotic addition to any recipe. But there on the counter was a large, brand new bottle of Ivory Liquid Dishwashing Soap. Knowing how much lather could be worked up from just a plain old bar of Ivory, I immediately deduced that a frothy sub- stitute for whipped cream could be made with the help of an eggbeater. How luscious that would look on a pine cone cake! First making sure my mother was hard at work with at least two paint brushes in her mouth and a few in her hand (being the consid- erate child that I was) I grabbed the bottle of Ivory, the egg beater and a small, deep bowl and returned to my kitchen, wild with anticipation of the incipient culinary glory. I squeezed about a quarter of a cup into the bowl and looked at it for a moment. Oh heck, I thought, just a dab more, and with that, gave a good long healthy squeeze. I began to vigor- ously beat the contents of the bowl and to my unmitigated ecstasy the Ivory Liquid began to transform into the purest, creamiest, whitest, fluffiest concoction this side of Howard John- KEY WEST FLORIST 294^5501. Keq Plaza Shopping Center (Formerly Dennis Florist) C f " J , I' 5- I Y son's. It was more than my frail heart could stand! While I was standing in deep rapture at the sight of this marvelous creation I noticed a pounding noise coming from the bricks in front of the house. That could only mean one thing— my younger sister Martha was driving nails again. Imagine, occupying yourself for hours with just a hammer and a box of penny nails. Well, being a most charitable person at heart, and wanting to share my new discovery with her, I walked out to the front bricks to invite her to my kitchen. "Say, Martha, how would you like to see what I just made?" "Nope." "Listen, you won't believe it. Come quick." "Nope." (She never was big on conversation.) I continued, "Come on girl, this is your chance in a lifetime. Put down that hammer and come with me. I've got to show you something." "No. I'm busy." Well, at this moment, I just can't say what possessed me to do this, but, as I recall, the frustration of such a blanket rejection must have gotten the better of my Christian soul. "Martha, you'll never guess what Belle just brought over! (Belle is our grandmother.) A whole bowl of whipped cream!" Martha stopped hammering and looked up. Her dirty chin was set, but I could see a glimmer of interest in her eyes, food being her other preoc- cupation. I began to get into the spirit of it now. "That's right, she made strawberry shortcake last night and had all this whipped cream left over and decided to give it to us. Isn't that great?" Martha put the"1 hammer down and started to get up. I helped her, since her grimy underwear were always loose and falling down, which made moving with any swiftness out of the question. "Well," she said, "let me see it." This is when I led my dear gullible little sister down the garden path, so to speak. I hurried in front of her, the bushes hitting me in the face as my mind; much less did I have the actual gall to do something reproachable. I spooned up a dollop and swirled it attrac- tively to make it as appealing as the picture on a box of Dream Whip. I held it up for one tantaliz- ing second, just out of her range of smell. (Her nose was always stuffed up, anyway, now that I I rushed to pick up the bowl before whe could inspect it too carefully or get an identifying whiff off the contents. Ah, my first taste test, I gleefully thought. As I think back, I could only have gotten carried away by my own feverish sales pitch to have gone through with what I was about to do. You see, a naughty thought hardly ever crossed think of it.) Craftily I held back. "Are you sure that you want some?" Her eyes opened wide at the sight of all that whipped cream and her mouth began to twitch. "You really want to taste it?" By now the gaping motions of her mouth assured me that she did. I dutifully fed my sister what she was so obviously hungry for, but I was An International Marina and Beach Resort Special Watersports Discount Bonus This certificate entitles you to a 10% discount on all Galleon watersports of your cttoice for today • JET SKI • SURF JET • PARASAIL • WATERSKI • FISHING • SNORKEIVSCUBA • HARBOR SAIL • WINDSURF • SEAPLANE • GLASSBOTTOM BOAT * MOPED/BICYCLE RENTAL Additionally, if you tour the Galleon Resort you will receive a 10% discount on all Galleon watersports for one week VALIDATED UPON COMPLETION OF TOUR BY CERTIFIED GALLEON VACATION CONSULTANT 296-7711, ext, 1725 617 FRONT STREET, KEY WEST, EL 33040 THIS ADVERTISING MATERIAL IS BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLICITING SALES OF TIME-SHARE PERIODS. 1 i 1 i I H 1 1 i a I i 1 i I • 1 § I 1 I i El El ,T ; t ST S; K & K J^ JS £• i*. ,i i a 13 ^ s* 60 Original Key West Designs Hand Printed Tees Sportswear &more 310 Duval Street next to the China Clipper not prepared for the ensuing spray I got right in the face when the ninety-nine-and-forty-four- one-hundredths percent pure soap reacted with the highly sensitive palate of a five year old pablum gourmet. Then the screaming started and was it ever bloodcurdling! Martha took off in the direction of my moth- er's studio, and I was reasonably astute in the assumption that I had only seconds to wash away the evidence of my sin. What I failed to take into account was the fact that my mother has an unusually overdeveloped maternal in- stinct, and at the first shriek out of Martha's mouth she was already on her way towards the origin of her distressed cries. "Amy! What have you done to your sister? Why is she drooling like that?" I looked, and Martha indeed was not a pretty sight. Her face was all red and swollen from crying all over the place due to the unsavory properties of Ivory Soap. There was no point in denying it. I confessed. I got two good whacks and was made to stand in the corner with my nose in the crack for one whole hour. However, it was not all that bad. I could still sneak looks out the window and see the inch- worms making their way delicately through the leaves of the beautiful snow-on-the-mountains bushes, close my eyes, and dream of the Hima- layas... or the Matterhorn... or... Solares Hill. 61 Our best to Bill & Solares Hill • • .There are few of us left, Vic, Sid & John BOOK REVIEW LIKE A SERIES OF WELL MADE BOXES by David A. Kaufelt Volume II of George Murphy's The Best Short Fiction for 1985, THE EDITORS' CHOICE, is every bit as satisfying as the universally praised Volume I, and in some instances, more so. When I was a boy sloughing my way through the wastelands of Elizabeth, N. J., I used to haunt the Morrison Avenue Used Bookstore for the paperback sized faded blue and sometimes green volumes belonging to a collection modestly entitled, The One Hundred Greatest Short Stories. (There were spin offs as well: The One Hundred Greatest Mystery Stories, The One Hundred Greatest Humorous Stories, etc.) The mildew redolent pages contained the nicely turned ironies of de Maupassant, Maugham, Poe and Mrs. Wharton. I miss those little books and as I'm one of those Philistines who only reads reputedly non-fiction magazines ("Girl, 9, Survives Locked Fridge by Eating Brother's Toes") and then only while waiting on Fausto's check-out line, I've also missed, to a large extent, The Great American Short Story Revival. But here's our George, publishing and anthologizing his heart out on Houseboat Row, filling a very real need, putting together in one large edition ($16.95 clothbound; $8.95 paperbound; A Bantam Windstone Book) We've Expanded with We're NOT just candles!! I CONCH » CANDLES GIFT SHOP 05 WHITEHEAD (IN PLAZA BI KW SANDALS) OR 112 FITZPATRICK' 294-1212; nineteen superb short stories nominated by the magazine fiction editors who published them in the first place. The range is extraordinary. I had expected a great many fashionable, heavily female experience stories about traumatic summer vacations told in first person current (there are a couple of those, notably Ilene Raymond's Taking A Chance On Jack which is not first person but very current and tense, none the less.) But for the most part George and the editors of America's most important magazines (from Ms. to Shenan- doah, from Playboy to Tendril) have surprised me and there are few predictable stories (Tre- vanian's The Sacking of Miss Plimsoll is an exception) in the book. There are, of course, star turns. The late John Gardner's last published short story is here, deceptively simple—a bit reminiscent of the above mentioned (and now in disfavor) W. Somerset Maugham—called Julius Caesar and the Werewolf. It has withstood several readings and still hasn't revealed (to me) all of its mysteries. Monologue of the Movie Mogul by Michael Covino (from The Paris Review) is so wonderfully mean-spirited and so brilliantly executed, it alone is worth the price of admission. The range is extraordinary. Kurt Ducker's Saving The Dead is as relentlessly somber as it's title, but it is so economically written, so innocently deadly in its stark portrayals, it's a story I haven't been able to forget. It's difficult to believe it's Ducker's first. Martha Bayles' The 'New Yorker'Story (from Harper's) is the sort of satire that isn't mere The Best In J Boogie-woogie daily and live jazz nightly ( • ' • ; Best wishes to Solares Hill on your 1 Oth Anniversary 300 FRONT STREET KEY WEST «•«*«, 62 63 OWN A MOPED ONLY S 55 DOWN $ 5 5 PER MO. ONLY AT (APR 17%) one BICYCLE - A- ̂ PED - SKATE BOARDS • GO KARTS 1720 N. Ro .sevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040 296-2300 whirnsey; you can get your teeth into it. Beth Nugent's h" t n t ing City of Boys seemed on first reading to be surreal and then I wasn't certain. It's a graphic urban story and I keep wanting to say it's not true (to reality) . . . but it clearly is. I was prepared to dislike James Howard Kunstler's The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of Mooski Toffski Offski, on title alone. When I begari reading and discovered it was told by a Holden Caufleldish West Side Manhattan kid, I had trouble getting through the first paragraph. But it's genuine humor and fine craftsmanship won me over in the end. It's a good story. Well, they're all good stories and some are great. I found Brent Spenser's The Small Things That Save Us, incredibly enough another first short story, beautiful in its somber celebration of a contemporary Job's rural life: "Easy would let the small things save him. Days of sun and sweet breezes. Late afternoons full of birds streaming into the trees. And other shadows on other nights, as deer climb down from the high ground to the stream in moonlight." Having only lately learned about James Crumley—inheritor of the Raymond Chandler mantle, writer of mysteries with heart and guts—I was excited to discover Andre Dubus in his Land Where My Fathers Died. The story is dedicated to Crumley but rises above and beyond derivation, flying off on its own perfecetly crafted line of murder and betrayal in a New England town's Greek community. One, of course, isn't going to swoon over every story. I am not yet a Margaret Atwood lover ("it may come; it may come," my literary guru half promises, half threatens) and I leave The Salt Garden to those who are. I have a history of long bad trouble reading island dialect stories, probably stemming from a youthful trauma over Uncle Remus. Therefore the charms of Robert William Antoni's Two-Head Fred and Tree-Foot Frieda eluded me. Quibbles and personal ones at that. To quote George in his preface: ". . . it is the well-made short story we are all hoping to find, the story ELLORO UERDE A G O U R M E T M E X I C A N RESTAURANT Incredible Salsas Frescas Serious Soups & Salads lacos, Bufritos, Nachos Open Mon^Sat, 11am-10pm Dining Room or Takeout 404 Southard /296-7298 which, to paraphrase W. H. Auden, 'closes like the click of a well-made box.'" The clicks in this collection come fast and furious. Volume II of THE EDITORS' CHOICE is the best proof I know of that the short story is an important and enriching literary form, fully in flower. If you are at all interested in contemporary reading/writing, you must read this book. *• t jSunlion Jetoelrg Best Wishes to Solares Hill on its 10th Anniversary WINTER HOURS Tues. thru Sat., 10:00-5:30 pm 208 Duval St., Key West, FL 33040 (305) 296-8457 WE MAKE CALLS TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE YOUR IRA'S DO BETTER with (The Tax-Vantage Specialist) Call Today 101/2% 3 yr. GT 10% 5 yr. GT We Take the Hassle out One certificate is all you will ever need An Ha Tel: 296-2687 RandyWOODRUFF & ASSOCIATES 1229 MacMillan Drive Middle Keys 872-2063 Hurry, Interest Rates are Dropping NOW onm U tt.tn.