July 28, 2010 - Marathon - Max Sears: Another MaxArt Masterpiece. He is a regular contributor to the Journal. His photography speaks for itself. Max explains, "The winter sunsets and sunrises are best but this Summer Sunset over the Atlantic is right up there!" File size and quality have been reduced to fit the Journal's format. Please enjoy.
 

USCG Hudson replacing a channel marker in Boot Key Harbor. The Hudson was in the anchored in the harbor for 2 nights.

Sunsets from around the world.

Max Sears

July 29, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Ramsay Wants More User-Friendly Council. | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & Blair Shiver. | While lobster mini-season hunters gathered their gear and fishing licenses at local tackle shops, Councilman Dick Ramsay voiced his concerns over the council’s inability to respond to citizens’ comments during council meetings.

“We had a citizen at the July 13 meeting come up to make comments, and I was chomping at the bit to respond,” Ramsay noted, “but then I learned it was the council’s policy not to respond.”

City Clerk Diane Clavier then read Ramsay’s proposed changes to the wording on the council’s agenda section that allows citizens to approach the council during meetings and voice their concerns over current issues.

His suggestion included that “As these comments are not advertised in advance, the Council cannot participate in discussions regarding your comments during the meeting; but we assure you that you are being heard and that appropriate consideration and follow-up will be given.”

Councilman Pete Worthington initially supported Ramsay’s proposal, adding, “It’s been our policy for the last four years that we don’t comment, but I think as elected officials, we should be able to respond to comments. There’ve been many times I’ve been up here listening to people speaking about information that may not be accurate, and we can’t correct them on it.”

Worthington added that he felt people who came to speak before the council might feel slighted by not getting an immediate response to their concerns.

Councilman Rich Keating cautioned against the suggestion, and Vice Mayor Mike Cinque concurred.

“I think people know we bend over backwards to work for the citizens of Marathon,” Cinque suggested. “It can get kind of dicey if an item comes up in the middle of the meeting about which we don’t know ahead of time.”

Ramsay responded that his suggestion stemmed from a council meeting in 2008 during which discussion over a topic on the floor led to the circulation of misinformation.

“It turned into a little bit of a mess,” Ramsay remembered.

Mayor Ginger Snead said she was running for office during the aforementioned meeting, and it did indeed turn into a debate.

“We start looking at our staff, and that puts them in a bad situation when they don’t have the correct information,” she suggested. “Emotions start running high, and when that happens, things we shouldn’t say, get said.”

In other news:

• Ramsay invited John November of the grassroots Citizens, Not Serfs organization to speak regarding the city’s current 37-foot height restriction for buildings.

“I brought this up as a conversation item to get a feel from the council and see if this has support,” Ramsay said. “Personally, I’m against high rises. I think the 37-foot height limit is good for the Florida Keys.”

November went on to enumerate several points in the city’s current Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations that could permit for ambiguity in interpretation with future councils.

“You have an opportunity now to make them clear and more consistent,” he suggested. “I believe you should move forward now to fortify your position.”

Local real estate agent Karen Wilkinson adamantly opposed the suggestion.

“We’ve been incorporated for almost 11 years, and our LDRs are working just fine,” she said firmly, referring to the city’s finance manager Peter Rosasco’s proposed hotel plans that included construction above the established height limit.

“Somebody up here tried to build beyond the height limit,” Wilkinson said waving to city staff seated beside her, “and the town broke wide open!”

Worthington suggested that since the 37-foot height restriction is already in the Comp Plan and LDRs, that the possibility of a future council changing that would be highly unlikely.

Attorney John Herin reiterated that the process of amending the Comp Plan is a lengthy one and would require at least three public hearings. He estimated at least a six-month time line and added changes of that nature could only be made twice a year.

• Ramsay alerted the council of a meeting to be held on Tuesday, August 24 regarding the possible extension of the Marathon Airport runway. As the council’s airport relations liaison, Ramsay said he received a letter from engineers inviting him to attend the meeting that will be open for the public to discuss extending the runway 40 feet to the north.

Though he’d posed several questions to the engineers about the topics to be discussed at the meeting, specifically the noise issue and modification of the existing tree line between the runway and Aviation Boulevard, Ramsay said he had yet to receive a satisfactory response.

Worthington asked City Manager Roger Hernstadt to formally draft a letter to the appropriate airport entities on the council’s behalf, and he gladly obliged.

“Tersely worded letters are my specialty!” Hernstadt affirmed.

• In light of recent concerns with the Overseas Heritage Trail improvements, Ramsay proposed the council volunteer a liaison to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections, the state agency currently overseeing the improvements. Keating volunteered to serve in the position.

