r Tie highest ffl point in Key West FREE VOL. X I I I , NO. 5 KEY WEST, FL MAY, 1982 '•"/S/A Birken StOCK' Let your feet make aplace for themselves. ... footprints 505 Southard Street Key West 11 Key Lime Square 294 1254 FROM TIIE WHAT'S HAPPENING? A major devel- opment known as Carysfort Yacht Club recently pleaded guilty to illegally clearing 30 acres of hardwood hammock at their building site. What is shock- ing is that the State Attorney's office waived the restoration provision of the law which states that the violater shall be required to restore the site with native Keys vegetation or other appropriate vegetation as outlined in a restoration plan as approved by the Building Department. The State Attor- ney's office said that in light of the current revegetated condition of the subject property this part of the law would be waived. This is scarcely a deterrent to pillaging and scarifying on our Keys by uncaring developers. They should be forced to replant as the pro- perty was originally wooded. I KNOW GAIL Matthews, the recently fired meter maid. I believe her when she says that she lost her job because she ticketed the car and truck of a commissioner. The reason given that she was fired because the police depart- ment needed to apply her salary toward putting two new men in uniform sounds funny when you read that Gail was ticketing around $250 a day. It would seem that the city would want to hold on to a revenue-producer like this - the money that she brings the city in fines would more than pay for these new men. Good luck, Gail - I hope that you get your job back at the Civil Service hearing. WINTER VISITOR ARNOLD Sundgaard dropped by the other day and had some nice things to say about our library. Arnold is a talented writer who recent- ly had the assignment of writing an 85-minute "living newspaper" stage production for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. Among the hard-to-find material that our library supplied Arnold were the biography of "Big Bill" Hutcheson, a colorful early president of the union, and a record album of work songs sung by the University of Cincinnati chorus from which he adapted three for his production. We do have a good library. READ BILL WESTRAY'S editorial about the (maybe) coming development horrors in the Upper Keys.. Miami Herald columnist Al Burt sounded his alarm at the run-away building going on there; Bill Westray continues to warn us of what is coming unless we get proper planning. The Zoning Department of Monroe County came under deserved fire for permitting so many large develop- ments to proceed unhindered by any concern about what such building would do to us. Removal of "critical state concern" for the county in July seems questionable and no wonder. MANY PEOPLE HAVE been worried about the Ocean Reef Spur pipeline that F.K.A.A. put in even after knowing that the residents of Ocean Reef, who have their own water supply, would fight against accepting F.K.A.A. service.' Now the F.K.A.A. has reached an agree- ment with Ocean Reef that makes Ocean Reef responsible for paying a pipeline development fee and states they won't have to use this water now. This re- leases all that water for new develop- ment. On top of this it has been dis- covered that the new pipeline which was designed for a flow of 1.37 million gallons per day can actually carry over double that amount. What a happy coincidence for all those developers waiting with plans for thousands of new units to be built up there. COMPLAINTS CONTINUE TO come out of the County jail. Fights, guard harass- ment, roaches, rotten plumbing, lack of soap, etc. This is an odious facil- ity and one of the worst aspects of it is overcrowding. We will keep in touch with this problem and follow-up on it soon. I HOPE THAT the City Commissioners pay attention to the inspired pleas of the Save Our Shoreline (S.O.S.) group. It is unthinkable to close off our city streets and deed them to private inter- ests. I love going to the Pier House and certainly agree that it is a great tourist and local attraction, but the Pier House doesn't need the end of Simonton Street deeded to it to meet its building requirements. We need our Gulf access, our street, and our beach. Read John Leslie's excellent report on this controversy in our centerfold. W + . COVER ARTIST THIS month is Roberta Brownell. She will be here this winter with her drawings and paintings. "*" UuSr a> 1HB SOUR SMttftfPTKN HERE IS $15.00 FOR MY SUBSCRIPTION TO 11 ISSUE OF' SOLARES HILL. NAME ADDRESS_ CITY STATE_ ZIP. Our mailing address: 513 Fleming Street Rm.3. Key West, Florida 33040 Phone numbers are 2glj_.10(jl) 4 294-2400 In Marathon call 872-2915 Solares Hill is a community newspaper published every month on the slopes >f Solares Hill, Key West's highest point, by Solares Hill Company, 513 Fleminq loom 3, Key West, Florida 33040. EDITOR BILL HUCKEL EDITORIAL CONSULTANT .BILL WESTRAY ART DIRECTION.. SOLARES HILL DESIGN GROUP With a Uttlz help ^offt OUA V K Bind ANCI TIIE OICIEST BAR BY BUD JACOBSON MORGAN BIRD AND his glittering en- tourage of shapely chicks and ruggedly handsome boys opened The Oldest Bar on Greene Street in 1962 and from the start it was a class act—maybe a little Rabelaisian at times, but class/ nevertheless. NOTHING TACKY. SLIGHTLY shocking, however, for those days. The Oldest Bar had an air of glamour and sophis- tication the likes of which hadn't been seen in Key West. As a result it drew a patronage that was well-mixed, to say the least. THE HAPPY SUCCESS of the Oldest Bar centered around its owner and his suave personality, the pudgy, gravel- voiced, double-chinned, witty, slightly tipsy most of the time, Morgan Bird. He was the scion of a wealthy family in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., that owned a few random coal mines which produced riches enough to send Morgan to Harvard where he became a shark at the bridge table and a rake in the social whirl of frequent college weekends. It pre- pared him well for Key West. TODAY, MANY OF those early patrons of the Oldest Bar are still drifting around, muttering to themselves that their old watering place has changed, turned into a garish, blaring, jukebox/ poolroom joint stuffed with gimcracks and tall tales for the tourist. Morgan would have shrugged and rolled his ex- pressive eyes. After he left Harvard and hung around the coal mining game for some years, Morgan was bored and started looking for some action in a more sim- patico atmosphere. IN LATE 1959 he found himself in Key West and after a look around and a couple^ drinks he returned enthusiastic- ally to Wilkes-Barre where he declared to Mary Ellen, a dear pal of many years, that he'd discovered their roost-to-be—;Key West. Why, there was even an official sign near the old Coast Guard building that said: Key West Is A Bird Sanctu- ary. Mysteriously, some mo#bhs later, the sign disappeared one night only to be found nailed to a wall in Morgan's party-filled house, the old Dewey home, near the shrimp boats, at the corner of Greene and Elizabeth—a propitious neighborhood for that crowd. MORGAN HAD TASTE and imagination and, at that time, was in Key West at the genesis of the restoration work in the old part of town. Mitchell Wolf- son's Audubon House had already been opened; Harbor House and Key West Hand Print were just starting out; carpen- 'SSI ters, house painters and the muscle- types were working all over the area making the place look downright fancy. ENTER DAVID WILLIAMS WOLKOWSKY, David's father had died and left the family with, among other items, most of a block bordered by Duval, Charles, Telegraph and Greene streets. Inside those bounds'were such famous was the ancient mahogany bar inside Pepe's. THEY GUTTED THE Duval Club, tear- ing down walls and opening up dark old recesses. Morgan and Stirrup figured out they'd open up the enormous cistern and turn it into an intimate nook, dimly lighted with a couple of leaning candles. Walls were changed. Old wood and timbers were used. A fireplace, real live and wood-burning, graced one corner. The bar itself was a huge open- well rectangle. Wooden stools surround- ed it. Roger Vail, one of the maddest of the local art colony, did a highly colorful mural along one wall, por- The. ch.m [iKom ln^t back low): Anntttz, Maiy Ellzn, dodo, ShiKllo. [partly hldde.n), LouxKlz, and 3 ixni.de.n.tJ-1-Ltd uiaJ.te.Jii. Vtiont tiovi: By/id, Danny and places as Pepe's Cafe, the Duval Club (later The Oldest Bar), a scraggly empty lot on the corner where seedy . cab drivers and lovable old winos hung out, and other old frame buildings. Morgan met David and they hooked up with Dan M. Stirrup, building design- er and restoration idea man. THE DUVAL CLUB was thought, at the time, to have the oldest issued liquor license in town—thus The Oldest Bar. Or so the story went. Actually, accord- ing to Perucho Sanchez, the oldest bar traying a gaggle of drunks, dopers and down-and-outers. THE PRIZE ROOM, as it developed, was what eventually became known as the "cistern and brethren" room, down a few steps into the concrete coziness of the old cistern. It was the scene for some highly intimate doings, clearly visible to the gasping, heavy-breathing voyeurs at the bar. On the other side of the bar from the cistern, a garden patio was buili- Breakfast 806 Carol ir^ Maureen Leslie 294-5937 ONE MONTH'S FREE MAINTENANCE WITH YEARLY SERVICE ON EITHER TOTAL YARD CARE .-Specialized Service/ EXPERT TYPING & EDITING SHRVICE WE TYPE ANYTHING XEROX COPIES TEMPORARY HELP ONE PAGE LETTER-ONE DAY SERVICE V v \ Professional discretion Honest Qualified So habla Espanol Sandra Barroso 415 FLEMING STREET KEY WEST, FLORIDA 33D40 FREE PARKING IN THE BACK 996-9.2}} NOTARY SERVICES PICK-UP I DELIVERY AVAILABLE XEROX COPIES 7 I Hyn.d [le.it) with Vanny Stitiup, Tuank ttttilo and Te.nne.iize. William* and aptly dubbed the "Conch Out." AND TO MAKE it -perfect. The Oldest Bar was manned by 'the tastiest and most saucily-clad bartenders ever seen in Key West, up to that time. Mary Ellen tended bar and sang some fetching ditties; Annabelle, a tall, sultry number, was with her along with one of the daffiest of the gang, DoDo Dangerfield, a lovely, witty, blonde number from Cape Cod, and Laurie, a beauty from Boston. OPENING NIGHT WAS a celebration that shut down Greene Street. Ah invi- tation affair and the invitations were poster-sized. They went out to the Conch 400, all the officials, all "dear and intimate friends," to the campy, the greats, the not-so-greats, And be- lieve it or not, almost everyone was dressed (when they arrived) . Artists, writers, poets,,lawyers, doctors, playwrights, sculptors—you name it. IN A VERY short time Morgan's The most civilized , ,* fe b'rurich I C #;; Our famous fdbr- cou'i|'se' prix fixe din Monday - Saturday Upstairs aVTerfaza Elegahrpriental Cuisine Monday -* Saturday 6 - lyUdnight Swimsuit Shop in the Tropics 1125DuvalSt. 