-8p.m. 7DAYS ALL VCR TAPE RENTALS BLANK T120 TAPES $3.99 • FREE MEMBERSHIP 903 SIMONTON ST. 294-3002 64 THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARROT by Carol Shaughnessy I remember the old Green Parrot. I first became acquainted with it during my brief and glorious stint as a bartender at the now-defunct Scallywags. My immediate supervisor at Scal- lywags rejoiced in the name of Sideways, and the owner was called Surfer. Neither was an unusual name in Key West at this time. My career at Scallywags came to an abrupt end the evening two shrimpers thoughtfully requested that I duck down behind the bar, because they were angry, and they planned on throwing bar- stools behind it. I did, they did, and I quit. But during this period I had been introduced to the crazy old Green Parrot. I remember it chiefly for two reasons: it was the first place my soon-to-be fiance ever took me (as I recall, I wound up paying the tab), and the sub shop next door served a wonderful bologna sub. Now, this was at the tail end of the bad old days in Key West. Smuggling was still a hobby The Green Parrot photo by Doyle L. Bush NOW AVAILABLE AT PHOTO-SONICS & TAPE APE tp, oo2^ •*&£**&* i»S5>Hto sr *A:rsS" U c-Vr %L***, -t& V'A '«S^- k^fe* *««? > / C -9 / |i « •vVV 9 A»u. f * i V rather than a crime, the county was more or less run out of the Chart Room, and no one could spell the word "condominium." In the Green Parrot, the pale light over the pool tables emphasized a wide variety of tattooed arms, and the path tolhe bathroom was a hazardous one. Sometimes, time does seem to fly. Today the Green Parrot's ceiling fans revolve busily—but then, they always did. The Parrot's walls are covered with (of all things) parrots. Photos, drawings, and even a hooked rug; friendly, haughty, colorful, coquettish—they keep an eye on the day to day workings of the bar. And the sub shop has turned into El Loro Verde, which serves a combination of Mexican and bar food... and does it beautifully. Jim Bean bought the Green Parrot in the fall of 1983. He aims to maintain the picturesque flavor of the place, to keep it a casual local spot where old-timers and newcomers alike can be comfortable. "I want anybody who walks through that door to feel accepted," Jim states. And the list of patrons who've rested their elbows on the Parrot's wide bar is pretty i mpres- sive. Manager John Vagnoni recalls seeing Wil- helmina Harvey, author Fred Belland, the in- famous Heavy Duty, Mel Fisher, members of both city and county commissioners, and a host of other local notables drinking, at one time or another, under the Sign of the Parrot. It has become a favorite watering hole for several of the attorneys whose offices make up Whitehead Street's "lawyers' row." "There's a lot of camraderie and brotherhood in here," John, a thirteen-year veteran of the Parrot, maintains. "There always has been." One of John's favorite memories of the place concerns the Superbowl game between the Steelers and the Cowboys. A high-rolling smug- gler approached him, proposing a hundred dol- lar bet on the game's outcome. John declined. His mother, however, was in the bar at the time. Not only did she promptly accept the bet, but she won it! "The Green Parrot's got a heritage that's undeniable," says bartender Debbie Gray. "I like seeing some of our old customers back here... they've goten older right along with us. It's just a lot of neat people in here, that's all." She mentions the many middle-aged tourists, on their way to the Hem ingway House, who stop in to buy a drink and a t-shirt or two. "Everybody in Key West can relate to the Parrot in one way or another." . • • Small, dark-haired Betsy Langdon grins when reminded of the Green Parrot. Years ago, the old Langdon Ad Agency offices were two doors down from the bar, in the space that now houses Southard Street Produce. The Parrot was affec- tionately referred to as the Langdon Annex by agency staff. Clients were taken there to be anesthetized, fed, entertained, or merely put on hold while their last minute work was completed. "When I had to escape, my friends at the Parrot were always there," Betsy recalls. "Now that I'm not in the neighborhood anymore, I still drop in fora visit now and then. Nobody has forgotten me. You know," she pauses, "that's such a good feeling." It's true—they do remember. The Parrot is still there, still on the same corner. But it hasn't remained stagnant any more than anything else has. Perhaps that's why I read Joe Crumpet's recent article on the Green Parrot with a sense of nostalgia tinged with disbelief. It's the same feeling I get when looking at a very old photo- graph of a friend—a kind of "did you really look like that when you had long hair and played in that band, before the kids were bora??" Truly, time does amazing things. These days, raucous Key West plays host to Calvin Klein, cruise ships, and Spring Breakers. I peddle works instead of cheap beers. And last week my gently-bred mother was glimpsed at the Green Parrot, a glass of wine in front of her, conversing animatedly with the bartender. Could it be that we, the denizens of the bad old days, are beginning to grow up at last? 65 BOB'S FLOWERS & BALLOONS 706 DUVAL STREET 294-3312 V • '- yj" TW ^ ^ f S ^ < %i a ; Servicing such fine establishments as . .. . Pier House Ocean Key House . • . The Galleon Louie's Backyard : Kyushu . : : •'•• .' S h a d e s . •..•: v ' BOB'S FLOWERS & BALLOONS 66 TEN YEARS OF FLYING THE FRIENDLY SKIES OF KEY WEST Over the years, Heavenly Body Kites has become a traditional landmark in Old Town Key West. It is the oldest Kite Shop in Florida and one of the first in the United States. Heavenly Body Kites was established in 1976 and is cele- brating its 10 year anniversary by sponsoring the 10th Annual Key West Kite Festival. Both the long distance traveler and the local folks have come to know the people at Heavenly Body Kites as dedicated kite flyers, always wil- ling to share their knowledge and personal experiences of the joys of kite flying. Recreation, relaxation—words that can be used to describe the sport of kite flying. It helps increase sight ability and makes one aware of wind force and direction. Kite flying is a healthy outdoor activity which can be enjoyed by male, female, young or old. This April, the pulic is invited to participate in the 10th Annual Key West Kite Festival. This free, healthy, outdoor event is sponsored by Heavenly Body Kites in connection with the Conch Republic Festival '86. The Kite Festival will be held Sunday, April 27th at Smathers Beach. The sky will be filled with magnificent kites of all sizes and color at noon. At this time, the Key West Kiteman, Greg Lavelle, will be giving free kites to the first 100 children that attend. There will also be over $1,000.00 worth of gifts and prizes for those kite flyers that A soaring of kites attend and participate in the Kite Festival. There will be a $100.00 cash prize for the Best Photo of the kites flying. There will also be $50.00 gift certificates from Heavenly Body Kites forthe following categories: The Youngest Kite Flyer, The Oldest Kite Flyer, The Person from the Farthest Point from Key West, Best Handmade Kite, Best Kite Performance; and Best Handmade Conch Republic Kite. Professional kite flyers from around the world will be in Key West to show off their latest designs. Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies will participate, trying to win prizes for their organizations. Navy families will also be flying the friendly skies of Key West. The 10th Annual Kite Festival will be the largest flying exhibition Key West has ever seen! Stunt kites will be zooming through the sky performing circles, figure eights, loops, dives, and astonishing aerobatic stunts. Shark Kites will be swimming through the sky, 150-foot Dragon Kites dancing on the clouds, and 20- foot deltas trimmed with Conch Republic Flags will be joyously celebrating the Conch Republic Festival '86. For a delightful and exciting afternoon at- Smathers Beach, plan on attending this free, healthy outdoor event. Sunday, April' 27th, noon. Put your head on a cloud—Go Fly A Kite! CONGRESSMAN FRANK TO ADDRESS HRCF EVENT IN KEY WEST Congressman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts liberal Democrat and strong human rights advo- cate, will be the featured speaker at the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRCF) dinner in Key West on April 12, 1986 at the Casa Marina Resort. The one-hundred dollar a plate dinner is being hosted by the Key West Human Rights Committee. All funds raised at the dinner will go to HRCF, a national political action committee that supports candidates who favor equal treat- ment of all citizens. HRCF has been a successful national voice for gay men and women as well as others interested in human rights. For informa- tion, contact Human Rights Campaign Fund, Key West Committee, 331 Simonton Street, Key West. • '. ; I "The niftiest casual clothes in the Keys . . . " THE MIAMI HERALD "A trendy shop . . . " TIME MAGAZINE "One of America's most exciting retail environments an absolute must for your visit." E N G L A N D ' S BBC TELEVISION V --Fast Buck Freddies 500 Duval Street « Open 10 - 6 Seven Days • 294-2007 RACING AROUND THE ROCK by Howard Crane On Saturday, April 5, at noon the year's most exciting Key West sailing event, the 10th Annual Around The Island Sunfish or Wind- surfer Race will begin and everyone with a spirit of fun and competition is invited to give it a try. A test of concentration, sailing skill and plan- ning, this annual Key West Sailing Club race drew forty-four contestants last year and more are expected this year. Registration and launching will take place at the north end of Simonton Street between 10:30 and 11:30 that morning. The combination start- finish line will be between a race committee flag on the Havana Docks at the Pier House and a