July 30, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: MICROMANAGEMENT BY CHARTER. Something came up in the Marathon City Council meeting last week, that set me to thinking. Mr. John November from Citizens Not Serfs suggested that Marathon consider making it harder to change the current building height limit, which is 37 feet. We could do this by placing it in the City Charter. The charter is the city’s highest level document and may be viewed at the city web site (www.ci.marathon.fl.us, then click on City Council). It is pretty straight forward. Amending the City Charter is a formidable and time-consuming effort, which concludes when the change is voted upon by citizens in a general election. All well and good, but it is my opinion that we should not be loading up our Charter with building dimension details.

There is a civic statutory hierarchy that governs us all, right from the Constitution of the US down to the least of our city ordinances. It stands to reason that the very fundamental laws are in the highest level documents, and the smaller details are in the lower level documents. This, I acknowledge, is very boring, but it carries tremendous impact when the rule, code, law, ordinance, or statute needs an amendment to accommodate changing times. It is all about which changes should be Easy, Moderately Easy, Not So Easy, Hard, Very Hard, and Nigh Impossible.

We have a tendency to try to freeze in time all the wonderful things that we love, which presumes that generations to come will also love them, and never want or need to change them. We think we know the best way to preserve environment, morality, building codes, road signage, pick your milieu. I personally support the 37 foot height limit, and voted for the current Land Development Regulations (LDRs) in which it is codified. It was discussed at length against its opponents, 35 feet and 39 feet. It was the middle ground. Changing that LDR would require public hearings and submissions to the State Department of Community Affairs (DCA), and the media would be all over it. In the rankings identified above, I would say it would be “Hard,” maybe “Very Hard.” Residents would speak out, which they do well here, and our elected leaders would go against the public at their own peril.

Today high buildings are viewed as pariahs in the Keys. But we should not force our vision onto future generations. We should support laws that have merit for today, and place them in the hierarchy allowing appropriate change at some level of difficulty. We do not know what the future needs of the Keys are. What arrogance makes us think we have the answers to everything, so much so that we want to engrave our preferences on those who follow?

My country and my state have high level documents that guarantee my freedom of speech, religion, press, and voting rights, et al. These protections are at the top of the statutory hierarchy i.e. US and Florida Constitutions. I prefer that specific laws concerning what business we may engage in and where, and what building we may build and how high, be codified in governing documents that people may modify in an orderly way when they need to do so. Please, let’s have no micromanagement by Constitution or City Charter, both of which are close to being “Nigh Impossible” to change-----as they should be.

MT

July 30, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: Keys Disease - The King (of the Undersea Jungle) is Dead? Tasty, Too! | Weekly Columns | Keys Disease | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & John Bartus | As we sit and bask in the afterglow of another lobster mini-season, that special time between it and the opening of regular lobster season, let’s pause for a moment and reflect on all the crawling crustaceans who gave up their lives so that we might have something tasty to dip in drawn butter. Okay. Let’s also hope that the resource was respected (one can always hope) and that things are returning to some semblance of normalcy (well, as normal as one can get in the Keys).

While we’re on the subject of diving, there are a few critical updates some of our visitors may not yet have heard. Perhaps the most critical update involves the dangerous, scary, venomous, and certainly non-native lionfish. (Cue horror music and bloodcurdling scream.) While not from around these parts, the lionfish have adapted quite well to their Keys reef surroundings, and are literally feasting on everything from our colorful tropical fish to juvenile lobster to, well, anything that will fit in its mouth. For those unfamiliar with the lionfish’s appearance, they’re not ugly – they’re a smallish striped fish with long flowing finger-like fins that make them attractive to aquarium keepers. At the end of those long finger-fins are venomous barbs that make the lionfish one of the untouchables of the undersea world. They have no local predators; not even the jewfish (okay, goliath grouper) will touch them. Even more scary, they reproduce faster than rabbits or feral cats, and have taken over other reefs in the Atlantic and Caribbean. It won’t be long before we’re totally overrun and the lionfish evolves lungs and starts stalking land-based prey and eats our pets and… okay, I made that last part up.

When the lionfish first appeared in the Keys, local environmental authorities encouraged divers to report sightings and locations. Well, there have been a lot of sightings of these coral reef carpetbaggers. Now, in a change of tactics (and I am not making this up), authorities are encouraging divers to kill any lionfish they see (at least in areas that aren’t no-take zones). You read correctly: Kill the Lionfish.