294-0344 Preview 1982 Line Female Bikinis. Maillots, etc; "D"fcups;SplitjStefc Matfchlnti'Hats &sC^wets> i^jhShort-and Dress : CHRISTIAN SCIENCE A church service full of stirring new Ideas. (And <*H|jm, friendly people.) A Sunday School a place to grow A Reading Room full of revolutionary new ideas. (And helpful, encouraging books.) And a Wednesday testimony meeting where the healing power of these new-old Ideas is told, and people can give their thanks to God. Now that Introduced ourselves we'd love to have you come and share with us ... any time you can. First Church of Christ, Scientist 327 Elizabeth St. Sunday Service and Sunday School 10:00 a.m. (Infant care provided) Wednesday evening meetings 7:30 p.m.' Reading room in Church Building Daily except Sundays and Holidays 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. M l are weBconi® A gZcunoioui M'cution Ste.ve.ni at opznlng n-iqht with the. koit and JZm and Bunny Vagnlnl Oldest Bar was THE meeting place for cocktails, drinks, for afternoon beer, for the late hours, and Morgan himself was the charming host. THE FIRST NEW Year's Eve he was in business, Morgan made it a "reserva- tions only" party and closed the doorp to the outside. A couple of his burly, tough- looking pals were posted as bouncers but after several rounds of free booze SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Unique statues & sculptures • Unusual collectables Exclusive Key West gifts Objets d'art Fine jewelry BMOWSE A' BKAUM SHOPPE HARBOR HOUSE ARCADE, 423 FRONT ST., 294-3900 OPEN DAILY 10-8. MOST EVENINGS TIL 9 PM they wearied and the doors opened to sailors, soldiers and marines, to the obvious joy""6? many of the patrons. The delightful French artist, Marie DeMarsan, a well-loved figure here for many years, arrived on horseback and was greeted nonchalantly by Morgan. "YOU'LL HAVE THE usual, I suppose, he said, "what about your friend?" "Som'f'water, darling, merci," she said in that marvelous throaty accent. Capt,Bob9 Shrimp • Oysters Lobsters • Clams Stone Crab Claws Red Snapper Conch Chowder • Fritters Steak • Chicken 908 CAROLINE STREET PHONE 294-9005 —"TSfilW May Is Survivors Month At BAGATELLE PREMIUM CHAMPAGNE EXTRAVAGANZA DOM PERICNON 73 only $80.00 anytime LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL 75 only $80.00 MUMM'S CORDON ROUGE Vintage 1976,1.5L only $75.00 TO CELEBRATE SURVIVAL ... get an additional 10% off our famous dinners when taking advantage of these great prices. 1T5 DUVAL STREET • RESERVATIONS: 294-7195 SomR Bodywork in Key West Soma Neuro Musciilar Integration is a body/mind process for people who want to: Open Their Awareness Be more Creative & Self-Reliant Reduce Chronic Pain Feel more Sensually Alive Experience Less Stressful Tension Look Trimmer & Feel More Energy Dale G. Alexander/MA Counseling Certified Soma Practitioner Key West Chiropractic Clinic 3401 Flagler Ave., Key West 296-5626 or 296-7339 _J "announcement £OR all tenants & lanOLoROS "a victory POR youR health" has Been won By flORioa's 1982 legislative in passing house Bill ^ ' ^ J * fjfres: "no lAn6loR6 may pRohiBit a tenant fRom usage of a flotation BeoMnq system „. any poRtton of a lease 6iscRimmatinq against wateRBeo tenants is now null ano voio." t o celeBRate this victoRy SoutheRn ComfoRt WateRBe6 & hot tuB \s\mb is pleased to announce a CeleBRation Sale with 15% off-on all wateRBeos FOR the month of may with this a&. 511 OuvalStReet • 294-2260 IN KEEPING WITH that cool un- ruffled reputation, Morgan, one summer afternoon while Mary Ellen tended the bar, answered a collect long distance call from the. Cape. I t went something like this , Mary Ellen reca l l s : "Hello. Hm-tranm. Yes. Yes, 1 see." Buzz-buzz-buzz on the other end. "Well, why did they put you in jail? I see. What else? Oh, possession of how much marijuana? Two pounds? What else? Oh, contributing to the del in- quency of a minor—-do I know him? Anything more? Assaulting a policeman. Well, should I talk to the bondsman? Yes, well, thanks for cal l ing, dear." THE OLDEST BAR was a magical place for this town for only a few years and then Morgan died suddenly one summer day in Wilkes-Barre. Mary Ellen called many of her friends here with the sad word. The free, wild, hilarious sp i r i t kind of went out of the place and many of the crazies departed and never were heard from again. TM,~ sp.Li-tr.s n._j/..L 3-^'-ti .I'.'rc'.ii the. of our rr)o>+ u> glt-Her, ou,hfuaz, Entertainment Nightly Starting at Happy Hour With Andy Marshall At The Piano And Live Jazz By Ooza Breakfast • Lunch * Dinner Happy Hour on "The Deck" 7Days A Week 310 Front Street » 294-2042 TjiEOtjAkER'sPEACEVigil ON GOOD FRIDAY a group of about 10 Key West citizens demonstrated in • a gathered silence with Quakers at Mallory Square for peace. The pam- phlet distributed by the Society of Friends stated: "WE STAND IN Vigil for peace in a world increasingly threatened by an arms race out of control, drifting toward nuclear war. We hear government officials speaking of the possibility of 'limited nuclear war,' as though the unthinkable is not only thinkable, but do-able and win-able. "LET US BE CLEAR that our lives and our environment, the lives of our children and grandchildren, are in great danger. Let us not be misled by the illusion that national security comes through nuclear weapons. If a nuclear war comes, 'the living will envy the dead.' No one will be able to distinguish the ashes of one nation from the remains of another." THE QUAKERS AND their friends, coming and going during the 2-hour vigil, stood peacefully against a backdrop of hot ocean glare. Boats and bicycles and people went by. All who stopped to inquire and sign the petition became part of the vigil. About 150 signed the document to be sent to the president. Every state in the Union {including Hawaii) had such anti- nuclear demonstrations and peti- tions as well. In Chicago it was re- ported _that 20,000 people demonstrated in a similar manner. SOME OF THE placards held up, read: K$lraillion per minute for arms," and "Freeze Nu-Clear Arms." One bicyclist rode by nodding approval to the silent - ones: "I hear you," he said. Some wore blue armbands and took turns hold- ing the signs. IT WAS REPORTED that even the usually loquacious acrobatic performer Will Soto, did his.act that sunset in silence. THERE WAS NOTHING to talk about for the peace testimony; but the words need to be voiced. In 19 21 the London Yearly Meeting of Friends had then said: "THE WORLD IS dying for want of peace, and we have been reminded of our duty as a Society and as individuals, to go forth to preach peace....We desire afresh to record our conviction that complete disarmament is the only.road to those relations between nations which we believe to be in accordance with God's will." THE QUAKERS HOPE to petition further for more names, and invite anyone to join in their worship group on Sundays (10:30 - 11:30) for a gathered silence at 416 Greene Street, upstairs. KINO PLAZA GREENE & FITZPATRICK STS. KEY WEST, FLORIDA 33040 TELEPHONE (305) 296-7479 ^Purveyors of fine hand foiled cigars a c Ou. unique boutique Designer Clothes Willi Wear Bern Conrad Dianne B. Trie Trac at Key West ORIGINAL SILKS GENUINE VICTORIAN ANTIQUE CLOTHES KAMALI SWIMWEAR ACCESSORIES l l lduvals t . - ph. 294-5929 - open 7 days 10:30-8:00 ISLAND IMPORTED CARS Florida National Banksof Pibritla Great State. Great Peeple, Great lank. noridb National Bank of the Florida Keys ^ F i ° n t S t t K W e s t ' F L 3304° (305) 294-4601 i n n \ y ? w j K e y Wes*' FL 3 3 0 4° I305) 294-4601 IQQ Mite Marker. Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451-1199 NOTES ANCI ANTIC-DOTIS BY DOROTHY RAYMER [VoAothy ii uniting about htn childhood memofL-i&A in Flonida. • Thii, ii, the. ho with pant oh htn Annie.*.) I REALIZE NOW that my grandmother Carrie Raymer nee Douthitt was a talented teller of tales. She had a knack for combining true family happenings in story form which was woven into the broader scope-of history. I wish now that I had been older when we made the trip from Pennsylvania to Florida in the winter of 1915, so that I could have comprehended more about the background of the stories my grandmother related to me on the long train journey, I was fascinated, even though l was sometimes puzzled about.related episodes, and I was blessed with a long attention span plus an almost-total recall. OF COURSE DURING my early childhood there were only limited sources of entertainment (no TV, only a few movies) ; a limit to my personal reading ability at that date (1 had just had a year of schooling) ; radio was not a household conveni- ence. So to have an inspired grandmother who loved story tell- ing who was willing, interested, and had leisure time to tell me all sorts of true episodes as well as read to me, was something which I now appreciate fully. Back then I simply delighted in the experience without being aware of how lucky I was at the age of seven to be the beneficiary of traits which once created the troubadours of the Middle Ages, OF COURSE, LITTLE excursions in towns and cities where the southbound train stopped were welcome respite to me as well as to the few other children aboard, and certainly to the adult passengers who got a chance to stretch their limbs (it was still impolite in those prissy times to refer to a person's legs.) Even the appendages of furniture were still often encased in frills and flounces, a hangover from prudish Victorian restrictions, At stations en route, everyone dis- mounted from the southbound carriages and paced the station platforms, buying roasted peanuts, genuine Virginia ham sand- wiches, watery ices and semi-chilled drinks, including cider made from Shenandoah Valley apples. There were some newspapers and magazines on racks, but most passengers bought these from the jaunty newsboys who boarded trains,'waving publications, selling them quickly, making change for nickel purchases, or even papers for two cents, before striding on through the cars to leap off while the train was in motion and pulling out of the station. AT RICHMOND, WE had a slightly longer stay and my grand- mother brought out her box-style Eastman Kodak, "I want you to remember this city," she informed me. "It is the capital now of the state of Virginia." "But why am I to remember it specially?" I asked, "Because Richmond is where Libby Prison was located, in the first years of the civil War, and it was the source of sorrow and tragedy in the Douthitt family," she added, remind- ing me that my middle name was Douthitt (pronounced dow- thitt). "My father's two brothers spent months in Libby Pri- son, it was once a tobacco warehouse on the fringe of the city. Prisoners starved almost to death and they'ofterr died later in their lives, too, because of that terrible imprison- ment. I want you to remember this, and never forget it!" I NEVER DID. I didn't get to hear all of the story right then because my grandma shushed me as I began asking FOOD PALACE NOT JUST A GROCERY... BUT A SOCIAL CENTER 522 Fleming St. • Ph. 296-5663 0pen8am-7pmMon-Sat 8 am 6 pm Sundays questions such as "Why were your uncles in jail? Were they robbers?" "No, my dear, Robert and James Douthitt, your great- grand uncles, were.soldiers. They were captured in battle early in the Civil War, back in 1861, and were locked up in Libby Prison for so long they both got scurvy." "Well, what's scurvy?" I queried. "Now you be patient, love, and I will tell you what hap- pened later on, and all about the things that affected the Douthitts, including the three-Douthitt boys. But now, we have to go back to our Pullman seats." INDEED, THE PORTER, the conductor and the brakeman were urging the travelers