government mark on the main ship channel. It makes no difference to the race commitee which direction a contestant chooses to sail around the island, clockwise or counterclock- wise, but a serious sailor will have checked wind speed and direction, current flow and wave height before making his decision. This basic choice not only creates an exciting start, with two opposing fleets of boats clashing head on, but there's .only one correct way to go and choosing the wrong way can make one late for the after race party. This is a long race, especially for windsurfers who stand on their boards the whole way, because Sigsbee and Fleming Keys must be rounded. Anyone caught attempting a short cut will be hung from the nearest yardarm. There are no hard and fast rules; in fact a sailor may get out and walk, pulling his boat after him. If the tide and wind conditions are against him when rounding Fleming Key per- haps the best and only way to advance will be to get into the.shallow water and drag the boat behind while slogging through the soggy silt. When reaching the Cow Key Channel Bridge(s) the Sunfish sailors must lower their sails and remove the masts in order the get through. Windsurfers get a break here because they're used to letting the rigging fall. The next choice to be made is whether to drag your vessel through or paddle it like a surfboard. Whichever method one chooses it will be an awkward pro- cess, usually results in an unplanned bath and the spectators who line the shores seem to enjoy it immensely. Speaking of spectators, they can have a good time too, especially if they are the traveling kind. Many come to watch the prerace activities at the end of Simonton Street and then stroll over to the Pier House to-watch the start from Havana Docks. Then they jump in their vehicles and follow their favorites around the island. Last year two retired navy officers tried to get out to the end of Fleming Key but were stopped abruptly by armed guards—so we don't recom- mend that. Binoculars will have to suffice. The more serious sailors will be out practicing days before the actual event but some of the novices will enter just to see what it's like to make it all the way around. To allow for these differences in skill and concentration and to make it fun for all there will be a variety of prizes for both Sunfish sailors and windsurfers. These include the usual prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd to finish, plus a prize for first to finish going the wrong way around. There is also a prize for being the last and one each for the oldest and young- est sailor to finish. The most unusual award is for the "halfast" sailor who finishes exactly on the middle of the fleet. After the race, at 6 P.M., all (exhausted) sai- lors descend upon the Key West Sailing Club for an awards party. Beer and submarine sand- wiches are free for all contestants. At this party the "whys" and "lies" are told with equal fervor and everyone begins to look forward to the 11th Annual Around The Island Sunfish or Wind- surfer Race next year. For further details on the race contact How- ard Crane at 296-4522 or any member of the Key West Sailing Club. 67 Massage Therapy Center Specialists in Relieving: Migraines and Chronic Headaches Tendonitis/Bursitis/TMJ Tingling & Numbness in Extremities Frozen Shoulder/Runner's Knee Postural problems/Lower Back Pain Chronic Tension/Poor Flexibility Tennis Elbow and other conditions Money-Back Guarantee Member of AMTA and FSMTA A rain -Relief Alternative- , Arnold L. Hermelin, LMT, Director John Daley, LMT (305) 294-8201/333^ Simonton, Key West, FL 33040 68 REMEMBERING by Gil Ryder I n April 1976, Solares Hill rose, like the fabled Phoenix, from the ashes of its former exis- tence. Unlike the Phoenix, Solares Hill did have a real previous existence, neither was Solares Hill destroyed by fire—it just sort of died. Solares Hill was reborn during a time of con- troversy concerning the projected Cattle Quar- entine Station on Fleming Key. The Cattle Quarantine Station was built (over much public objection) and endures only as a useless monu- ment to government stupidity—as predicted by lay citizens at public hearings on the subject. Another article in the April 1976 issue con- cerned itself with the building of townhouses on Rest Beach. Once again, the public outcry was ignored and the townhouses were built. Unlike the Cattle Quarantine Station, the townhouses all became occupied as intended. It would, of course, have been much better to have the City acquire the land and preserve it as a public park. The same April 76 issue contained an article indicating the enormous value of senior citizens to the community.- No nebulous thing about how nice it is to have the old folks around, but rather the cash value—the vast amount of money going into the local economy from the retirees. Just the Social Security payments to those over 65, residing in the area from Key GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION APRIL 1986 Video Movies Rental & Sales Grocery & Deli Fresh Sandwiches 924-A Kennedy Drive Phone 294-4830 MOVIE RENTAL'S PRICES, ... Same Day Rental 11.25 (From 10:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.) Overnite Rental I {Return Next Day 7:00 P.M.) 2 Day Rental (Return 3rd Day 7:00 P.M.) Movies Not Re winded 3.50 50$ ea. Late Charges |1.50 ea. (per day) FEATURING: Comedy.--Musical - Westerns Drama - Family Films - Classics Adve ntu re - Ad u It Spanish Children Special With Coupons Only Rent Any 3 Video Movies Get 4th Weekend Special! Pay $8.00 Pick One Movie and Exchange it Anytime Fri. thru 7 P.M. Monday Up to 4 More Times (Total 5 Movies) Limited Offer Void in 60 Days West to Saddle Bunch, amounted to well over $4,000,000 a year, a sizeable payroll in those days, or even in these. It was also pointed out that the four million plus did not include those who were drawing Social Security from age 62—64, nor did it include military or private pensions or other retirement income. Why repeat all this old stuff from ten years ago? Not for the sake of nostalgic yearnings, but rather because it isn't really old stuff at all. Government waste of your tax dollars did not end with the completion of the Quarantine Sta- tion, inappropriate development didn't stop with the Rest Beach townhouses, and far too many people still believe that the elderly are a burden on the community. Solares Hill has been on the side of the angels for the last ten years, but the angels have not been winning, at least not so you could notice it. Some of the angels have lost their halos, thrown them away, or even sold them. Perhaps this means that the good guys should give it all up and devil take the hindmost—then again* maybe not. Maybe the good guys, who are the vast majority anywhere, will bestir themselves and take a more active part in protecting the keys from destructive development and inept poli- ticians. No matterwhat is written and published in Solares Hill, such writings cannot in themselves solve the problems or protect the Keys. All that can be hoped for of that a reasonable percentage of readers will take enough interest in the prob- lems and possible solutions presented to do something themselves to help correct the var- ious bad situations. The more people occupying any given area, the more problems arise. Surely the increased population should provide an increase in the number of persons who are ready, able and wil- ling to provide some solutions. How can they do that? First by taking an interest in the community, then by recognizing the problems and deciding which problems they would be able to help solve. The word "environment" is an umbrella that covers all the problems: cats, dogs, people, trees, garbage, sewage, roads, utilities, housing costs, etc.—almost anything you can think of. In any community there is at least one prob- lem that you as an individual can help solve. The young, the old, the ugly, the beautiful, the healthy and the physically impaired can each and everyone contribute in some way to the •. improvement and protection of the community. Any citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote and should use that right judiciously, first carefully studying candidates, issues and pro- positions. Every community has unwanted kittens and puppies which may grow into stray cats and dogs and, through no fault of their own become community nuisances. Anyone may involve himself or herself with "Friends of Animals" or "United Humanitarians" and help end that problem. You can help troubled children through the Florida Sheriffs' Youth Fund. You can help in many ways by joining a local Civic Association. Very few residents of the Keys want stray animals using their front lawn for a toilet, or running the local deer to death. Even fewer want a glue factory built next door or across the road but, unless you get involved, your yard will remain a toilet and you just may get a glue factory under your nose. Sure, there are laws on the books to protect you from these horrors, but laws are only words on paper if no one is demanding enforcement. The County Land Use Plan has been plucked and singed and gutted and stuffed and finally forwarded to the State. The Plan will hang there until it ripens, after which it will be brought before the public for further public input. Why not spend a few hours at the Public Library making notes on the subject and then, when the time comes, speak your piece or write a letter conveying your opinion? It may prove a waste of time and energy—or—you may just deliver the right words to sway the powers that be and make them realize that a Land Use Plan centered on Cluster Housing and large-scale Resort Destina- tions is bound to create chaos. This may strike you as spitting in the ocean to raise the tide, but maybe you'll miss and spit in the right eye, thus getting enough attention to have the Plan altered in a manner that will benefit the average citizen rather than specula- tors and developers. Try it—it might just work! From the Key West Garden Club The Naturalist in Key West I t seems to happen so suddenly. One day the Keys are full of birds, birds everywhere— warblers, thrushes, catbirds, martins, swallows, breeding plumage emerges on resident birds and mating songs suffuse the early dawn air. In the mangrove the rising, buzzy notes of the prairie warbler are heard while the white-eyed vireo stakes out nesting sites and seeks a mate with his loud, run-on song punctuated with sharp "chips." Warblers and other migratory birds passing through the area tend to travel in large groups to confuse the hawks, which prey on stragglers, given the chance. A friend on Big Pine Key saw indigo buntings in full breeding plumage: a striking, vivid, solid, bright blue. He also reported seeing one male and two female painted buntings. Females are a brilliant yellow-green, almost the color of a parakeet, while the males show off bright red underparts, blue heads and yellow-green backs: the tropical palette on a native North American bird. The legs and long curving bill of the chicken- sized white ibis turn an intense orange-red dur- ing breeding season. Its bright blue eyes con- trast sharply with the scarlet extension of bill around them. Young, brown ibises can be seen with the white adults in small