One benefit is that, again according to our local authorities, lionfish are pretty tasty with a tender white meat not unlike snapper. Many of you are probably thinking, “How can a venomous fish like the lionfish be good to eat?!” As it was explained to me by an actual speaker at an actual recent Marathon Rotary Club meeting, only the fin barbs are venomous – the lionfish flesh is both safe and tasty!

Particular care must be taken when handling and cleaning the lionfish. There are gloves the fisherman and diver can wear that are impervious to the lionfish barbs; there are also HazMat suits for fumble-fingered fish cleaners with the dropsies. Anyway, cut off the fins, peel the fish, and there be beautiful white fillets for the cutting. So I was told.

Our speaker told us that, one day, we all might find ourselves ordering the fresh-caught local lionfish special in our Keys restaurants. Well, consider this: the lionfish is sort of like a more exotic (and non-scavenger) catfish, and people love catfish. Lionfish sounds at least as appetizing as something called “orange roughy.” The Keys could certainly use a special food fish to attract visitors now that grouper season is closed for several months a year. And for the true thrill-seekers, a lionfish-toss competition could become a tradition at our local watering holes (bring your own helmets and gloves and watch for body shots).

And think of the dollars flowing into the Keys as the TDC and OFF join forces on an ad campaign touting the benefits of “Lionfish: The (Other) Other White Meat.”

* * * * *

If you’re reading this on Friday, July 30th – New Year’s Eve is tonight! Tonight, New Year’s in July at the Brass Monkey, the (other) biggest party of the year! I’ll be there as your MC along with Freddie Bye and the band, and the usual cast of Monkey characters, to ring in the New Year and say goodbye to the old. If you’re reading this after Friday the 30th, and you’re disappointed because you missed the (other) biggest party of the year, worry not! We’ll celebrate President’s Day in August next month at the Brass Monkey! Happy Holidays!

- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at the Sunset Grille with Storm Watch, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Thursday finds John performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com.

August 1, 2010 - Marathon - L. E. Shaffer: Ebony BlackCat born May 6, 1996 - died July 8, 2010. I know that I promised a return to Kitty Talk. Maybe next month I will be able to do the article. Ebony's death is still too painful. Every place I turn, there is something of Ebony's. She had toys, several cat beds, and a black collar and lead. I go to groom Abby, and there is Ebony's fur. I clean the places she liked to catnap, and there she is again. The pain and loss will fade eventually.

Abby will introduce the new shelter kitten next month. He has survived Abby, and got her to groom him sometimes. His name is Tiger, because he a tiger cat the front half, a tabby end half, and has 4 or 5 colors making him a Stripped tiger calico male cat. Yes, he has been snipped the poor fellow. There will be a lot of Abby to say next month. New kittens can change things radically, you know.

I have had other pets and mourned their passing as well, but Ebony's death was particularly devastating. I can only surmise that is because I saw her born, and I saw her sedated before being euthanized. It all seems quite unfair. She was healthy one week, and the next week she is gone. I'll get over it, because the community once again has stepped up to empathize. I am glad to live in Marathon.

August 5, 2010 - Florida Keys - Marilyn Tempest: A SERIOUS PRIMARY. On August 24^th, our primary election will take place. Primaries don’t generate the hoopla that the General Election in November does. We tend to be away on vacation, and taking a rest from everything including civic responsibilities. This year, however, there are a lot of decisions happening in the August Primary, and we might want to pay attention. Monroe County has placed sample ballots for all of us at the following link: www.keys-elections.org. Click on the “Sample Ballot” block at the right hand side. You should also receive a sample ballot in the mail.

Everyone, Democrat, Republican, Independent, or non-partisan, will elect our new SCHOOL BOARD on Aug. 24^th. In district 4, John Dick was unopposed so he has been elected. The following candidates are competing in Districts 2 and 5:

District 2: Joe Allen, Barbara Bowers, Robin Smith-Martin and Judith Wild;

District 5: Richard Bradley, Ronald Martin, Bruce Swango, and Debra Walker (Incumbent).

COUNTY JUDGES Peary Fowler and Ruth Becker were unopposed in Groups 1 and 3,and so have been reelected. However, in Group 2, Incumbent Wm. Reagan Ptomey, Jr. drew an opponent, Demetrios Efstratiou. Everyone votes for our judges.

REFERENDUM: Every voter will be asked whether they wish to elect the School Superintendent or have the person hired/employed by the School Board. Currently we elect to the position. A “Yes” vote on this would change the process to direct hire rather than election. TURN YOUR BALLOT OVER. It is on the back side. And don’t let the confusing verbiage fool you.