to return. The long, melodious call, "Alllll Aboard!" sounded, a compelling human clarion, and there was a general rush to climb back on the line of cars before the train rumbled on south, Once we trundled out of the Richmond area, a publications vendor came through the Pullman selling magazines and my Grandma, an avid moving picture fan, bought one of the slick illustrated "mags" with a picture of a handsome curly-haired man on the cover. He had an impressive face with what was called "sculptured features": broad, high, noble brow; clear, but dreamy, penetrating eyes; a very masculine profile with determined chin. He was attired in an open-throat shirt which revealed a muscular columned throat and a tempting glimpse of muscular torso. I WAS DISGUSTED when this "moom pitcher" idol*engaged all of my grandmother's attention and stymied my hope of hearing the rest of the story about Libby prison, Just then, in fact, adding to this despair, a young woman across the aisle engaged my gramdma in conversation interspersed with worshipful signs and long study with devotion of the visage "on the magazine cover. Murmured the woman in the nearby seat, "Oh, I just ADORE Hobart Bosworth, don't you?" The answer was of course obvi- ous. "Even though I'm in my middle thirties, married, and the mother of two little boys down in Jacksonville, Florida," "I KNOW JUST how you feel," my grandmother confided. "He's my ideal." As for me, I felt somehow betrayed. She and the woman who said her name was Mrs. George Butler, originally from Georgia, exchanged a steady stream of con- fidences, most of them devoted to comments on movie star Hobart Bosworth. I was deprived of the sequence about the Civil War adventure, at least for the time being. And time being what it is, the two women chatted on and on, I stared out the window, made frequent trips to the cooler at the end of the carriage and listened half-atten- tively to the interchange of remarks. WITHIN A SHORT time my Grandmother, at her request, was being addressed as "Dar Carrie,"' and Mrs. Butler was being called by her first name, Maybelle. • She did have some gossip to impart which had even me perking up my "little pitcher ears." Little pitchers have big ears, grownups often quoted when children were noticed as listeners, . Mrs. Butler swelled with self-importance as she impart- ed secret information to my grandmother. "MY HUSBAND WORKS for a Jacksonville newspaper," she said, "and he has it on good authority that a moving picture company from New. York and Long Island is coming down to . Florida this week to make some films. The first ones are to be shot in Jacksonville. Let's hope the weather holds ... it's a little cool but it's fair and sunny, and the directors are planning some short features and a longer picture star- ring Hobart Bosworth. They will be staying at the Seminole Hotel MY GRANDMA GASPED with incredulous wonder. "Oh, how MARVELOUS! That's where my granddaughter and I are to check in when we arrive. We are stopping over for three days before we continue on to St. Augustine and then to Daytona, where we'll put Dorothy in school and spend the winter. Who knows? We might get to see dear Hobart in person at the Seminole or somewhere in Jacksonville!" Carrie and Maybelle exchanged wide-eyed and soulful looks, I made another trip to the cooler, frowning. There was no partition, no difference in the shared opinions of the North and the South .,. the Blue and the Gray blended peacefully in fabric created for the film in- dustry. Emotions, however separated by the War Between the States, were united, blended, shared. DISGRUNTLED, I STUMPED off toward the water cooler, muttering the only childish "cuss word" I knew,."Gol-Durn that old Hobart Bosworth. I HATE him, I HATE him." (to be continued) ABT ATTACK! OFF eveftY GIFT YOU *U MOW HW** ^ M 60fo DUVAL ST. Y » AWAIIAN BOUTIQUE GIFTS 505DuvalSt. 10%-50% off all women's clothes Hawaiian shirts $12.95 and up PORCELAIN CHINAWEAR SNAKESKIN & FEATHER WALLETS HAWAIIAN CLOTHES & JEWELRY • r f *** T, V "•*•*•"• • " ••*••*-•*? ill ' m We> I , PRINT E \ B R I ( 1 10 THE mn//nGe/Tupio Dianna Muraski, M.T., B.S. Tom Born, R.M.T. Massage Is a physical method for producing better human functioning by aligning units of the body. Specializing in: Sports Medicine Rehabilitative Therapy Swedish and Japanese Massage Methods Sauna • Electronic Therapy • Exercise Consultation For Appointment: Marriott's Casa Marina Resort 296-3535 Ext. 7785 MAUME MANIA BY PHOEBE REDNER COAN MAYBE YOU'VE NOTICED the young- steps around town lugging enormous marble bags lately. Let me tell you, marble mania is IN right now—A mostly magnificent obsession of the budding "jet set" of Key West. Beginnings can be traced back to the old times when clay marbles were used. Now much sought-after by today's collectors/ the "antique clays" are cherished relics. A GREAT POETIC classification has evolved to keep up with the array of subspecies collected. As was told me, there are basically: Bummies (larger marbles), Solids (also known as Woolco Specials), Crystals, Steelies and Pee Wees (cousins to Steelies). New variet- ies crop up from fanatic traders daily. The hobby, like children themselves, is by no means a static phenomenon. THOUGH IT IS a simple enough game, one will find in going through a marble sack with an avid player, marbles colorfully dubbed: balunkas, creams, yellow creams, oilies, mind sweepers, black and gold crystals, and from En- gland via John Callahan: London reds, greens, blues, snows and red roseekes. Also to be prized are scragglies, wine cellars, antique ambers, emeralds, root beers, eyes, German eyes, spa- ghetties, bird cages, clouds, swirlies, brain swirlies, half crystals, pin- wheels, ruby contessents, tarbabies, tobacco spit, ovals (they're accidents), checkerds, Halloweens, hornets, bumble- bees, blue-violet clears and gold steelies—the latter are rare cousins to steeliesV I have also seen one crys- tal ball, product of Big Coppitt Key where the rage is also strong. MATTHEW, MY ENTHUSIASTIC six-year- old, who has caught the mania from the older kids, says: "The big bummy swir- lies are my best." Crouching and scoot- ing around the rug for long periods, Matt and his sister occupy their time many an evening shooting marbles. The fascination has not dulled and it spices long hot afternoons as well. Kids are always stopping by to show new ones and to confer. MARBLES ARE A passion with the kids since they seeped into our lives and started taking hold. Even TV is boring in comparison to the shopping and dealing and playing of the game. The trading son Michael claims is the most fun of all. He went out and confi- dently spent a sizable amount of his birthday loot for a vast supply. One Harris schoolteacher says she's glad marbles have come back to offset other rougher games. "Maybe there's hope, if the kids are playing marbles again,"she chuckles. The game evokes a lot of reminis- cence from onlooking adults. Some things take kindly to the test of time! SOME OF THE stores are sold out from time to time since the game got popularized. But kids love discovering little'out-of-the-way (sometimes secret) stores: to buy from. The game can be wild fun (borderline maniacal) once a big Shootout for keeps gets going. Sometimes it takes an adult with a kid's heart, and memory of the sport, to officiate. There's Danny on Pinder Lane, who has pointed out many good shots and taken the time to play. "It's still the same game I remember," he says. "We'd -win them, and lose them. Nowadays the kid are also more into collecting." MARBLES CAN GET very competitive. . Sometimes the beauties go flying. How- ever, the basic bubbly, bouncy quality of the game usually wins out. iLatania at Harris sells marbles to Two Great Island Restaurants New! The Ocean Room The moon, the stars, the Water., and a superb chef straight from The Cote Basque in New York 1435 Simonton on the Ocean » 2 9 4 - 6 6 6 $ _ kids who don't know where to get good ones and makes a profit, the girls re- port. Heather reports the girls at Harris have broken into the sport lately. The fun of the game makes it a big thing for them too. MELISSA ADVISES' STRICT;concentra- tion when shooting and says she loves ruby reds.vDopper loves swirlies. Mike fancies his London green. Dops totes a 007-type marble case, "bequeathed by his mom." He refers to a "sand shake" when,playing on sand or on • a rug and the environment interf'ers with the roll of the game. Lots, of times the guys will play potsies' and draw a circle to put the marbles in. Who'ever' s closest to the " line throws to the circle first. Object of game: to hit the other marbles out of the circle. In so doing, one can gain MORE marbles. SOMETIMES THE CLOSEST makes rules. These can get laid down very fast, so you have to pay attention if you agree or disagree. For instance, there are acceptable shots like: "highrising," where you shoot from the top of the shoulder down the arm; "Changies" pre- supposes that if you win a.player's marbles he can exchange them for those he is less attached to. Then there's "slips" or making a mistake, In "bomb- ing ," you throw the marble down emphat- ically. "Chickening" is taking a giant step as you shoot. And in "chasies" you shoot at the opposing marbles, until you hit and win. "Snagging" is stealing and occurs when the game gets out of control. The culprit will usually slip the coveted beauty into his socks. THE REINSTITUTION OF the game- stems, from a few kids who decided ,to take the sport up again and started playing around Horace O'Bryant, Justin recalls. "It just took off from there," and has caught on like wildfire to.the surprised amusement of many, adults, who cannot help but be aware of the snowballing enthusiasm aroused. , Some say it's been about a year since the rebirth of marbles became noticed. The stores no longer run out as they did. Now someone's always calling: "Do ya wanna play? I got some new cry- stals,..," MIKE SAYS HIS' most fun is frying marbles and putting them subsequently into icy water to make a "cracked marble" (kiddie diamonds). Kids some- times coat crystals with nail polish to make oilies, Some guys have thought of marble clubs, Qualifications are to have a lot of marbles, or have real good marbles, or to be real good at marbles.. Some of the girls have even signed contracts to manage each other's marble affairs. IN THE OLD days, they'd play in the gutters on the way home from school. Today, anywhere will do. You can have a good game solo if you choose .,, But, more importantly, marbles make friendsi. Guide Your Canoe Silently Into The Serene Beauty Ot Protected Tropical Island Waters. See The Keys As The Indians Did, And Explore With An Ex- perienced Local Naturalist. 