groups pecking away at the ground in search of tidbits washed loose after a spring rainstorm. When the yellow legs of the great blue heron turn red, the color change lasts for only a week. A fine, long crest on its head and a sweep of plumes at the breast also signal readiness to breed. The so-called "great white heron" is really a white form of the blue heron and is found only in south Florida and the Florida Keys. White herons and blue herons are the same species of bird, existing in the two differ- ent colors. They are not hybrids and each remains the same color throughout its life, this phenomenon, called "dimorphism," means "two forms." The reddish egret is another bird that exists also in a white morph. Pelicans coming into breeding plumage dis- play a white head with a dark brown stripe down the back of the neck. Its winter plumage, now beginning to molt, is the yellow head and com- pletely white neck. Young pelicans up to a year old have very white bellies, brownish wings and 69 Congratulations to Solares Hill newspaper on its 10th birthday! THE PORTER-ALLEN COMPANY INSURANCE Representing Insurance Company of North America Aetna insurance Company CIGNA Companies Key West - 294-2542 Since 1891 CIGNA Marathon - 743-9008 70 brownish necks. Second year pelicans are more grayish with the neck feathers beginning to lighten and some dark feathers beginning to appear on the belly. Adult pelicans have dark bellies. The common cattle egret is displaying a rusty colored crest and a rusty smudge on the breast and on the shoulders now during its breeding season. Some ospreys have already fledged their young while others are still sitting on their eggs. When a young osprey recently fell out of its nest high on a construction crane on Big Pine Key, observers took it to the Key Deer Refuge head- quarters where a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banded the apparently unhurt bird. Then, with the bird and two pieces offish in hand to sustain it until the parents returned, he scaled the crane to restore it to its nest. Unfortunately, mother and father osprey showed up in the middle of the rescue operation, feint- ing "dive bomb" attacks on the hapless rescuer. With heroic effort, however, the mission of mercy was successfully executed. The elusive Boca Chica anhinga was sighted recently flying across the highway. Anhingas, frequently mistaken for cormorants, are very rarely seen in the keys. They usually stay up around the Everglades. Anhingas have pointed beaks, longer, more slender necks and longer tail feathers than cormorants. Cormorants have hooked beaks. Trees of the bombax family are coming into bloom this month. The most striking specimen in the large red silk cotton tree on Simonton Street near the corner of Angela Street. Its name HAPPY 1QTH3 BILL™WE REMEMBER YOU WHEN. WHEN YOU THINK OF INTERIORS THINK OF 12 u WanJa REPRESENTING OVER 60 COMPANIES IN FABRICS AND WALL COVERINGS COMPLETE LINE MINI-BUNDS AND VERTICALS LAMPS • BEDSPREADS • DRAPERIES • SLIPCOVERS BOAT & YACHT INTERIORS 294-9600 RESIDENTIAL-COR8RSE8CIAL-INDUSTRIAL SINCE 1976 500 SIMONTON ST is derived from the silky floss, similar to kapok, found in the plants woody fruit. The leafless, barren-looking branches bear enormous, fleshy bright red flowers with long, black stamens in the centers. The five, thick petals form a blos- som up to seven inches across. The shaving brush tree, also a bombax, has pink or white flowers that come out in a puff the size of a large fist. Both bombax tree species will leaf out later in the spring. Another tropical tree found here that loses its leaves during the winter dry season is the fran- gipani. Thick, naked, stubby branches are a stark contrast to the surrounding Key West subtropi- cal greenery. It's hard to believe that this dead- looking thing will burst forth in handsome, green, eighteen-inch leaves and.flowers famous for their fragrance and beauty. Hawaiian leis are made usually from stringing frangipani blossoms. Nearly bare branches of the thorny Indian coral tree also bear bright red flowers shortly after the leaves drop in late winter. Small speci- mens are located near the fire station on Simon- ton Street and at the corner of Flagler Avenue and Tropical Street. Spring in the keys is a subtle thing in many ways too. Fewer and fewer hawks are seen each day and the cold fronts come farther and farther apart. Heat rises off our spots of land in the sea. The clouds look taller and fuller, losing that wintry flatness and streakiness—more moisture is on the way. The ocean is beginning to glow in bluer tones as the sun climbs higher and higher each day. Shadows shorten and days lengthen. 71 CONGRATULATIONS ON A DECADE OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. LOOK FORWARD TO A COUPLE OF MORE . . . Liz & her Onyins Toys Games Greeting Cards Foolishness The Little Store with the BIG Ideas 515 Duval St., Key West, PL 33040 305-294-5408 WE ARE CLOSING THIS STORE. UP TO 7 5 % OFF! UP TO 5 0 % OFF SALE NOW IN PROGRESS! COME VISIT OUR LOVELY NEW STORE AT DUVAL & CAROLINE CONCORD MARINER SG The Sportswatch of the Ws. For him or her. Slim, rugged, water-resistant. In black chromium stainless steel and 14 karat gold. Electronic quartz movement. Hand-crafted in Switzerland. GAMBLE JEWELERS 600 DUVAL STREET 296-5603; 296-5604 y continued from page 40 for other improvements in her outlook and lifes- tyle. Now divorced, she had recently moved into a new house, and is living alone for the first time. "It has been a very quiet time, and I needed that time for meditations and such and growing closer to God." God may, Dorothy feels, be calling her to evangelism—and it may lead Dorothy Castillo away from Key West. "It's kind of limited in what you can do spiritually in Key West... I'm looking around and thinking about getting a transfer, maybe going further into Florida, maybe around the Tampa area..-, working for God. I might not be in Key West much longer." Although her past as a military wife, bar- keeper, post office worker, mother, and devoted church member, lies here in Key West, she does not feel unduly upset that her future may not. "I love Key West... but right now I'm beginning to chomp at the bit—I'm getting ready to... to move on—it seems as if I'm being led to do something different now. You have to do and be what you believe. There's just no other way." J3EST BARGAINS! for Fishermen, Swimmers, Divers, Sunbathers, Nature Lovers! BETTY BROTHERS, 38 YEARS, LITTLE TORCH! Big Pine Key to Key West. Three computers - Member National Multiple Listing. ISLAND HOMES! BUSINESS! WE SELL THE BEST CLIMATE IN THE WORLD! WAVING PALMS - CRYSTAL CLEAR SEAS! WATERFRONT HOMES $69,500, $99,900 and up. BETTY M. BROTHERS REAL ESTATE, INC. Betty M. Rein, Licensed Real Estate Broker, P.O. Box 456 U.S. 1, M.M. 28.5, LITTLE TORCH KEY, FL 33043 PHONE 305/872-2261 and 872-2318 Write or Phone for Free Computer List and Free Maps! My childhood dream was to live in a home that looked out on the open sea HATS & HAMMOCKS OF KEY WIST FEATURES SNDSAN WEAViH An extensive collection of works by ISAAC VASQUEZ, the ZAPOTEC IN- DIAN master weaver who is profiled in "NATURAL HISTORY" MAGAZINE'S March issue, is now on display at Hats & Hammocks of Key West. Isaac Vasquez was nurtured in a single-child pure Zapotec Indian family and learned the art of weaving at a very early age from his father who was also a master weaver in his own time. The 100 percent virgin wool in Vasquez's tapestries has been com- pletely hand prepared, i.e., sheared from the sheep, washed, picked, carded and then spun into thread. ISAAC VASQUEZ (left) and son Ernesto display intricate Aztec design tapestry. Whenever colors other than the natural wool hues are desired, the skeins of thread are dyed with "natural" dyes made from a variety of plants — indigo (blues & greens), lichens (yellows & tans), dodder (yellows), nuts (browns & lavenders), acacias (black) and from a tiny insect called the Cochineal Scale Insect which is raised on the Nopal Cactus and which produces a variety of reds, pinks, oranges, and maroon. The Zapotecs held a virtual monopoly as suppliers of high-quality clothing in pre-Columbian Mexico, and Isaac Vasquez is the most prestigious master weaver and dyer in the contemporary Zapotec culture. Hats & Hammocks is located at 605 Whitehead St. and is open Monday through Saturday 10-5. Ph. 294-2627. ISAAC VASQUEZ with large tapestry of Navajo design thot required seventy working days to complete. 72 Jan McArt Cabaret Theatre at Mallory Square PRESENTS Florida's First Lady of the Theatre Previews April 16th-17th-18th Opening Night Gala April 19th a musical spoof of the 50's GARBONELL AWARD WINNER Best Production - 1985 Best Actress - 1985 - Jan McArt .296-2120: -" "MISS" ELLEN AND "COFFEE" by Elizabeth Kinnell "God gives people gifts, and if you use them, He gives you more . . . " Two examples of this statement are island natives "Miss" Ellen Welters Sanchez and Lof- ton "Coffee" Butler. . . prominent, respected and loved members of the Key West community. When you mention their names, people think of music, and no wonder. Music has always been an important part of the life of "Miss" Sanchez. She was born shortly after the turn of the century into a musical family. Her father originated the famous Welters Marching Band, which set the standard for local bands for years. "My daddy gave me my ele- phoio by Wendy Tucker "Miss" Ellen and "Coffee" ments," she says, "and Sister Mary Elizabeth at The Convent gave me my manipulation." She has written and composed music; she has been organist at the Newman A.M.E. Zi.on and Trinity churches here; she has been accompa- nist for operettas at the old Convent; she has taught music since 1919, including a stint at the Douglass School under the WPA program during the Depression; she had a group that sang over WKWF Radio on Sundays. "Miss' Sanchez is especially well-known in the Black community for her kindergarten, which she directed. From 1949 to 1969 (when she retired), and^ where her classes would put on yearly pageants for which she would train the pupils, decorate the hall, design and sew all the costumes and play the music. For example, for the perfor- mance of "Sleeping Beauty And The Prince" in 1960, she made 20 costumes—"A lot of work, but I really enjoyed it. I really loved it." She has been the teacher to local church organists, and to such well-known Key West music figures as Mercedes Wildgoose, Bill Aus- tin . . . and Lofton "Coffee" Butler. One incident she recalls fondly was the time the Coral City Elks gave her a surprise tribute in 1969, awarding her a plaque; "and even though 'Coffee's' daddy had died that night, he still came to sing my "Isle of Key West" for me." "Miss" Sanchez: "I wish to say that all of my life I've dealt with the public, and I must say they've never given me any unnecessary trouble. 73 7AL(? COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL ^CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, UNIQUE 20,000 S.E RETAIL AREA Shops * Boutiques * Off-street parking INDIVIDUAL TOWNHOMES Separate Enclave With Swimming Pool OCCUPANCY 1986 INQUIRE DUVAL SQUARE CORPORATION 209 DUVAL STREET PHONE: (305) 2944233 : (305) 296-5667 a wengroup community 74 I appreciate each and every one who has ever helped me in any way in my work. My work has been a pleasure to me in every way in dealing with the children as well as dealing with the grown-ups. I wish to express my many thanks to all my friends and helpers, and I'm asking God to bless them." Life and music are synonymous with "Coffee" Butler, from mellow grown-up entertainer back to early childhood, when he was a small, bright- eyed boy who could just reach the keys on the family piano. "1 still remember having to reach up." Teenage years found him "hanging around with the boys on the corner" after classes at the former Douglass High School. "We decided we weren't doing anything and we wanted to do something. So we decided to form a musical group. We went to Claude Lang for help, and he taught us to read music—with a cigar every now and then for payment." The name of the group was Duke and His Royal Aces . . . with "Coffee", the leader as 'Duke' on the piano." The Imperial Cafe was one of the places we'd play and the old Cuban Club and a lot of military things. World War II brought a break-up of the band, and thus was formed "Coffee And His Cups," which became a familiar part of island social life throughout the decades. They played at the Downtowner and The Starlight Club on Duval, the Sunset Royal's Club, the old Brown Derby, the American Legion on Stock Island, and a long stretch at the old Bamboo Room. Another Key West institution is "The Junka- noos," also formed by "Coffee," whose special- ties are Latin and Bahamian rhythms, and who perform at dockside weekends for the cruise ships as well as for many community benefit events, business engagements and private parties. Several years ago, "Coffee" decided to go solo, and made his debut at the re-opening of the Casa Marina. Since that lengthy engagement, he has become the musical "fixture" at Allen Merrill's Hukilau Fridays and Saturdays—a must-do on the calendar of both local and visiting music buffs. "Coffee" Butler: "When I perform, it seems . . . let's see what these people are thinking about, let's bring it all together. I think music should, does bring people closer together, brings understanding. Everybody's really looking for the same thing. Music is a mediator where there is no discrimination." Now for the happy ending. The rich musical traditions of cousins "Miss" Ellen Sanchez and "Coffee" Butler have come together to make a very special Key West record, which will be available for sale this month in clubs, restau- rants, music stores and resorts throughout the Key West area. Produced by Solares Hill and recorded at Simpson Sound, the recording is aptly entitled "Key West Memories," and fea- tures "The Beautiful Isle of Key West," a warm and lilting waltz about you-know-where, backed by "I'm Yours Truly," a tender ballad about loving. It combines her words and music with his voice and piano. Look for the bright yellow jacket. There's an old song that goes "Give to the world the best that you,have and the best will come back to you . . ." f : Saves with a 620 Duval Street, KEY WEST ." J$- ' 0, *;,,•'• F L M CLUB ' " " " ; * - • . • . • • • * S r - i membership OLONEL REDL 0 EVE*JnJ<̂ -SUtW tX .PUT 0 WOOOY ALLEN AThOS ZAMISST MIDSl'MMER NIGHTS ONE OF THE YEAR'S MOST ACCLAIMED FILMS BESTACTRESS(\OKM4AIL\NDROI MIDSl'MME NKillT'S SKX COMEDY •SlMEAVM" bMlJ Ar 2..0O "Shrewd and entertaining, ..one boldest performances." r _, , , . .„ , ;|W "..-the freshest, funniest, most queasily disturbing love story of Uic season." • . .•- . . . - , ^ M , J . S CONGRATULATIONS! FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT WEST PROVISION LAMB: LEGS, RACKS, LOINS SERRANO BONELESS HAMS SMOKED BONE-IN HAMS FRESH PORK HAMS also WHOLE PIG FOR ROASTING STANDING RIB ROAST PHEASANT • QUAIL DUCK • ROASTING CHICKEN • GOOSE • TURKEY Plus complete line of groceries for every day! •FREE GIFT WRAPPING • GIFT CERTIFICATES PHONE AHEAD FOR YOUR ORDER TO BE READY 804 White Street, Key West 296-9051 HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAYS TO 4 • SATURDAY 8 TO 1 KEY COHHERCIAL ZONED BU2 Picture yourself here: Tropical gallery, with apartment. Hwy. I frontage. Extra lots in rear. Access to Gulf via neighborhood boat ramp. Antique fencing. Perfect for any business/living venture that would benefit from property developed with Keys ambiance in mind. PRICED REASONABLY FOR IMMEDIATE SALE BY OWNER DETAILS OR APPT.: 852-5933 613 DUVAL ST. OPEN 10:00-10:00 DAILY MONROE COUNTTS OLDEST INDEPENDENT COMMERCIAL BANK FLORIDA KEYS FIRST STATE BANK MAJN OFRCE LOCATED AT: 1201 SIMONTON STREET TELEPHONE 296-8535 FDfC BRANCH OFHCES LOCATED AT: M.M. 97.7 KEY LARGO AND NAS. BOCA CHICA .3230 N. ROOSEVELT BLVD. (SEARSTOWN) THE LEADER IN MEETING ALL YOUR BANKING NEEDS GUILD HALL GALLERYI™I — ^^*mma^ ™"-1'•'•'•||" —--—" ——~—— —^^— •• ^ •^•^• •^^^^^ ^ H o n o m a v ^ ^ * M H ^ « n - ^••••WBI^*- ^ • B H B K I ^ B B V Q B H H H H H V Q B 0 a s H ^ D f l Q v VUmmBm 4 P W B D VS^m^Hr Congratulates Solares Hill for 10 years-.of excellence f 76 -—•— — GINGERBREAD SQUARE GALLERY BEST WISHES ON YOUR IOTH ANNIVERSARY 91O DUVAL ® KEY WEST, FLORIDA ® <3O5) 296 8900 PIER HOUSE AND RED BARN THEATRE PRESENT SUNDAY BRUNCH MATINEE SPECIAL The Carnival Cayo Hueso Benefit Party held at Lighthouse Court was a tremendous success. Over goo people gathered to show their support for the Key West AIDS Screenings, and to help People With AIDS in our community. $28,000 was raised. The support and donations received were overwhelming. My heartfelt thanks to all, with special thanks to the following: Albert Osterman Scott Robbe Frank Csaszar Gail Brockvjay Ken Mallon Vogue Marty Karam Scene Ritchie . , . Gordon Ross Pern Halevy Kenn Smith Bob Nickels John Evans EdSeebol T.J. Sylvia Gerardette Mazura Michael Stasie Laurence De Fteitas Richard Heyman Van Eno Mervyn Arono/f Wendy Turner John Burgess Chuck Dodson Grillo Demo John Kiraly Ferron Bell Craig Biondi Dennis Freda Jack Baron Haitian Art Gallery Tom Szuter Richard Klank Tony Estrada Sal Saline ro Alice Terry Michael Palmer Fred Gros Gallery Jay Gogin Kay Happock Jorge Vazquez P.S. Galleries Gingerbread Square Gallery Monroe County Glass Lighting Works James G. Pepper MarcHines JeffOverby LeeBynum Betty Miller Albert McCarthy Ralph Wright PaulSandblom John Wesley Robert M. Stickney Gerald Coven Linda Coven Dr. Stuart Kessler Frank A. Wisnieski Boca Chica Bar Robert W. Taft Phil Moloney Curry House Hurricane Alley Rooftop Alley Rooftop Cafe P.F. McDonnell Toby Nichols ZachSuber Charles A. Munroe Martell and Suffin Antiques Merrill P. Bacon Benjamin Connors Marion Stevens Edmund A. Strickland, Jr. Jerry Herman Cocoanuts Restaurant Bobby Nesbitt Solares Hill Design Group Beverage Distributors of Key West Universal Brands Lopez Distributors Sloppy Joe's Louie's Backyard Michaels Papillon Old Plantation Copa 1 Saloon The Restaurant Store Casa Marina Resort FulgencioJ. Batista Miami Crown Distributors Las Palmas JL Coconut Grove Guesthouse Alvira Author's David Rigg Ed Czaplicki Claire La Terraza De Marti Jim Finnegan Walt Marlowe DelBrixey Robert Reiner Larry W. Bushing Frank Romano Joseph Liszka Joseph Stem Carl E. Meirose Antonio's Fast Buck Freddie's Page's Paint Solares Hill Magazine FredM. Klaus Harold L. Murphy William R. Amis Barry S.Kohn John B. Holder Alan W. Van Wieren Ernest R. Schanzenbact Windle S. Davis Linda Halverson Paul "Barbados" Chandler Robert Rodriguez Carl Dworkin Pano Lempasis Lime House Gideon Lowe House Oasis The Palm's Guesthouse The Pines Duval House Key West Types Talbot "Sandy" Best Key West Citizen Lafittes Guesthouse Pier House Jordan's Cafe Celebration Fantasy Fest 86 Committee Kip Craig RSVP Travel The Hollinshed House Tom Foumier WaltDesel International Health Research Foundation Gary Virgin Dennis Donald Soucy, Jr. Robin Hgrman Joe Leahy/ Jere Cavanaugh, Inc. Robert Zurbrigen y . — 1 Aunt Rose's Camilles s*>-~ CasaManana \ \ Scott T. Kellett Fiorini Harbour Lights Hukilau Kyushu Pancho and Lefty's Cafe des Artistes Pigeon House Patio Liz De Vrie Susan Tolpa Brian Twohig Biff Allen BillEccles Raymond De Phillips Kas John Ramsey Bill Levtz David Blanchette Jean Pierre Troupet Maureen Desmond Mitch Conder Jay Beasley Guy De Verville Cote Dale Winders Michael Kester Pascal Dupont Dobbs Cliff Hovan Jan Me Art Theater Todd Berkholder Tom Ahlbrand Stephen h/lorroney Ream Pool Service John Johnston WillDocherty Glen Stanton MattRiley Old Town Trolley Iris Raymond Hart Lighthouse Cafe Fred Mohr Phillip M. Smith Jean Michel Priou Volker Siekerman Pati Flotvers Lenore Harvey Trip Van Wieren Harry Mosley Jeff York John Lojiwicz George Martinez Randy Kidd Gary McDonald Rae Coates Hartley Parker Distributors The Pier House Resort and the Red Barn Theatre are teaming up with a special treat for you this season: For $14.95 enjoy Sunday Brunch at the Pier House and receive a ticket for that afternoon's performance of "A Souvenir— Tennessee Williams Remembered." This criti- cally acclaimed production features many up- beat and off-beat vignettes from many of Williams' familiar and lesser known works. The produc- tion has recentlv received Grants from the State IPI V / I 1 M. lv iO I w V*v* 11** y • V v v l • w U C3 »*»- * vO IS- \s i l l 1*1L\* **J LU L#̂ -> of Florida, Fine Arts Consortium to develop and tour the play. To enjoy this special season offer please call the Pier House at 294-9541 and make reservations for the Sunday Brunch Matinee Special. The play continues throughout the sea- son with scheduled performances most Satur- days and Sundays at 4 pm. ra 1=1 THE EDITOR AND THE POINCIANA TREE The flowers start like butterflies out yji tiicix otviiioj five petals out of a pod, loose-winged orchids; the wind bounces the flowers and light uiiuj tiic riowcis. The sun glares through green become tenuous as grey as spider or fossil leaves; lacelike ferns; the tree spins on a hood of fern out of its winter. The flower starts out of the chrysalis. The underbelly of the sky is jewelled. Under his feet as he steps along to the office in the spring month, the sidewalk shines red with the first dying of skins. All over town the trees carry enormous flowers or enormous rafts of flowers, orangy scarlet, fat strawberry scarlet, the long petal of each five agile, dark red and bee yellow, the stamens rust brown red, tipped gold in places to take up this vamp petal against the main trumpet and trombone of scarlet. The flowers rest like galleons on the light lake of the ferns—ruffles—Leaves more suited to a damp wood than to such big town branches or to bearing such draughts of flowers. He's not the oldest Key Wester by many a chalk, quite a newcomer: an old hand and a spring lamb; so he looks up and down when he steps along outside for a breath of windy air, still surprised, half a grin at the treasures the deep_tree has stealthily and then blazed forth in May and the May issue on the porch for going out and June coming together under the fans . and the methodic whirr and assembly of the paper. , Judith Kazantzis HEALTH CAM $P£€iAU$Ts 937 Fleming Street Cor. Fleming 8 Grinnell Since 1954 294-2552 RENTALS & SALES Wheelchairs • Walkers •Commodes • Hospital Beds • Trapeze Bars * Traction • Suction 1 Inhalation Therapy 1 Orthotique Supports 1/ A. oaas • trapeze Dan * iracrran JPta«sJi3& Machine! • Canei • Crutches • Inhc S B B I eO!tomy Supplies • Orthotique 1 f i l l • Dressing Supplies« III I ^Special Orders Are • I " 1 *Free Pick Up and Deliver No Problem Up and Delivery in Key West, Stock Island and Key Haven. ALL OF US IN WISH BILL THE BEST IN THE NEXT JO YEABS BAGATELLE THE ISLAND RESTAURANT Lunch and Dinner e Noon to 11 p.m. 115 Duval, Old Town Reservations 294-7195 : - Master Charge Visas American express CRPT. BOB'S FflfTlOUS SHRIfTlP DOCK RESTRURflNT OPEN DRILY 7:OO fl.m. 294-6433 Famous for serving fresh seafood -99«t. BRERKFRST SPECIflL- Shrimp: Steamed, Stuffed or Fried 9 Lobster • Oysters • Stone Crab Claws « Red Snapper • Swordfish * Steak • Chicken Conch Chowder 8c Conch Fritters Homemade: Key Lime Pie, Cheesecake • COCKTfllLS •BEER • WINE • -Family Owned and Operated-. In Ket) West for 16 years . . . using local seafood and native recipes -Home of Famous Honey Biscuits- WE'VE HflD PEOPLE COfTlE FROfTI EUROPE FOR OUR CONCH FRITTERS! 