9AM-4PM . EQUIPPED CANOES & LUNCH FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE . RO BOX 62 BIG PlME KEY, FLA 33043 CALL 305-872-2620 For elegance without extravagance THE QUEEN'S T-RBLE THREE MEALS DAILY 7 alm;i tas now in her seventh decade,'there was and is that nuclear vitality. I invited her to tea. She stopped, her filled . book bag in the-basket,, anthracite' eyes conjugating on her numerous intellec- tual pursuits. She is so honest,, if she told' a little1 lie you could see; it • going down her throat. She delivered the line, "I can.give you 20 minutes three weeks from yesterday." She and' her husband,- the Rev. John Houck, lived- in a lovely Med-style villa just around the corner from me. Out there on the skirt of the Atlantic, Rev. John took, rigorous daily exercises. Arms 'flew out and in,' iegs pumped up and down, neck pivoted left and ri.ght. Your key to the Key. V/z hour guided tour of 60 of the most unusual historical sites you've ever seen. The Key West ConchTour Train - Maliory Square. Roosevelt Blvd.. and Duval & Angela Streets Depots 9AM-4PM (305) 294-5161. A Wometco . Attraction. BICYCLES 1209 Truman Avenue HE WAS A famous preacher for 30 •years at Pilgrim Congregational Church on the Grand Concourse- in the'Bronx. The churclr with the lofjty pi l lars . . He was induced, to early retirement by . Margie who fel l in love with Key West when, on a f irs t v is i t , sunbathing on the roof of La Concha, she heard a clock "over under the palm trees s t r ike .12, then 13, then 14. . ' ' '. ' . JOHN LISTENED .with a l i t t l e • • 3/4 smile while I told on Margie and ' the invitation. J'Yes, Margie, i s -br i sk! But, when you have known her for a long time, you will come to appreciate, her very much. Wait and see." , • • X-BELIEVE MARGIE'S l i fe follows that great Christian, quotation, "Ever run the short way." I t ' s a rule that does away with worry and irresolution and all secondary aims and a r t i f i c e s . Margie's'Jack 'Houck died in '71. But no broken wing act for her. She possesses and she presents to us her SHEILA BODY, L.M. THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE HAVE TABLE. WILL TRAVEL. 294-8742 KEY WEST, FLA. 33O4O . The finest selection of table and floor lamps, track lighting, ceiling fixtures, yard lighting, outdoor fixtures & chandeliers in the Florida Keys. LIGHTING 1025 WHITE ST. 13 self-contained and cheerful, a thirst for knowledge central to her. BIKING PAST ALONG island ways, that straight, little back is nicely saying, "My existence is strictly my own affair." What is her affair? Volun- teer, she says to any widow or widower or loner out there. Volunteering will save you. MARGIE IS A charter star in the nova of Adult Great Books, a venerable organization of the literary-minded which for 23 years has met and exchanged ideas from reading classic writings. Margie was a mover and starter at its inception. The library, for Margie as for most intellectuals, is one wing of her life. She creatively brings into being beautiful exhibits, dolls depict- ing history or literature, for the library public to enjoy. Margie's stable of book-lovers in the Book Review Club (reviewing Nobel and Pulitzer prize authors) holds forth 10:30 a.m. each Monday. Margie dominates a Shakespearean bunch of aficionados also. WHEN SHE WAS not Pink Ladying at the hospital, she has been known to be tossing off travel notes for The. New Votik Tlmzi, as one of their free-lancers. And, in her spare time, she teams up with such egghead friends as Emily God- dard and Izzie Bowser in The Bookies. They all put their heads together and enjoy somebody's literary discovery. MARGIE NEVER WAS engrossed in the fatal lure of housekeeping. Though with one hand tied behind her, she swings a tight little ship of impeccable engi- neering. At her prim cottage, it's as if there's a contest between privileged, trivial possessions, and Margie opted in favor of a spare ambiance. This home is in an ocean neighborhood, also. "You swim every morning, Margie?" Answer: "Only after my doubles tennis match." SHAMROCK nnm sitvicE "wt MET mourns" • All typing needs • Temporary Office Help • Mail Forwarding • Light Bookkeeping Letters • Legal Documents • Manuscripts Resumes • Surveys • Term Papers • Statistical Reports • 2§6-7165 FRAGMENTS OF EXPERIENCE which might account for her demands upon life — fineness and scope in the individual and in society: Top Drawer. Daughter of a Connecticut Yankee father (a judge) and a southern Maryland mother, the family, Candee, lawyerly and eminent. Educated (two degrees) at Brown, Bar- hard and Columbia U., journalism and Elizabethan lit. She saw Thz Te.mpe-it in 19 25 at the.old Shakespearean theatre- in-the-round in Stratford on Avon, which burned in 1926. There she lost her heart to The Bard. She yearly has made countless trips to England to study Shakespeare and to take in the plays. Now-, she is writing a book on Shakes- peare. She is a tennis champ and an ex- pert skier. During her salad days she was a member of the Wall Street Skiing Club which .skied at'Stowe, Vt., putting up in cabins costing $2 nightly, with out-houses. SHE WAS A writer on many publica- tions—maritime, sporting, sailing peri- odicals . Her most poignant scoop came during wartime, '42, when at the docks in New York she interviewed a ship's cook who had been torpedoed and stayed afloat 133 days until rescued, staying alive by catching fish with a safety pin and a string, drinking the fresh water to be found in the gills. SHE TRAVELED EUROPE over, studying art in Florence, Italy. She never missed concerts or other cultural events in New York City, where during one period she talked the Reverend into living with her on a houseboat moored right in Manhattan. She has a son, Dr. John Candee Houck', a biochemist, and five grands, two great-grands. I CHOSE-MARJORIE Houck for my High-Minded notes for her "staying the course" in the tributaries of the mind. For her character of mountain brook clarity. For her own suchness. I be- lieve she would jack us all up consid- erably in air-headed little old Key West. Gideon Lowe House KEY WEST Offers: Two Exciting New Sun Spots, MERIDA, YUCATAN A Spanish colonial house in IGih cen- tury dty - nearby numerous, Mayan archeological zone*, Caribbean/Golf beaches and islands - cruisy parks, plazas & boulevards - al centra. SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE A world away from today - 350 yr. aid house enclosing gardens, pool & sun roofs surraunded by baroque belt towers and distant purple mountains - a living museum of Mexican Hstory - half blk: from main square. Information & Reservations: Gideon Lowe - in • Exile 409 William Street, Key West, Florida 33040 U.S.A. (305) 294-5969 ATTENTION! Do you want to be in business for yourself? ^ Minima! expense ^ High potential return is Work your own hours Contact: LYDIA CISNEROS Stanley Home Products Group Leader 294-6147 (after 5) DON'T FORGET MOTHER'S DAY MAY 9th SEE US FOR THE PERFECT GIFT Fresh Coffee Beans everything for the kitchen and . always something new 611 Duval 2964656 •51 THE PALLADIUM'S NAUTILUS for Men & Women Complete Health Facility 903 DUVAL 296-7523 RESTflURflnT OPEN 6:30 AM TIL 10 PM * PHONE 294-927& MALONEY AVE. & 4th AVE. ACROSS FROM BOYD'S • 1 Ib. T-Bone Steak • Bar B Qua Ribs, Chicken & Pork • Shrimp,, Oysters & Scallops • Hot Corned Beef & Pastrami • Coney Island French Fries • Open 24 hours Mon-Fri • Beer & Wine • Complete Breakfast • Homemade Chill • Conch Chowder & Fritters SURF & TURF «» • LOBSTER DINNER WE COOK YQUR FISH Now representing over fifty companies (many exclusives) OlVtfQH 500 Simonton-294-9600 14 N e w Y o r k S t r i p S t e a l s . . ' . \...,..-.............-.".... $ 1 0 . 5 0 Shrimp C a y o H u e s o . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' , . ' . . . ; . ; . . . . . S9.95 Frc'h Shun? hfwrtiijttitoian, broildf, >tnvii ami fad of ritt piitii and lapped with Marathon. This year, it wasn.11 limited to being a mid-Keys affair, for several organizations from Key West participated, as well as the Key West High School Band. The head of the Caribbean Task Force, Admiral McKensie, gave a fine speech on patriotism, also. From the opposite end of our island chain, Key Largo sent a different kind of entry. AT THE END of the long procession of veterans, bands, floats, military personnel, fire and rescue trucks, Shriners and Scouts, came a battered old boat. THE OLD BLACK boiler towered over the heads of the marchers as she was slowly pulled by. The original letters of her name are all but obliterated. She is ugly as sin, but I loved seeing her. I could half close my eyes against the brightness of the day and easily imagine Katherine gamely stand- ing at the wheel, while Humphrey was up forward kicking the boiler. "AH, BUT SHE was a ' y a r ' c r a f t ! " monRoe county glass & miRROR inc. My name is Greg Dietrich. I am the new owner of Monroe County Giass & Mirror Inc. I've spent the past year enlarging our inventory to meet your needs promptly/With little excep- tion we provide next-day service on ail glass cutting orders. We now offer stained glass work. . . from boxes and hangings to custom windows for your home. We stock 3/8" glass for table tops in clear or bronze. This has never been offered before in Key West without a long waiting period , We also make windscreens for center- console powerboats in clear or bronze plexi- • glass. Our mirror work is noted for precision. Please consider us when enhancing the beauty of your home or business. 3i6simonton st. 296-6246 AN OCEAN OF ADVENTURE at our new home Thrill to the antics of • ' • til Kdi WeSt Mr. Gipper, Delphi, & Misty and our whole dolphin family as they perform at America's most unique natural habitat. Pilot your own remote boat in the ocean waters of the Florida Keys. Refresh yourself at our natural juice bar. Browse for gifts and souvenirs in our unique Sky lite Treasure Dome. A day in Key West isn't complete until you've brought your family to see our family of dolphins. The ocean is their home and mother nature is their setting. FLIPPER'S SEA SCHOOL 2407 North Roosevelt Boulevard 2948827 Continuous Dolphin Shows 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A remarkable picture-taking idea! Automatic film advance, built-in flash plus recharge in just V/s seconds, help catch the shots you may have been missing. So advanced, you press the button, the camera does the rest. Ultra compact, fits in the palm of your hand. Designed to use the slim, new KODACOLOR HR Disc Film that's easy to carry and load KODAK 4000 Camera r Full Five- Yea r Warranty" •on camera and ULTRALITE Energy Source. Coming This Month KODAK d?SC Cameras More chances to take great pictures in more kinds of lighting. Kodak o KodacolO'JHR Him %D KODAK d?SC 6000 Camera All the standard features of the 4000 camera plus special close-up se.tting and combination cover/handle. KODAK S?Se 8000 Camera All the standard features of die 6000 camera plus automatic self- timer, built-in digital alarm clock and rapid film advance that lets you rake up to 3 pictures per second. 3 OUTFITS, STARTING FROM 95 YOU'VE GOT TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT! 