22OO No. Roosevelt Blvd. PLENTY OF PARKING RE - VISA - me Bill: We've been with you since the Beginning and look forward to another 1O years/1 BOB & BETTY 78 BEST WISHES TO SOLARES HILL ON ITS 10 If I ANNIVERSARY The Key West Citizen MONROE COUNTY'S ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER 515 Greene Street THE CHINA CLIPPER ATTENTION LOCAL COLLECTORS; OUR NEWEST SHIPMENT IS NOW IN! ... Contemporary jewelry, Chinese porcelains, wood and stone carvings, cloisonne, ivory and much, much more. Decorator and antique pieces selected throughout China by us directly. At the China Clipper, substantial savings to you are our way of doing business. -LUXURY MADE AFFORDABLE - • 310 DUVAL STREET, 294=213$ Xej West iYafarai Market As Natural as a Key West Sunset GRAND OPENING SAT MAY 3rd. FreeGifts Taste Samplings 20% off Open 10:00-6:00 Monday-Sund&y Discounts Vitamins Herbs Cosmetics Grand Opening Week May 3rd-May 10th 417GweneSt Key West 294-2098 t/ of tA& Jfc[(mtA/ A SPECIAL PRICE FOR JUNE WEDDINGS La Te Da can provide you with thai "perfect" setting to cut the rake and toasl the *hride &. groom . with a champagne reception or a wedding feast to long remember. And if you have 50 or more guests, La Te Da will invite you to play in paradise with a complimentary room and private whirlpool hath plus a champagne breakfast in bed. CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION - $12/per person Champagne, pastries, & the wedding eake LUNCHEON RECEPTION - % 16.50/per person Three courses including soup, entree, dessert 1= Make your plans today, call 294-8435 HELPLINE VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS helped nearly 11,000 people last year. Now, HELPLINE needs your help. Beginning Tuesday, April 29th, HELPLINE will begin spring training classes. When training is completed, you're asked to volunteer only four hours per week. Become a vital member of a team of friendly, caring and dedicated people who share a sense of fulfillment by providing an essential community service. For more information call 296-HELP or 1-800-341-4343 - TODAY! Larry Szuch, Executive Director WATERFRONT CAMPGROUND & TRAILER PARK IN DOWNTOWN KEY WEST CAMP& WALK TO OLD TOWN ATTRACTIONS- MOBILE HOME. APARTMENT. COTTAGE RENTALS TENT. VAN. MOTOR HOME & TRAILER SITES • FULL HOOKUPS. HOT SHOWERS, DUMP STATION OLD TOWN BICYCLE RENTALS 223 ELIZABETH ST., (305) 294-5723 RESERVATIONS WELCOME our friend Bill Huckel on this anni- versary 80 FOOD? I was settin' in this restaurant When the waiter came up and said, "What do you want?" I looked at the menu—it looked so nice Till he said, "Let me give you a little advice." He said, "Spaghetti and potatoes got too much starch, Pork chops and sausage are bad for the heart. There's hormones in chicken and beef and veal, Bowl of ravioli is a dead man's meal. Bread got preservatives, there's nitrites in ham, Artifical coloring in jellies and jam. Stay away from donuts, run away from pie, Pepperoni pizza is a sure way to die. Sugar's gonna rot your teeth and make you put on weight, artificial sweetener's got cyclamates. Eggs are high cholesterol, too much fat in cheese, Coffee ruins your kidneys, and so do teas. Fish got too much mercury, red meat is poison, Salt's gonna send your blood pressure risin'. Hot dogs and bologne got deadly red dyes, Vegetables and fruits are sprayed with pesticides." So I said, "What can I eat that's gonna make me last?" He said, "A small drink of water in a sterilized glass." And then he stopped and he thought for a minute, And said, "Never mind the water—there's carcinogenics in it." So I got up from the table and walked out in the street Realizin1 there was nothing I could eat. ^ So I haven't eaten for a month and I don't feel too fine, But I know that 111 be healthy for a long long time. a TINY FOOTPRINTS See the tiny footprints Leadin' through the snow Follow tiny footprints Soon you're gonna know (If you escape the snapping beak And the flapping wings) Tiny footprints are not always Made by tiny things. 81 THE BIONIC NOSE It was down round the Pole where the icicles grows Where the temperature gets in the 60s belows An Eskimo boy named Last of the Joes Went out in the wind and froze his nose. They picked him up from the cold cold snows They wrapped him in sealskins from head to toes They thawed out his fingers, they warmed up his toes But woe of woes they couldn't save his nose. Yes they had to amputate his nose But luckily passing was Dr. Mose Who was out fishing from one of the floes. And he took some wire and rubber hose And built Last of the Joes a bionic nose. It can break down walls, it can conquer foes From a mile away it can smell a rose It can tie itself in knots and bows And open any door you close. It looks quite normal in repose But in the dark oh how it glows. It can get into places a nose never goes It can get in for free at the circus or shows ELEPHOG I'm worried about my elephog (He's half elephant and half dog) And he just sits around like a bump on a log, And I don't know what to feed him. All day long he howls and moans For the elephant part wants ice-cream cones, But the part that's dog wants only bones, And the elephant part won't eat'em. It c a n swing like a lasso,ax.stretch like a hose Arid if you'd like a picture he gladly will pose And autograph it the way you'd suppose. It c a n save people drowning or scare away crows It's good catching baseballs but b a d making throws. It has its own hat a n d it wears its own clothes And a T-shirt that says "Bionic Nose." It combats crime—why just suppose The nose lay down to take a doze And you saw someone breaking those Fishing rods of Dr. Mose Or m a y b e stealing those . _ Books of poetry or prose. Why you just yell, "Bionic Nose!" And it will wake from its repose And stretch out like a rubber hose And wind around, entrapping those Thieves who stole those things they chose. If a girl's on the train track Tied u p in the throes Of danger by one of her rejected beaus And the train's getting closer—the headlight glows Why you should hear the ahs and ohs When the nose reaches out and the freight train slows And the poor girl is saved from the villains like those Oh everyone loves it but everyone knows Don't let it catch cold—for if it ever blows Beware of the boy with the bionic nose. PARROT On my h e a d there is a parrot Living with me in my garret, And I feed him bits of carrot, And he drinks my finest claret, And every candy bar I buy, He's always there to share it, And every suit that I put on, He says, "I wouldn't wear it," And everything I say he says Just hasn't any merit, And every magazine I read He reaches down to tear it. And I c a n no longer bear it, I'm moving out, I swear it. Can I do it? Do I dare it? Yes, I'll l eave this silly parrot in this garret with the claret So good-bye, you noisy parrot. "Good-bye, where are you going?" "Away." "Well 111 come with you." "No you won't I'm going away from you!" "Well then I'll come away from me with you." "But then I'd have to go away from you going a w a y from you." "But then I'd have to go away from ... oh, forget it, 111 stay." "Fine . . . got any claret?" 82 continued from page 43 the city until this Friday, April 4, to indicate a willingness to go forth with the transfer—or the GSAwill prepare to goto public auction with the property. Earlier this month, Barney Maltby, chief of property transfers for the region sent a letter to Steve McDaniel in which he said that, if the RDA and the city did not proceed with KWHD deal, the GSA itself might enter into a partnership with KWHD so that the proposed development could go forth.'He noted that, if that were to happen, it would override any city zoning codes since the U.S. Government is exempt from them. In simple terms, it would allow KWHD to build high-rise buildings—or anything else they wanted—on the property. This threat was hightly unusual. As well, a number of people found it curious that Dent sat at a city commission meeting last month with his arm around Maltby, whispering in his ear. DEJAVU#1 "We might throw the whole damn thing out the window and do it our own way. We'll give the city until Friday. If they don't do anything by then we'll take action on our own—we're going to tell them what the property will be used for. We'll just go ahead with our own little plan. We can't wait any longer."—Barney Maltby, GSA (5/9/80) However, this may not be the last word on the matter. Bob Fisher of.the national property dis- bursement division of the GSA in Washington D.G. said that his office can supercede decisions made in Atlanta "if it has reason to do so." In a telephone interview last Thursday, he expressed some confusion over the cureent sta- tus of the sale and indicated that, the Washing- ton office was unaware that there were any prob- lems with or controversy surrounding the pro- perty transfer and that, according to his records, the transfer has already been completed. He also knew nothing about Maltby's letter to the RDA last month threatening that the GSA itself might enter into a deal with the developer and proceed with the plans outside fo the city's coding and zoning regulations. When asked about that threat, he admitted that it sounded "irregular," and promised to look into the matter. DEJAVU#2 "This marks the final hurdle in the city's efforts to purchase the prime property and plan long-term development in coopera- tion with the development Corporation." —KW Citizen (7/77) The New News about the Forthcoming New Radio News and The New Newspaper The purchase of John Magliola's controlling interest (55%) of radio station FM 107 is pres- ently being negotiated with Holder Communi- cations. Harold Holder, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and principal stock- holder of American Agrinomics, Inc., a vertically- integrated citrus organization which includes the largest orange grove in the world, is also on the board of directors of KWHD and is rumored to be the man in the wings with the money. Holder is also Director, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and principal shareholder of Coastland Corporation, a Florida-based com- munity development company which, in 1981, developed the 3,000 acre San Carlos Park in Lee County. He is also a principal shareholder of Cutler-Federal, Inc., the Director of Sun City Industries, President of Golden Harvest, Inc., and the owner of five other private companies. It is commonly rumored that Holder is the real money behind KWHD which, given his holdings, would not be hard to believe. Holder, presumably aware of the potential to influence public opinion through local media, is not only hoping to take control of the most- listened-to-local radio station. He is also planning the Truman Annex so that it will both conform to the directives for affordable housing and light industry which had riot been addressed in the current plans, as well as reflect the new Rate-Of- Growth (ROG) Ordinance currently being written by the Zoning Board with city planner Art Mosely. At a City Hall workshop last Monday, Mosley outlined the impact that the new Commuity Redevelopment Plan will have on the proposed development. He estimated that, according to present zon- ing plans and the physical limitations of the island, approximately 5,000 units remain to be builtin Key West. Of those, 1,400 (mostlysmall projects) have already been approved or are "automatic," or not controlled by Commission action. Thus, there remain 3,600 possible units to be constructed in the city. Of those, the The Custom House as seen from across the harbor p/w>> Sluron HW/> to launch a weekly Key West newspaper with a reported press run (the number of copies printed) of 26,000—at least one copy for every citizen over 15. If a newspaper does appear and Holder does take over the radio station (and its news), will the quality and depth of local news improve or deteriorate even further? (See "Magnum Force" below.) Let's hope for the best, wish him well, and wait and see. . Resignations and Buying Time On March 25, RDA board members Dr. Philip Dobert and FM 107 radio station owner John Malgiola—who were serving as board members in apparent violation of State Law—tendered their resignations from that agency. They were replaced by Robert Kruse, a charter pilot and contractor, and Lou Hernandez, a former General Services Administration (GSA) employee. The GSA is the governmental agency charged with transferring the property from the U.S. Navy to the City of Key West. It is hoped that Hernandez's experience may be helpful in securing an addi- tional six-month extension on the present April 30 deadline set by the GSA. The city is requesting a six-month delay so that the newly-reconstituted RDA can revise the Conceptual Redevelopment Plan for land-use of "share" available to the Truman Annex property (based on linear footage) is only 600 units—less than 1/3 the number of units proposed by Key West Harbour Development Corporation (KWHD) of Sarasota, the RDA's selected developer. The "mix" of residential units vs. transient units (hotels, motels, guest houses, etc.) is 5 to 1, or 20%. This 20% transient quota would allow the developer to build a maximum total of only 120 such units—less than half the number of units presently planned for a new hotel on Front Street alone. Mosley added that he would further recommend that a new hotel not be included in the development plans saying that it would clearly be better if they were not included in "one monolithic structure." Of the remaining 480 possible residential units, the city would recommend that lA of them—or 240—be dedicated to low-to-moderate income housing. Given that the median income in Key West is presently $20,000/year, Mosley defined affordable housing (in terms of one- bedroom uits) as follows: Rental units should be priced at 30% of the median income, or $500/month. Purchased units should be priced at 3-times the median income, or $60,000. This too is a far cry from the $400,0004500,000 price tag for con do units announced by former . RDADirector Dennis Anderson as long ago as 1979. DejaVu#3 Board member Philip Dolbert compares the development of the Truman Annex (which he calls the "most valuable piece of property in the State of Florida") to the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. Further, he claims that it is "bad citizenship" to propose affordable housing at the Truman Annex and says, "Only a fool would put a public park or public housing on the Truman Annex." (12/79) DejaVu#4 Former RDA Director Dennis Anderson says that the Navy land is being targeted for the wealthy market because "there are no accommodations for the rich in Key West." (5/79) The RDA seemed to have been buying time as well. For an entire month following the call for the resignations of two board members, the RDA frequently spoke of itself as operating in a "spirit of compromise and conciliation." Yet that board failed to even address the issue of those board members' residence at any of their meetings. The end result was that a full month of valuable time which could have been used more produc- tively against an impending GSA deadline was instead used for power-jockeying. RDA attorney Michael Halpern, never deny- ing that the evidence of a residence problem was legitimate, exhibited his willingness to "work with the city in moving forward" by intimating that he would pursue a legal battle with the city unless it was willing to select at least one replacement from a list of up to 30 citizens which he would bring before the Commission. If the city would do so, he said, the board members in question would step down voluntarily. The reason he originally gave for such a procedure was to insure a "smooth and workable transition" from one board to another, one that would not result in an internally antagonistic board. Weeks later, a different motive surfaced. At the March 25th City Commission/RDA work- shop, when RDA Board Member Gus Mirzaoff offered a name for inclusion on Halpem's list, the gesture was resisted by Halpern who claimed that he was "protecting his client's (John Magliola's) rights" to select a replacement for himself. Halpern was publically challenged with the possibility that (as the RDA's attorney) if Magli- ola had been serving illegally, he had no client to protect. Though Halpern was at the workshop table as the RDA's attorney, he then stated that he was present as/and was being retained pri- vately to represent Magliola. There have been numerous questions regard- ing Halpem's contract—or lack of one—with the RDA, which have led to requests for the Florida Bar Association to look in the matter. Further, given the evidence of city commission dissatisfaction with his efforts (or lack of) in protecting Key West's interests in the deal— Halpem's motives may well have included the protection of his own job as RDA attorney. If an unfriendly majority were to sit on that board, Halpern could be easily removed. Solares Hill believes that there are, at the very least, appearances of improprieties on the part of H j e believe|hat he,£jipuld jesjgn.,. 83 RDA headquarters photo by Sharon Wells Another Questionable Contract There are a number of questions in regard to Michael Halpern's "contract" to serve as the RDA's attorney: 1. There has never been any discussion what- soever of a fee structure or of any contract between the RDA and Michael Halpern at any meeting of the RDA—which would seem to indicate that, even if there were a valid contract, it was not passed at a public meet- ing. 2. The only mention of hiring Halpern was a motion passed at the RDA's October 2,1985 meeting which was attended by only three board members and one of them—John Magliola—seems to have been serving on the board at that time in violation of State Law 81-405, which may mean^hat even that motion, made by Magliola, was improper. Peter Ikhuk: McDaniel's mayoral campaign manager. Former advisor to Mayor Heyman. Business associate of Bill Jones. Co-author of KW Chamber of Commerce endorsement of KWHD plans. SOCIOGRAM: A chart giving a graphically representative view of relationships between a distinctly socially-related group of individuals. i s: f Bill Jones: Businessman operating on RDA property, given free rental space by McDaniel. Business Associate of Peter Ilchuk. Owner of Harbor House (Front Street). McDaniel's mayoral campaign principal fundraiser. Ralph Haben: Former Speaker of the Florida House. Former law partner of John Dent's. Helped create the Key West RDA. An investor in KWHD. r-^»John Dent: President of KWHD. ^Attorney for County Property Assessor, Irwin Higgs. Hosted McDaniel's parents for Christmas. Harold Holder: KWHD investor and Board member. Negotiating purchase of FM 107. Planning a new city newspaper. \ John Magliola: Former RDA Treasurer. Principal owner of FM 107. (Phoenix Broadcasting). Steve (A. J.) McDaniel: -<£ Executive Director of the RDA. Fishing-buddy of Culverhouse's. Conducted business for PBA . . . and improper business for KWHD. Friend of John Dent's. Gave free RDA lease to Bill Jones. V V Michael Halpern: Attorney fo^the RDA. Attorney for John Magliola—an ex-Board member of Phoenix Broadcasting. Hugh Culverhouse: Business partner with John Dent. Held PBA Airlines in receivership. Owner of the Tampa Bay Bucks. Debartio Corporation: Steve McDaniel's last employer. Owners of San Francisco 49'ers. 3. The bill that Halpern presented two weeks ago at an RDA meeting was questionable in that he demanded and collected payment for $2,175 for one 24 hour period during which he claimed to have worked 43.5 hours. 4. The contract is undated. 5. It is Signed by Board Chairman Paul Sher over a space marked "Director," which is Mr. McDaniel's title. 6. The contract contains a clause which is dif- ferent from any previous lawyers' contract though the board has never discussed nor approved such a change. 7. The contract may on its face contain a con- flict of interest in that Halpern has indicated that part of his fee is a portion (.5%) of the selling price. As such, Halpern has, without board approval, included a closing payment from the firm he is negotiating against. 8. The .5% payment would constitute an interest on the part of Halpern which could prevent him from pursuing the possibility of a reduced selling price from the government. 