'Ask us for derails on Kodak's FiueYenr Warranty: If this camera doesn't work witii normal care, return it to us ana Kodak will repair it without charge. Photo-Sonics 408 Duval 16 ThE ICONOCIAST BY JIM KOGAN IT'S NOT JUST A GAG LINE THE FRONTIER CHECKPOINT up the road is a display of petty official arrogance but it's more than that. It's potentially serious. Monroe County is now, de facto, foreign territory, outside the US border. Special restrictions apply to people travelling between the USA and Monroe County. They must carry documents— like in Russia or Nazi Germany. And a court decision reportedly said check point operators need not obey Constitutional limits. One iiiinion was quoted, "We don't need warrants, we have something better." (Guns and crowbars). IN THE US no law requires anyone to carry documents except to cross its borders inward—e.g. from the Keys or from Cuba (sometimes) and law forbids random search and seizure. YES,. I'VE HEARD the usual lines— over and over for years; this is just one more skirmish in a long-running war. As one of our (their?) Founding Fathers said, the history of human . liberty is a continual struggle to keep government in its place. THERE HAVE LONG been people who think—perhaps sincerely but no matter —that there should be more "control" (by them, usually), that people should not be "allowed" to roam freely over the land, that there should be GROUPER "MEUNIERE" A filet of fresh grouper sauteed in lemon and nut brown butter. 10.50 FETTUCCINI "BRETONNE" Homemade pasta in herb butter with shrimp, mushrooms and lemoa 9.50 CREPES CAYO HUESO Six folded crepes - three filled with tender chicken and the others with local seafood Glazed with a mushroom cream sauce. 9.00 SHRIMP "IMPERIAL" Fresh local shrimp braised in cream with fresh herbs, nuts and Dijon mustard 11.75 SIRLOIN "CAFE DE PARIS" Choice sirloin tips sauteed in garlic butter with tomatoes, herbs and mushrooms 12.00 CHICKEN CARIBBEAN Two boneless breasts of chicken sauteed in butter. Garnished with Florida grapefruit and orange served with Sauce Beamaise 10.75 All entrees include a fresh green salad, freshly baked breads, garden vegetable and choice of dessert This menu available until sunset internal passports and dossiers and registers and travel permits and that "someone" should know every person's every movement. That is the same mindr-set that forbids garden walls and the obvious objection is me.t with "Decent people have nothing to hide." (Who defines "decent"?) We see repeated efforts to implement the controls. THE PRESENT CASE offers several cop-outs. One is to fly out and avoid the road block. Or just comply—let them search the car, the luggage, check the documents against a black- list and search pockets. Body cavities, too? Or, us cosmopolites can just write this off as only one county—there are 3,000 more and things like this are not (yet) prac- ticed elsewhere up the shore. BUT THAT IS no answer. The notion of controls and passports and checkpoints and making travel a deniable privilege is pushed relent- lessly by various people in our continent. Let them get away with it and sooner or later we get internal passports and "your papers, please" by any officious cop anywhere and leaving the passports at the hotel and all the rest. Yes, I've seen efforts along this line in various places in the US and, so far, just avoid those areas. This deal is part of a long-running effort to regiment us--like in other dictatorships. THE RIGHT COURSE for a concerned man is to go up the road as a bus or auto passenger or pedestrian and refuse documents and refuse to be searched—let them make a case of it. I admit to being distressed for I know what I should do and am not yet sure what I shall do when next I go north—I may cop out like most people but at least I know the danger. I did read Jefferson. I ALSO NOTE, from a more diversi- fied life than most, that the "con- troller mentality" with its attitudes seems more visible in southeast US than elsewhere (except for a few notorious enclaves). The South still has a lot of stereotype red necks and they support these ideas-even operate them for who else seeks jobs like that? YES, THERE WAS a tongue-in-cheek scene downtown April 23 but it did not go far enough. They should have taken down the flag on the post-office, closed the income tax office, and in- stalled our own border control point on the southbound side of the road— and turned back a few symbolic types like US government employees. (Who does the Sheriff work for?) Maybe I should seek appointment as Ambassador to the USA? Maybe we could sell postage stamps? And the US flag should stay down throughout the Keys as long as we are outside the border—that is not secession; it is recognizing ex- pulsion and it's not worth a war to get back in. THE POINT IS that a dangerous step toward totalitarianism has been taken—and made jest of. That it is neither new or novel only makes Jefferson's point,stronger. Am I the only one who still thinks the way the Founders said they thought? op-lnloni o& Jim Kogan do not ne.ce.it,atiily ne.iLi.ct thoie. a{ SolafLti Will] 17 i • S€€ING IS D€U€VIH6 the KINO PLAZA \ LINDA PATCHETT OPTICIAN . SUNGLASSES Sports Frame/Safety Spec FRAMES AS FASHIONABLE AS YOUR FRAMES TINTED LENSES — THE ONLY LICENSED OPTICIAN IN OLD TOWN Key West® BLACK CORAL* bath oil The newest expression of Black Coral. Key West Aloe's premier fragrance, now created in a luxurious oil to leave your skin satin smooth and delightfully scented for hours. Use in bath or shower. Our Black Coral Fragrance Collection includes perfume, cologne, bath oil, body gelee, smooth shave and body wash. Perfect gifts for Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9, or any special occasion. 8 oz. 810.00 Key West Aloe, Inc. 5S4 Front St., Key West Tel. 294-5592 ONE DUVAL STREET WHERE THE ATLANTIC MEETS THE GULF 294-9541 A Store For Children Featuring; hand knitted sweaters and hand smocked dresses pius clothes by Osh Kosh Nannette Popsicie & Little Dippers cNurserv> Khvmes located In Bahama Mamas at the corner of Greene St. & Duval 294-4177 cuid' reopen/Jus- (Anner- a£< 7ft-.m. at, cvAec/i/tima oar- hammer UH/16& introduced. / j S i n tA& Akiorio 3U/HM< (p/uk GBu/Mnp recfeient, jtumrd'of&cce&nc&j^r- fi/ ? West i _ SIMONTON STREET YARCI SWAP BY JOHN LESLIE SINCE LAST OCTOBER when a lame duck city commission voted 4-1 to a proposal that would have given the Pier House city-owned land at the foot of Simonton Street behind Key West Handprints, the people of Key West in a massive demonstration of outrage be- fore representatives of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said no to the terms. Resoundingly no. The city was not getting a good deal, it was not in the public interest to give up this vital property with the city's only Gulf access, and the commission was not representing the wishes of the people. THE DNR WENT back to Tallahassee and recommended, after several months' deliberation, that rather than invoking a reverter clause which would have stopped the sale cold, the State should follow the desires of the newly elect- ed city commission. SAVE OUR SHORELINE (S.O.S.) or- ganizers and Key West citizens cele- brated a seemingly rare victory. THE NEW CITY commission to a man had campaigned on the promise that they would NEVER give up our Gulf access. One of their first pieces of business as a commission was to ensure that in the future, land sales would not be railroaded through the commission with- out a public hearing. A referendum would be held before city land could be sold. SUDDENLY, IN A special session of the city commission on Tuesday, April 6, victory turned sour". The commissioners endorsed a surprise pro- posal by Mayor Dennis Kardlow, a pro- posal that would close off the foot of Simonton Street, including the boat ramp and thereby Gulf access. The Pier- House would get the land it want- ed directly behind Key West Handprints as.well as a portion of Simonton Street and the beach front. The city would then get an equal amount of land now owned by the Pier House northward of the Strunk Apartments and ending at the Treasure Salvors" fence. Access to the city property would then be via Front Street along the fence to the commission (even the two incumbent commissioners seemed to have come _ round) when suddenly the same- commis- sion reverses itself and bends over backwards to help a multimillion dollar out-of-town corporation at the expense of local interests. THERE WERE CERTAIN conditions in the original tripartite agreement between the Pier House, the city and Urban De- velopment Action Grant (UDAG), an _ agreement that was designed to inject money into the sagging local economy by-providing low-interest federal funds to the Pier House to be repaid to the city One was that the city would help the Pier House to expand by 125 PRESENT SITE [These. dKa.win.Q& i p-te.pa.Aed by the, S.O.S. committo.e. aiZng available. water which contains no boat ramp and no adequate beach or swimming area. IN ADDITION THERE was talk of voting out the referendum requirement. TO MODIFY A phrase, something's weird in' the state of local polit ics. First we have a city commission bend- ing over backwards, i t would seem, to rectify the injustices of a previous additional units. But nowhere with- in the agreement did i t state that the city was required to give up land for that purpose. (In an aside re- cently to this reporter, City Manager Robert Bensko noted that the land the Pier House would be getting, be- hind Key West Handprints, would be insufficient for building the 12 5 units as required by contract. He added that he did not feel that UDAG Natural Fibre Clothing For Women ft Me* At Simple Prices 132 DUVAL ST. • 294-7495 • • • • % % % "''••• <$$•]&& ^ 1 THEWORLDWAS FIRST ENVISIONEDTHIS WAYIN1853. No borders, no barriers, no divi- • The oneness of the human race sions of any kind marred the world • The essential unity of all religions that Baha'u'llah saw. • The agreement of religion and Over 124 years ago, Baha'u'llah, science Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i • The basic equality of the sexes Faith-saw the world as one country • The elimination of prejudice and and mankind its citizens. He de- superstition . scribedhumanityasstandingatthe • The establishment of peace threshold of tile final stage in its through justice long evolution. This evolution has • Education for all already produced the family unit, • The spiritual solution of eco- the tribe, the city-state and the nomic problems concept of the nation. Baha'u'llah • An auxiliary world language has established the principles for • International government the unification of the entire human In 317 countries and territories, race in one world society." and in nearly 1,000 localities in , , , Canada, Baha'i's are striving to put • The right and duty of the indi- t h e s e p r i n c i p i e s into practice. They vidual to investigate truth for fi^ th e y w o r k himself The Baha'i Faith The right and duty of the individual to investigate truth for himself is a basic principle of the Bah&'i Faith. For further information, please write: BAHA'ls OF KEY WEST • 294-2060 10:30 TO 6:00 DAILY would hold the loan recipients to that particular contractual requirement, a rather surprising comment given the stipulation to the agreement mentioned above.) THE ORIGINAL FUNDS from UDAG were released in December 1980 to the tune of $l.i million. The money should stimulate the local economy by provid- ing tax revenue to the city plus creat- ing 70 permanent, low to moderate in- come jobs through the expansion of the Pier House. ANOTHER STIPULATION OF the loan earmarked $200,000 for the city for badly needed repairs to streets in the downtown area. To date, not a pothole has been filled on the worst sections of Front and Simonton. Repayment of the loan to the city at $76,000 a year for twenty-five years would provide additional revenue to be used solely for the purpose of making capital improvements to the downtown area. However, repayment, other than a 7% p.a. interest, would not begin until the Pier House expansion was complete. Contractual deadline for completion is August 1, 1983. WHAT'S WRONG WITH the deal, then? Why is it objectionable in its present proposed form to local residents? THE S.O.S. CITIZENS Committee states its objections quite clearly: 1. The property that the Pier House would gain is far more valuable because of its location and condition than the remotely situated, debris- filled site the city would receive for the public's use. 2.• To sell a city street to pri- vate enterprise is a very dangerous precedent...we could end up living in a walled city. 3. The waters off the proposed site that the public would have to use are dangerous to" boaters and hazardous to swimmers. The cost of cleaning and grading the Pier House site—just to equal the present condition of the ci'ty parcel—would cost thousands of dollars- If the city must also pay for replacing the boat ramp, dock, and street, the cost becomes prohibitive. 4. To block off one of our last views of the Gulf would be like putting a billboard in front of the Grand Canyon. Scenery is public domain. WITH REGARD TO point 3 above, William J. Schwicker, Jr., a state certified general contractor and a construction estimator for forty years, twenty-one years as chief estimator for Charley Toppino & Sons, now re- tired, recently made a visit to the disputed Simonton Street property and did some figuring. The results of his calculations showed, "From a strictly business point of view, the city is actually losing 20% of the usable area and absorbing a $280,000 bill to put . the Pier House land on an equal footing with the city parcel. All this osten- sibly to, help private enterprise re- ceive a loan with favorable interest rates...Frankly, I am amazed that you (city commission) even contemplate this- swap." IN THE PAST the land in question was appraised at $169,000 by an apprais- er hired by the Pier House. This fig- ure was hotly disputed by S.O.S. as being too low. It should be pointed out that appraising is an art and not a science, that two different apprais- ers looking at the same piece of ground will, in all probability, come up with two different values according to what purpose the land is being appraised. That would seem to be a strong argu- ment in favor of more than one apprais- al being done for the negotiators over a piece of property to determine if there are major discrepancies; rather than one appraisal by the- purchaser which could reflect his interest only. BASED UPON THE 1981 tax assessment for the property, city property is valued at $258,295.- Pier House pro- perty is valued at $104,613 total, a loss to the city of $153,682 on land value alone if the land-swap - proposal were to go through. LIKE BILL SCHWICKER, the S.O.S. committee is not anti-development. It seems to be a reflex symptom of our local politicos to charge all who : are not in favor of every single issue proposed with the "anti" epithet, the sort of philosophy that •says, "if you're not for us, then G&ZEBO Saijdwicl} On the patio in Key Lime Square Deli, Seafood, and Vegetable Sandwiches Our specialties: Lamb sandwich with mint and sour cream, Fresh Florida lobster sandwich key west a sunglass emporium • 3O6 front street Personalized Service open 7 clays 20 r ..-• r Old Town Trolley Depot DAYS INN, The Play To stay at the end of the day i16-Motel Rooms* 18 Apartments Phone (305) 294-3742 Toll-free 18001241-3400 3852 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Key West, Florida 33040 rendition o{ what the end o& Simonton St. could look like you've got to be against us." No- thing could be further from the truth. Bill Schwicker is a developer himself; that was his profession before re- tirement. S.O.S. members are a cross- section of the professional community, homeowner, taxpayers and Conchs - not "undesirables." IN FACT, S.O.S. has offered the city commission a counter proposal that would allow the Pier House the land it needs for development and still provide the city - and public with a usable and attractive beach front area with its, Gulf access. The S.O.S. proposal: 1. Simonton Street would remain a city street belonging to the public. Visit Key West's newest museum umkrsail... the J30', Schooner • IZOD LAGOSTE assortment 507 FRONTS*; 294-4066 West Sail in ql. ion. 10% Discount with this ad. Sail off intoHistory and Adventure with KeyWest's own Tall Ship. Visit Tier A and the workshop operated by Key West Museum of Tditi Resejya ai3i " ••.•• . ' : V . 2. The existing boat ramp and dock would continue to give years of service. (Schwicker estimates that to replace that boat ramp today would cost $33,000.) 3. The S.O.S. proposal would pro- vide more land and shoreline for the recreation of the public. The area could be turned into a clean and usable recreational area at a fraction of what the Pier House proposal would cost. •4. Any loss to the Pier House in a square footage on the S.O.S. pro- posal would be more than compensated for by the immense- value of gaining the adjacent city property (behind Key West Handprints) for their expan- sion. IF THE PIER HOUSE gets what they want, they would: 1. Gain more than 110 feet of Simonton Street closing off the Gulf access for private development. 2. Give the city a 50-foot access road via Front Street along the Trea- sure Salvors' fence to virtually un- usable beach, as it is now, with no boat ramp. (Schwicker estimates that The. lea-than-appealing pftopoizd city beach 21 it would cost $65,000 just to remove the debris from the shoreline and construct a comparable beach to the one the city already possesses.) WHEN ASKED ABOUT the S.O.S. pro- posal, Pier House General Manager, Peter Henry, said that he "had not seen a proposal, only criticisms," despite the fact that a half page ad outlining the proposal had appeared in the Key West"Citizen on Sunday, April 14. ROBERT ANDERSON, SPOKESMAN for the S.O.S. committee, said that he would be happy to make available for the Pier House a copy of the folder showing the S.O.S. proposals which were distri- buted to members of the city commission on April 19. Anderson added that he had no vendetta against the Pier House, that he likes their facility and -sends them business all the time. "I'm just a guy who wants to save a beach for the people of Key West," he said. THIS IS A simple, straight-forward sentiment shared by many in Key West over what has been, and still is, a com- plex issue. There would be ramifica- tions to the issue that are still only whispers and: do not concern us at the time. fifee no 3-3W s*. "a Ream's delight" an Asian RestauRant & teahouse SUMMER HOURS frfonday- Saturday Dinner 6:30 -10:30 PM Sunday Brunch 11:30 AM-3:30 PM Wine & Beer Available CARRY OUT SERVICE 613 Duval (Rear) • Key Lime Square • 294-6230 PIZZA TAKE OUT SERVICE AVAILABLE OPEN DAILY 'TIL 4 AM 208 DUVAL ST. c r& FAUCE SVP3HN GI5AR1 K \ *^ pptfCTtD BY RICHARD MAGES1S CURTAIN « L » BOXOfHCtll-S IU.4S.AT-? WON.,TIH:K.&5L'N. C 22 r Scatuorchio's (just say SCATs) An Alternative for Breakfast in Old Town Open 7 AM Breakfast and Lunch — Indoor and Patio Seating Corner Simonton & Front — Across from Key West Handprint Fabrics I P v» TO . . . wrap up your business day . . . meet old friends and make new friends.DUVALST., KEY WEST ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT HOUR 5 f © 7 "on the balcony serving dinner in a provincial atmosphere Cocktails and selected wines 305-294-6252 Harbor House Arcade, 423 Front St., Key West, Fla. 33G4O Key UJe/t Island BOOKSTORC Personal Attention To Special Orders "'We- can get any blooming book under the sun"*(almost) Best Sellers • Paperbacks • Gift Books • Children's Books • Nautical and Sailing Books 130 DUVAL ST. ® KEY WEST, FLORIDA m 33040 (305) 294-2904 ULTIMATELY, HOWEVER, THE f a t e of the Simonton Street Yacht Club, as the property i s a f fec t ionate ly dubbed, wil l depend on the heavy-handed broker- age of a few powerful men in c i t y p o l i t i c s ; or on the des i res of t h e peo- ple of Key West who have owned and used the property for generat ions . Keeping in mind t ha t the public i s g e t t i n g t i r e d of being fleeced in the market place as regards public land, be i t Truman Annex with i t s alleged e x p l o i t a - t ion of funds by hired ca re t ake r s of tha t property or city-owned beach f ronts , the wise p o l i t i c i a n might do well to take heed of the proclamation by a group of local t ax d i s s e n t e r s a few months ago: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!" PAWN The. iui-i citio&Q., And ifietchuiq out its goldzn p&bn, GeiitLij cloicd The. eyc-i 0 a iilglvt. fa/,' J e a n n e M. Ofunojiod Key WEST DANCE THEATRE Allison Tradup WHEN YOU THINK about dance, do you find yourself thinking far away? Miami? New York maybe? Well, how about Key West?! Key West Dance Theatre has some of the finer talent in the country and is proud to announce they're in full bloom and here to stay! Key West Dance Theatre is the only Professional Dance Company from Key West to Miami, and is a non- profit organization. K.W.D.T.'.s growing repertoire consists of ballet, modern and jazz with traditional and original choreo- graphy from former directors as well as choreography by the dancers them- selves. K.W.D.T. will be performing for the "Animals Welfare" benefit May 21, at the Waterfront Playhouse, where they will present some of their finest pieces. PERFORMING WILL BE Penny Mollot, a now-local dancer and choreographer for the Company as well as being active in other local shows. Originally from New York, she has now invested her talents in Key West. Allison Tradup is a local, aspiring young dancer who left her career in New York and Cali- fornia. Upon her return to Key West she has devoted her talents to K.W.D.T.. in an attempt to keep the dance alive in her home town. CHARLES KARP, an off-Broadv/ay jazz dancer from New York, has already made a place for himself in Key West with his professional style, and has made a great contribution of dance to the Company along with local community shows. ALSO DANCING FOR the Company are two dancers from the Kansas City Ballet Company. Bill Woehrle, a local dancer and an inspiration to the Company along with Tie Sue Mataukie, who is debuting with Key West Dance Theatre. SO FOR AN enjoyable, exciting evening of dance, join us. K.V7.D.T. May 21 at the Waterfront. Sea you there! . rn IT'S SPRING CLEANING time...whether you're heading back up North for the summer, or a year round resident, it's that time of the year again when closets are bulging and you have to move more than the cat to sit in your favorite chair....before you get too reckless in casting off those c'astof f s, remember the RED BARN THEATER iS' gathering goodies for their First Annual Fund Raising Yard Sale, to be held at the ,Red .Barn (319 Duval), behind the Woman's Club), Saturday, May 8- MS. JOY HAWKINS, Managing Director for the Red Barn, is the person to contact if you have something (or somethings^ you would like to contri- bute to this very good cause. (Remem- ber, the Red Barn,fwhich encourages the talents of purjlocal actors, re* ceives no outside funding to offset the enormous costs; of running a theater and producing five or