9. Both Executive Director McDaniel and the RDA's financial director said that there was no contract. One cannothelp but wonder when arid where the terms of the RDA contract were determined. The U.S. Justice Department, the Florida Bar Association, and the U.S. Attorney's Office Fraud Division in Miami have all been notified about these matters and an investigation seems likely to follow. Halpern's "hiring," incidentally, came on the heels of Attorney Robert Feldman's resignation over such issues as the reduction of the re-hire clause of Mr. McDaniel's contract with the RDA and unaddressed problems in the lease agree- ment—problems which ultimately were revealed in the city-funded $10,000 Peat, Marwick, Mit- chell Report which was highly critical of the terms of the lease, written—not by the city nor the RDA—but by a lawyer who is an investor in the development corporation. Among the criticisms of the RDA was that they failed on repeated occasions to provide both the city and Peat, Marwick, Mitchell with all documents pertinent to the study. DejaVu#5 " ' "Louis Signorelli has filed suit against both the City of Key West and the Key West RDA charging them both with failure to provide public records relating to a recent Navy audit of the RDA. The suit contends that Signorelli was denied per- mission to reproduce the documents 'con- trary to law,'" KW Citizen (3/4/83) After the release of the highly-critical Peat, Marwick, Mitchell report, the RDA began refer- ring to it as only a "proposed lease." DejaVu#6 RDA Board member Gus Mirzaoff, on April 11,1985 submits a 24-item criticism ofthe lease agreement between the RDA and KWHD to Steve McSaniel, the RDABoard, and to then-RDA attorney Robert Feld- man. No action is taken by the board. Five months later, Feldman resigns. Magnum Force Last week, John Magliola's resignation came after it had beendetermined that, under oath, he had claimed that his primary place of residence was Charleston, South Carolina. Chapter 81- 405 ofthe Florida Statutes requires that Magli- ola be a resident of Monroe County to serve on the RDA board. Ironically, three years ago, at the time Steve McDaniel was being considered for the position of RDA Executive Director, Magliola had been nominated to the RDA board and his right to sit was then being challenged on the same basis. Magliola had reportedly claimed on a radio broadcast that he was a resident and a registered voter who had voted in a previous city election. Supervisor of Elections William "Billy" Freeman however denied that Magliola was in the files. At the time, Magliola was also serving witht the Tourist Development Council (TDC), dual posi- tions that RDA attorney Feldman considered to be in conflict with the Florida statutes. Years ago, John Magliola was known, in South Carolina, as radio announcer "John Mag- num." Most Key Westers are familiar with Magliola's distinctive radio voice. What most listeners are not familiar with are his attitudes regarding FCC programming regulations which govern the operation of his station. Last month, immediately following the city commission meeting at which his right to serve on the RDA board had been challenged by Jimmy Weekley, Magliola approached his chief news reporter, Ray Pace, outside the radio sta- tion. There, in a loud voice, ordered Pace to never again interview Commissioners Halloran, Lewis or Weekley, or allow their opinions to be heard over his station. This sort of intentionally directed bias is an absolute violation of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations' regarding "fair play" and the public service laws. Further, Magliola left a written note in Pace's typewriter ordering him not to broadcast his own comments (recorded by Pace after the meeting) the following day, despite the fact that he was, as is called in the trade, a "newsmaker." DejaVu#7 "What's good for Key West is good for FM 107 and we will never do anything to harm the city." " —John Magliola (1983) Pace was fired last week from FM 107. The details of his firing are very interesting. "I was told at a meeting that the station was being purchased.but that there'dbe no substan- tive changes in its" operation. Thirty-five min- utes later, I was told—in a private meeting with • General Manager Joe Russo—that I had a choice to leave at that moment or to work one more week. I was being fired. No reason was given except that the new owner was planning .to install satellite-fed news. Nonetheless, in the interim, Tom Netting (who SH has learned is a'n old close friend of Magliola's) would step in for $175/week." When asked if this represented a danger to fair news coverage in Key West, Pace said, "Yes. Key West is in very bad shape. Last year we lost Eileen.Hammel's local news from TCI. Five months ago we lost Steve Cason, a very fair- minded City Hall reporter, from the Citizen. And we lost an excellent reporter, Patty Shillington, from the Miami Herald." "What the city is being fed is controlled news. On a .day-to-day basis, Key West is not only uninformed, it is being misinformed—and who- ever controls the news media can—to a great extent—control public opinion. A recent Birch (broadcasting) survey attributes a whopping 44% of adult listenership to FM 1097—an unheard-of market in a field of 7 stations." As to Pace's credibility and reputation, Mon- roe County Mayor Wilhelmina Harvey says, "Ray Pace is one of the most professional reporters with whom I have ever been in contact. I've seen him give the opposite views the same amount of attention as my own. He is always fair. . . and that is a rare quality in a reporter. He is to be admired." Short Circuit Among the most contradictory and bewilder- ing aspects of recent reports coming from the RDA concerns the threat of a power shut-off to the Truman Annex. In January, Steve McDaniel announced that the Navy would be cutting off power to the Annex on March 31, the date coinciding with the most recent former closing date for the sale to KWHD. Within a few days, it was announced that, if the sale went forward KWHD would be so generous as to bring in $30,000 worth of equip- ment to solve the problem, A few days later the news improved further when it was announced that the tab would be closer to $3,000-$4,000. Son after, McDaniel announced that the cut- off would take place the following April 1st and that the Navy would not guarantee any power or switchover after that date. He added that the Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jemigan engineering study would cost up to $5,000 and that the total work would take at least three weeks to complete. At a later city commission meeting, Paul Sher, responding to a question posed by Bleth McHailey of Treasure Salvors, claimed that a solution had been found and that the power would stay on. Days later, Bobby Padron of City Electricsaid that his boys were waiting in the wings to do the work and that it would take roughly three days to complete. ' Several days later, McDaniel made another statement: the cut-off fears were over. The Navy, City Electric, Post, Buckley, and others had agreed to cooperate. It is interesting to note that while McDaniel and Sher were running around claiming that the sky was falling, both Padron and Captain Ray Sullivan were doing everything they could to assure City Manager Joel Koford that they were doing everything in their powers to keep the power on. , . ." • If this sequence of events and contradictory information is typical ofthe RDA's new claim of "working in cooperation with the city," we're all in trouble. Let's hope that the new RDA board will truly cooperate with the city government and act in .the best interests of the city. ' I 85" EMERGENCIES Ambulance 296-2401 or 911 Fire 296-2828 or 911 HELPLINE/Latch Key Program 296-HELP, 294-LINE Missing Children 1-800-342-0821 Poison Control (24hours) . . . 1-800-282-3171 Police 911 or 294-2511 Rape Victim Advocacy Program 294-5531 x4766 Sheriff 296-2424 EDUCATION Adult Education 294-5212 Child Find (FDLRS) 296-7541 Downtown Center, FKCC 294-8481 Exceptional Student Education 296-7541 Florida Keys Community College.. 296-9081 Monroe County Schools 296-6523 Parenting Skills Classes 296-5911 RECREATION Armed Services YMCA 296-6616 Boy Scouts 745-3987 City of Key West Recreation Dept... 294-3721. Girl Scouts 745-3737 Monroe County Public Library 294-8488 CHILD ABUSE Child Abuse Office, FKMH 294-5531 Child Protective Services, HRS . . . . 294-9513 Child Protection Team, FKMH 294-5531 Coalition Against Child Abuse 294-5531 Guardian Ad-Litem 296-7518 Parenting Classes, FKMH 294-5531 Parents Anonymous . . . 296-HELP, 294-LINE Puppet Show 294-5531 .Reporting, HRS . . . 1-800-342-9152, 294-1050 Volunteer Child Advocacy Team . . . 294-5531 Family and Health Services NAVY Counseling & Assistance Center 292-2533 Family Advocacy 296-2461 Navy Alcohol Safety Action Program 292-2555 Navy Family Service Center 292-3152 Navy Relief 292-2196 DAY CARE See Yellow Pages listing for day nurseries and child care. SOCIAL SERVICES Big Brothers & Big Sisters 294-9891 Commodity Food Bank 294-8468 Community Control 294-1059 Developmental Services 294-1059 Domestic Abuse Shelter 296-HELP, 294-LINE Juvenile Alternative Services Program 296-7465 Monroe County Food Bank 294-8468 Monroe County Social Services 294-8468 HEALTH Al-Anon 296-6616, 294-5531 Ala-Teen 296-6616 Alcoholics Anonymous 296-8654 Blind Services .* 1-800-342-1828 Chemical Dependency Unit, Delphos 294-5531 Childbirth Education . . . 294-3490, 294-4536 Easter Seal 294-1089 Family Planning 294-1021 Hello Baby 294-5531 Helping Hand Stroke Club 294-5531 Hospice 294-8812 Improved Pregnancy Outcome LaLeche Foundation . LaMaze 294-1068, MARC House - Detox Mental Health Care Center Monroe County Health Dept Narcotics Anonymous Nutrition Program Ostomy Support Classes Overeaters Anonymous Up Front/Drug Information . . 1-800 Well Baby/Medicaid Clinic W.I.C. (Women, Infants & Children) 294-1021 745-2274 294-4218 743-6551 294-5237 294-1021 296-7999 294-1021 296-8659 294-5183 •432-8255 294-1021 294-1021 MISCELLANEOUS Adoptions 294-9513 Birth Certificates 294-1021 Family Resource Center, FKMH.... 294-5531 Foster Homes: Information & Licensing .294-9513 Legal Services . . . . . . 294-4641 x358 National Switchboard for Runaways 1-800-621-4000 Red Cross 296-3651 Salvation Army 294-5611 Single Parent Hotline 1-800-638-9675 Victim Witness Assistance Program 294-5165 Welcome Home Ministries 296-2366 Zonta 296-4357 FABRIC WORLD ViAnn Stange 613 Simonton St., Key West, FL 33040 305-294-1773 /Robert W. Douvilie, M.D., P.A. L. KEY WEST EYE CLINIC ROBERT W. DOUVILLE, M.D. Eye Physician and Surgeon 1111 12th Street, Suite 107 Key West, Florida 33040 (305)294-8494 GIBSON APPLIANCES BOA'S SERVICE "Best ServicB In Town" 825 DUVAL STREET KEY WEST, FLORIDA 33040 "WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS OF APPLIANCES" 305 296-2403 JOHU'S MOBILE AUTO .REPAIR SERVICE ON THIS!*©? CALL 294-1724 Low Hourly Rates Certified Mechanic U\£.U Saulh.rns.nh 535 Saton *Sti£.&l (P.O. Box SO7 (305) 294-3036 Wtit, 3U. 33O40 TEC GENERAL HEALTH FOODS S FITNESS CENTER 3302 North Roosevelt Blvd. (Searstown Shopping Center) TOMMY ANDERSON P h o n e : Owner 296-3250 HOSPITAL A MODERN 34-BED FACILITY OFFERING: 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES 1200 KENNEDY DRIVE, KEY WEST. FLORIDA 33040 TELEPHONE 294-4692 "The friendly place that's cared since 1958" John the' butler PROFESSIONAL CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY STEAM CLEANING WATER DAMAGE SPECIALISTS EVENING * WEEKENDS APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE RESIDENTIAL — COMMERCIAL LOCAU Y OWNED t OPERATED BY lohn end maty Joan amith J96J083J Scotchgard KENNETH A. ROSEN .M.D., P.A. Diplomate, America Board of Dermatology MEDICARE ACCEPTED Diseases & Surgery of the Skin, Hair, Nails Skin Cancer/ Collagen Implants Laser Surgery at 3428 NO. ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD KEY WEST, FLORIDA TELEPHONE 296-6562 305-294-1036 294-1037 DR. GILBERT A. RICHARDSON DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC 3208 FLAGLER AVE. P.O. BOX 2397 KEY WEST, FL 33040 KEY WEST SCHOOL OF REBIRTHJNG (CONSCIOUS BREATHING) offers —Free public lectures —Workshops and trainings —Private sessions at sliding scale fees FOR INFORMATION, CALL 296-5506 S!PC• Member New York Slock Exchange Perry's Plaza 3706-H N. Roosevelt Blvd. Key West. Florida 33040 Phone (305) 294-9575 Outside Florida (.800) 327-5964 Inside Florida (800) 526-7401 FOTH -TAYLOR. S.TISINC5 4i

1986-04 Solares Hill Newspaper, Vol. 14 No. 4, April 1986

Publication

Florida Keys History Center

Name/Title

Collection