six shows per year for* the entertainment o f u s a l l . ) . • • • ) • THE YARD SALE-, will1 begin promptly at nine A.M.r May pighth, and coffee, juices and gourmet pastries will be part of the goodies offered to shop- pers that day. ;• • • f • • SO BEFORE YOU;dispose of that designer whatsit that never fit right anyway, or that elegant thingamajig left to you by youtf Great Aunt Sara, drop it off at the \Red Barn in time for their Yard Sale,. ARTICLES MAY BE dropped off any day, or you can arrange for pick-up by one of the Red'Barn members, by calling the box office after noon at 29 6-9911. If you are one of those super-organized people who never have to do a Spring Cleaning, but would like to support the Red Barn, tax- deductible donations are also much appreciated. The mailing address for the Red Barn Theater is P. 0. Box 707, Key West. It really is up to us to support the arts in Key West, and this certainly is a good opportunity to contribute to a good cause. HELP LINE, A Zonta-sponsored 24-hour seven-days-a-week telephone service, is scheduled to begin opera- tion in early June in Key West. This will give our'area a new source of reaching out to help people. Help Line will provide immediate crisis • intervention by telephone, information and referral, after-hours help for people, and an efficient method of recognizing developing needs in our community. THE TELEPHONE LINES will be manned by local volunteers, who will receive professional training in crisis intervention. The staff believes that the volunteers will not only be helping others, but also will.be gain- ing a sense of satisfaction and personal achievement.. The Help Line is looking for people over 18 years old who enjoy working with others. Ninety volunteers are needed to cover the telephone lines. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER, 296-HELP, has been reserved; a director has been hired; and volunteer training is scheduled to begin in mid-May. Help Line needs the support of the community. To volunteer to help, call 294-8188. 23 HAIR DESIGN NEW SUMMER HOURS: 1Q00AM. TO8:OOP.M. TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY UUItti. •1,16 Fitzpbtrick Street 294-O168 IS one of a kind designs' Clothing • Tailoring • Textiles Fine Art • Stationery • Interiors 2 Key Lime Square Key West, Florida 33040 305-294-0589 • Designer fabrics - MAY oniy • Greeting cards; hand designed and printed • Custom clothing TAKE OUT • 294-2995 921 Truman Ave. Parking m Rear COMPLETE TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION CONNECTIONS WORLDWIDE TOURS • CHARTERS • GROUPS INDIVIDUALS 'CRUISES • AMTRAK AUTO • LODGING & ALL AIRLINES LOCATED CONVENIENTLY IN THE MARRIOTT'S CASA MARINA 1500 REYNOLDS ST. • KEY WEST - FLORIDA • (305) 29b-7bUb BARGAINS! FOR FISHERMEN, SWIMMERS, DIVERS, SUNBATHERS, NATURE LOVERS! i We sell the best climate in the world! Waving palms, crystal clear seas! Bargains in the Lower Florida Keys... Inland lots $3,500, 30% down, balance 12%. Canal lots and homes, oceanfront lots and homes, beachfront acreage ... alf at bargain prices. Specialists in: Little Torch Key, Big Pine, Ramrod Surnmerland, Cudjoe, Sugarloaf, and Saddlebunch Kevs BETTY M, BROTHERS REAL ESTATE, INC BETTY M. REIN, LICENSED .REAL ESTATE BROKER U.S. 1, M.M. 28.5, LITTLE TORCH KEY, FL 33043-0456 I " . ~*==^-—•; . , • ' Phone 305/872-2261 and 872-2318 My childhood dream was to live in a home... R n h o r t R o i n . • _ " 1 That looked out on theopen sea... . ^ ^ t ^ ^ l _ _ D . W . Games, Off ice Manager • 1 24 JESSE L. WOODRUFF AND ASSOCIATES TAX-VANTAGE ANNUITIES • High Interest • Guaranteed Principal • No Sales Charges • Flexible Withdrawals • Pay No Current • Retirement Income You Income Tax On Earnings Cannot Outlive COMPARE: The Benefits offered by Annuities over Savings Institutions and Brokerage Firms for your IRA's + HR-10's LIFE INSURANCE • More Protection For Less Money • Greater Cash Value Return (Ask for a comparison by sending us your proposals —no obligation) MORTGAGE ACCELERATION • A new plan that offers Mortgage protection and • Allows you to prepay your Mortgage- savings thousands in Interest A Consumer Oriented Company Our Customers' Interest Comes First 1229 MACMILLAN DRIVE TELEPHONE NO. 296-2687 UHFRIED CHICKEN HICKORY BAKED BY THE PIECE " i r $ PEOCBOUS" cnarbroiied hamburgers loaded pizzas The woy you'd make it yourself Wl DON'T SKIMP_____ PLUS MUCH MORE CONVENIENT ACCESS TTsW FREE SLICJROF PIZZA FREE PIECE OF HICKORY BAKED CHICKEN (DRUMSTICK OR WING} with purchase of large drink • EXPIRES 5 - 1 2 - S . • . FAMILY TABLE •QUICK SERVICE U.S. I STOCK ISLAND 7 A.M. -WP.M.296-4S49 M & ftf—CoMMEdiA ddl/ARTE . . BY JCHN LESLIE IF TRADITIONAL THEATRE is begin- ning to pale, with its solid seats all in a row, its dramatic pauses, curtains and all-toe—often unreal ideas surrounded by real-life scenes, then you could do far far worse than to find yourself in a room with M&M Productions. Any room: barroom, classroom, dining room, you name it and they'll perform there. Without a theatre of their own (considered a bonus by the group since it allows them artistic freedom and low over- heads) they have performed all over town, from the Red Barn to Bagatelle and from the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center to Horace O1Bryant and other Key West public schools. PRIMARILY A CHILDREN'S theatre group, until recently at least, they have written, produced and performed more than a dozen plays in Key West in the past three years. "But don't be fooled by the children's label. One of the first productions, 'The Case of the Missing Numbers,' opened at the Red Barn with an enthusiastic adult audience. Whether kids or adults, the techniques used to keep the audience alert and interested are the same. "Kids will not tolerate being bored for an instant and there is something happening on stage every second," says Tim McShane, one of the three members of M&M as well as the Drama and Language Arts teacher at HOB. In "The Game Game" which they did at Fitzgerald's and Tux, four per- formers played forty-five different characters in forty-eight minutes. TIM, ROBERT MOWRY and Carol Shaughnessy are the principles of M&M. Mowry and'McShane, both from Illinois, had considerable experience around the Chicago theatre groups before coming to Key West. Two of their plays are running now in Chicago. CABARET IS THEIR style using the cartoon format in which the set is designed like frames from a comic GOME WATCH US ENAMEL A craft, an art, a tradition... Kareka ...enamelers and Jt handicrafters extraordinaire, wish to announce that they have moved to a new and bigger location at 120 Duval Street. strip; it is a theatre of ideas where nothing is meant to be real except the ideas. IN MANY RESPECTS, they might be described as minimalists. Lighting, for example, is used for the purpose of illumination only. Often, as at Bagatelle this past season, they per- form from a small platform with little more than a continuous soundtrack, the 'unreal1, but suggestive sets de- signed and built by Robert Mowry, and their rapid-fire costume changes allow- ing each actor to play as many as ten different characters in any one produc- tion. THEY ARE ADAPTABLE. They can take their plays from the confining platform at Bagatelle to' the stage at TWFAC with- out losing themselves in the process. At sometime in the future, they would like to play at Tux again with nothing but a coatrack on .stage with them from which they would make all their changes. THEIR ENERGY AND vitality on stage (they sweat a lot, they say) is com- plimented by an off-stage, Key West laid-back quality without the usual theatrical affectations that taint many members of their profession. They like to think of themselves as a kind of Commedia dell'Arte troupe, a 16th-18th century Italian comedy in which masked entertainers improvised around stock characters and situations. "We suggest situations and the audience has to get involved in order to fill in the corners and backgrounds," McShane says. "We don't spell everything out." ON MAY 1, at 10:00 a.m., they will be performing their Florida Theatre _ Conference award-winning play, "Marjorie Cordially and the Rhyming Machine" at the library. They also have a tentative engagement with the Three Decks on Eisenhower and Truman Avenue to do their as-yet-unproduced play, "Play Money,'1 sometime this summer. • VOLPIAN 1100 TRUMAN AVE. 296-6698 • CASH REGISTERS • INVENTORY CONTROL • SYSTEMS CONSULTING • GUEST CHECKS & SUPPLIES featuring H E A V Y D U T Y SWEDA CASH REGISTERS mSweda AUTHORIZED ,LJLJ International nPALER Litton DfcAU* MON.-FRI.9-5 SAT. 9-12 'PRESIDENT LEAR1, ALSO as Of now unproduced, is a satiric look at a week in the life of a bed-hopping''First Lady, a self-effacing'Vice-President, a Secretary of State, a Senator, the tr Tht Ca*e oh the.Di.n.KlnQ-do In M-u-6-tng' Uixmbzfii," ' ' President's Press Secretary, and the Three Stooges. \ (Yes., real-ly the Three Stooges, Moe, Larry and Curly, playing a kind of Greek Chorus.) The President himself .'is locked in his' bedroom - with' a gun. It is a fast-paced spoof with' funny, original lines,- played by overr. •• •sized cartoon' characters, a- sort of theatrical 'Doonesbury'. It's lively, a r i d i t ' s h o t . •• .'"".•• Someone should grab' this group fast; they're another Mack & Jamie . m success story 'in, the making.. ,'• \~\ •- ' . . • "MEETING ,'A'GAIN" ' .' (Che Southern, OceSn) The beach at Sundown was deserted. L '•.. • ,' • The clouds shown pink around the edges In the, fading light. The air, soft, warm, and barely moving Brought the sound of. crickets- From the sea grass. I stood there in the cool,, wet. sand just looking1 at her. . •. the Sea.. ' • •• • Slightly swelling - then receeding - almost silently • mirror .smooth - translucent - glowing - Blue green,1 eternal prism Holding me ... Captive with her, clarity 1 I tried to leave But could not . take my eyes from her. , A step or two, but then I' d have to turn • . . to look again. Night- was falling Fast • But still, She did not Fade ', . Without the sun • . ' But glowed within.- ' . ' • ' • Where have you been • my p.risoner o f the land? She seemed to ask of me And demand .• , •• • an answer .. . . I am here • . • And ever true . . . s a i d s h e Evermore the same I never change. Have you? V e s, ' . ' . You know I have ' I always do - So she withdrew As if she knew my ways And could understand That same old worn out answer •That I always gave Then swiftly • ' She came in ' • " . . ' Behind my . back ; to wash My- shallow footprints from the sand. . by Alyce -P. Burgess 25 i • v divorce, . k e y west style You may call it a harem dress or skirt. We call our original design The Divorce Dress; Named by o,ur staff the day: Joan's divorce came ' • through! A scandalous sweep of Handkerchief Linen or luxe Liberty of London Silk. Coordinating camisoles when you wear it as a long skirt:. One flattering size. Handkerchief Linen, $45.00; Crepe, $65.00/ Buck Freddie 500 Duval Street, Key West, Florida 33040 2 6 • THE PALLADIUM'S • I NAUTILUS I SGVMS for IVIen 8- Women Key West's Only Complete Health Facility 9O3DUVAL 296-7523 BY B I L L WESTRAY DEVELOPMENT IN THE UPPER KEYS IN THE PAST s e v e r a l months our e d i t o r i a l s have focused on res ident ia l developments in the Middle and Upper, Keys, pa r t i cu l a r l y in North Key Largo. We have been primarily concerned with the area north of the junction of U.S. 1 and County Road 905, along Route 905 across from the crocodile refuge. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE that the planned and programmed development in this area i s so large and extensive that i t would have a d isas t rous effect on the econom- i c well-being and qual i ty of l i f e of a l l of the r e s t of the Keys. some of these developments, pa r t i cu l a r ly in North Key Largo, to proceed. OUR tfARLY PROJECTIONS Of the planned development on North Key Largo amounted to about. 5,000 living uni ts , with about 13,000 people. Almost before that estimate was published we real ized that the identif iable projects being processed exceeded 10,000 units and 25,000 people. We have recently seen projections by the Monroe County Plan- ning and Zoning Director that there i s a t o t a l buildinq potent ial , including planned developments and other plat ted and/or zoned subdivisions and t r ac t s , that would amount to nearly 20,000 u n i t s and over 46,000 people. Furthermore, i f the Crocodile Lake Wildlife Refuge should be abolished or,abandoned (and there i s strong evidence that such abo- l i t i on i s being pushed by inf luent ia l i n t e r e s t s ) , and the upland portion of WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE PLANNED AND PROGRAMMED DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA 1 6 SO LARGE AND EXTENSIVE THAT I T WOULD HAVE A DISASTROUS EFFECT ON THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF L IFE OF ALL OF THE REST OF THE KEYS. THE RECENT CENSUS has highlighted the growing.developments north of Key West that.have already shifted the popu- la t ion balance northward reducing Key West to two County Commission seats, with three allocated to the res t of the ' Keys. Our previous edi tor ia ls have ad- dressed what th i s population shift has done to t ra f f ic flow along U.S. 1 as a resul t of the congestion in the new resident ia l and commercial centers, WE HAVE TRIED to~ identify a number of the problems that the population in- creases have caused. We have tried to highlight what has been done and what s t i l l needs to be done to solve the • problems. We have raised a number of questions about the wisdom of permitting the 7,100-acre tract were to be devel- oped, we would be looking at 40,000 housing units with 90,000 or more people in North Key Largo alone. ,0f course the marketability of such a build-out is questionable, but the gruesome po- tential s t i l l threatens. ' WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY reported that efforts by a small group of people to secure approval for a new jet-capable airport within the boundaries of the wildlife refuge were believed to be designed to degrade that refuge to where i t would be abolished. Such a result would accomplish two things. One, i t would open up the hammocks a^reas of the refuge for development at least equal to that on the other side of the ft '••• EHTERTAINMEHT - - ̂ 1AM "V, *»?»« C 428 SreeneSt. MfSHUY1 % v • 3 ^ " 29B8417 RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Featuring POLYNESIAN CUISINE STEAKS AND SEAFOOD DINNER 5:30-11 P.M. LUNCH NOON - 3 P.M. Rum Concoctions in a Tropical Island Atmosphere 294-6912 U.S. 1 at Garrison Bight Mexican Food & Cocktails Open 12-12 Monday - Saturday 1-12 Sundays 50916 Duval 294-9215 / SHOP 601 DWAL*3 DELIVERY 194-6444 • Nsw! Macrame Vertical Blinds % ^ » Levolor Blinds • Slipcovers • Bedspreads • Ficks Reed and Brown Jordan Furniture • Custom Draperies • Wallpaper • Hours Monday ihry Friday Saturday By Appointment 1021 White St. 294-1278 Our prices competitive' with those of anyone in the Keys OLD TOWN REALTY INC. MLS •Key West and the Lower Keys' most complete list of residential and commercial properties. REALTY WORLD "Home and apartment rental services. CALL OR WRITE FOR OUR LISTING REPORTS 605 Simonton St. • Key West, Florida 33040 Telephone: 305 294-5525 P.O. Box 1 Summerland Key, Florida 33042 Telephone: 305 745-3645 road; and, two, provide a jet airport to enhance the saleability of the de- velopments already under way along the east side of Route 905. PART OF THE justification for a new airport has been to replace the existing Port Largo Airport about 12 miles south at mile marker 100 which .the present title holder, Port Largo, inc., plans to close in July of 1982, The bay-bottom land on which this air- port is built was secured from the state in 1968 on the express promise that the airport would be built on top of a needed breakwater and deeded to the county. Somehow the transfer to county ownership was never effected and now the owner wishes to close the airport and build luxury residences on the 150' by 3,000' fill. THE PORT LARGO Airport is much 27 Improvement Trust (TIIF) whereby the interest of the county was left off the 1968 TIIF deed. WE HAVE NOT been alone is our concern about the sudden rapid devel- opment of the Upper Keys, The Governor and Cabinet, the Florida Department of Veterans and Community Affairs, the South Florida Regional Planning Coun-, cil, the Florida Keys Resource Plan- ning and Management Committee, and a number of citizens' groups and individ- uals have expressed concerns similar to ours. They have recommended a slow- down or moratorium on processing and approving major new developments until the county Planning and Zoning Depart- ment can be reorganized and expanded to deal adequately with the sudden increase in major development applica- tions , WE HAVE RECENTLY SEEN PROJECTIONS BY THE MONROE COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING DIRECTOR THAT THERE IS A TOTAL BUILDING POTENTIAL, INCLUDING PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS AND OTHER PLATTED AND/OR ZONED SUBDIVISIONS AND TRACTS, (FOR NORTH KEY LARGO) THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO NEARLY 20,000 UNITS AND OVER 46,000 PEOPLE. better situated in the. existing popula- tion center than a proposed new airport in the crocodile refuge, and we believe that Port Largo Airport could be im- proved and expanded at much less cost than a new airport. We had urged the county to pursue a lawsuit to secure title to the airport land and we are very pleased that the county has, within the last month, filed a well-framed suit to establish the ownership of the county to the airport land on the basis that the present titleholder holds the land only as Trustee for Monroe County, We suggest that the county also seek the assistance of the Florida Attorney General to correct the "scrivener's error" in the original deed from the Trustees of the Internal KEY WEST Pirates Alley Key West SEE QUALITY HAND-MADE CIGARS ROLLED DAILY ^ we fill mail orders PIRATES ALLEY in historic OLD KEY WEST MONSTER HOOB0NTSTREET FLAMINGO ROAO CAFE NOW OP£M TUES. THRU 5AT, 9PA\-2AM KEY WEST THE BIGGEST CONCERN appears to be that the individual developers in their impact assessments only deal with the individual impact of their own project, and that no one, including the county planning department, has had the capa- city to assess the cumulative impact of the Upper Keys development on the Keys as a whole. The 90-day moratorium or "hiatus" that the county imposed on processing new major developments is about to expire, Although a new plan- ning director has been selected, he has not started work yet, and other plan- ning staff increases are still only plans, EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM for a substantial additional period seems CR€O1£ Gulf Coast 8v Caribbean Creole Specialties SHRIMP REMOULADE OYSTERS BIENVILLE OYSTERS ROCKEFELLER PO-BOYS G U M B O jAMBALAYA SHRIMP CREOLE CRAWFISH ETOUFFEE Enjoy these delicious Creole Specialties made with Fresh Local Seafood. 1007 SIMONTON STREET . KEY WEST .. Z94-7293 THE PORTER ALLEN COMPANY insurance since ISfll WILLIAM A. FREEMAN Sft. WILLIAM A.pREEfAAH OK. PAVIP W. 513 6thar*i <=t K W fy frvbnjt 4-2542 »+* A COMPLETE LIMB OF TOYS • BOATS • GAMES • DOLLS • HOBBIES OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK GIFT WRAPPING 111 Duval St. $94-0027. mm* 1128 Simonton St. 296-2807 8AM-3 AM Homemade Sandwiches Congenial Family Bar Package Store Reasonable Prices Established 33 Years Key West Conch The roost beautiful collection of gold and silver conchs to Key West. Custom Jewelry: • Original signed designs by one of. " America's finest crafts rpsm- 31 30 THE ONLY COMPLETE CAR STEREO EQUIPMENT CENTER featuring liar ante* Sanyo Blampuakt NOW CARRIES MOST TAPES ONLY $7.99 We will order any tape with One Day Service 1S10 Bertha Street Key West, PL 33040 £94-7214 3M Window Tinting CALL OR COME IN FOR FREE ESTIMATE 524 Duval St. at Appelrouth Ln. Natural Foods Vitamins Minerals Body Care Cook Books Longest Established Health Food Store in Key West Since 1972, 8 years on Duval Si Emma Cafes, Owner Joe Monzon, Manage Phone:294-1808 LEVI'S AT LAST! In addition to our famous sportswear from Just Men, Jockey, Sportif, Male Power, and Sun Britches, we are now Key West's supplier for LEVI'S Jeans, shirts, socks, shorts, and accessories. IM VOLLEY f" SPORTSWEAR SWIM WEAR KINO PLAZA/FITZPATRICK ST. 294-9721 AMUSEMENTS BY ROBIN KAPLAN Sun in Taurus, after 20 in Gemini Venus in Pisces, after 5 in Aries. Mercury in Gemini, turning retro- grade on the 21st. Saturn in Libra, retrograde, Jupiter in Scorpio, retrograde. KEY WEST'S HOROSCOPE m Emma efffEs Mars in Libra, retrograde, turning direct the 12th. Uranus in Sagitarius, retrograde. Neptune in Sagitarius, retrograde. Pluto in Libra, retrograde. North Node in 16 degrees of Cancer. THE FULL MOON on May 7th in Scorpio aspects the sixth house of work and health of the Key West chart. The planet called the Great Benetic, Jupiter, now in the constellation Scorpio, is conjunct the Jupiter in the Key West horoscope. This adds up to good vibrations where employment matters, work, service and health oriented areas are concerned. Scorpio i also rules the military establishment, and continued financial assistance to the city from the military presence is strongly aspected in our chart. THE NEW MOON on May 23 in Gemini aspects the ascendant of the Horoscope of Key West. This is a favorable time for new starts, and continued public .exposure for the city. . Our "image" is still very much in the limelight. .. • * . * * * •A BEAUTIFUL FLORAL T/MDmON" 294-4651 BiS WHTT6 STREET V, AAM8T, INC. 294-5501 KEY PLAZA AR& OUR RULER SATURN is Still in retrograde motion, squaring our natal Saturn in Cancer, Money matters are still a priority for the city. Stress continues in this area, with decided relief in sight by late summer. bubbles Swedish waffles hot crispy ichessan beer 9 bubbles FOR STARTERS, THE Monroe County •„ Tihrarv has announced t h e i r of film-" for May-s 7 p.m. Wed- i The month's schedule inniit Ne.ve.Uon In ?KOC. f „ * ^ r INSIDE 601 #4 Duval St. (on Southard) 296-2393 36 V "?! [Pure] <=*£ PURIFIED WSTER NOW ST AFFORDABLE FRIGES !! \ G A L . ! , . • • \ if.' > I Ask us out Special Office. Res tauran t , and Borne Delivery now! " ~" ( 536 Fleming st. o

1982-05 Solares Hill Newspaper, Vol. VII No. V, May 1982

Publication

Florida Keys History Center

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Collection