The remaining elected positions that are up for grabs include US Senator, US Congressional Representative, Governor, State Attorney General, County Commissioners, and Mosquito Control Board Commissioners. All these are split on the ballots by party so that you may select the candidate to run in the General Election in November. In many cases the Primary vote will turn out to be the winner in November, sometimes without much of a contest.

Absentee ballots are available at the County offices at 63^rd St. in Marathon NOW, and at other election offices throughout the Keys. You may use this ballot even though you are not planning to be absent. Another option is Early Voting which starts August 9^th also at County Election Offices. It’s simple, and can be done at your convenience.

There are lots of opportunities to meet these candidates. Check out their web sites for their positions on the issues. Apathy is not an option. The more informed we voters are, the better government we get. The results of these elections will impact you. This may be a little summer election, but your vote is big and carries more weight on this day than you can ever imagine. VOTE just for the sheer joy of it.

MT

August 7, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: Keys Disease: A Business Decision. | Weekly Columns | Keys Disease | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & John Bartus | If it weren’t actually happening here in the Middle Keys, it might be funny.

For those who haven’t followed local government news, here’s the basic story. It was time this year for the City of Marathon and the City of Key Colony Beach to negotiate a new Fire/EMS services agreement. Key Colony Beach City Commissioners were put off at the start of negotiations by the tone of a letter from the City of Marathon. Wanting to explore their options, KCB solicited a proposal for Fire/EMS services from the County as well. After some discussions, Marathon came back with a five-year deal at a fixed cost of $525,000 per year that includes all the services, personnel, and equipment that Marathon has available in its Fire Department. (According to Marathon Fire Chief William Wagner, that includes six firefighters, 25-plus volunteer firefighters, two additional part-time firefighters, and three full-time staff positions. In addition, Marathon has three ambulances, two fire engines, one 75-foot ladder truck and a 3,000-gallon tanker/pumper.) In contrast, Monroe County offered a three-year proposal that includes just two firefighters, one truck, and one ambulance at an average cost of $541,300 per year.

Saying that it had nothing at all to do with the desire to shove it up Marathon’s posterior, three Key Colony Beach City Commissioners made a “business decision” to go with the Monroe County proposal, a proposal that will cost Key Colony taxpayers more money and provide less than one-third the services that would have come with the Marathon contract.

That’s some funny business.

Unfortunately, it’s not the more mundane municipal services in question. It’s the all-important life-safety services, and elected officials have a duty to their constituents to make decisions that won’t unnecessarily put them at further risk. It’s still unclear whether Key Colony Beach’s fire insurance rates will rise because of the potential of a worse ISO rating. And Florida Administrative Code requires a minimum of four responders to any fire. KCB will only have two on call at any given time.

Putting aside these serious concerns, there’s still the question of the inequity of Key Colony Beach getting a much better deal from Monroe County than other county taxpayers. Currently, those residents in the County’s Fire and Ambulance District 1 (unincorporated areas of the Lower and Middle Keys along with the City of Layton) pay 1.87 mills for just Fire/EMS services. (The entire City of Marathon millage, including Fire/EMS, is just 1.685.) Key Colony Beach, not exactly a poor community, will end up paying less than half of what other county residents are paying for the same services. If I were a resident of Big Pine, or Conch Key, or Ramrod, or Long Key, I’d be more than a little miffed that my Fire and Ambulance District 1 tax dollars were going to subsidize services for Key Colony Beach.

The Monroe County Commission is scheduled to decide the Key Colony Beach Fire/EMS issue at their meeting on August 18 in Key Largo. If they choose to approve the proposal, it will result in budget problems for Marathon, drastically reduced services for Key Colony Beach, and an indefensible inequity for taxpayers in Monroe County. In the short term, the County Commission should not approve the proposal, and should suggest instead that Key Colony and Marathon work things out. If the County must provide Fire/EMS services to KCB, then it needs to be at the same rate that other county taxpayers pay for those same services.

In the long term, the County needs to do the right thing by their taxpayers. Islamorada and Marathon have established well-staffed professional Fire/EMS departments that could easily handle the unincorporated enclaves between their respective municipal boundaries. Local governments need to put public safety and taxpayer concerns ahead of abjectly stupid turf wars. There is no need to duplicate expensive services and continue to charge taxpayers more money than necessary, especially as essential county and municipal services continue to face the budget axe. It’s long past time for logic and common sense to enter this debate. Our County Commissioners could be heroes on this issue. Let’s see if it happens.

- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside with Storm Watch, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Tuesday finds John solo at the Sunset Grille, and Thursday performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com

August 14, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Shiver Report Council Moves Slowly on Image Improvements. Advisory Board Still Waiting on Permits to Plant Trees | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & Blair Shiver. | Too many lights. Too much curbing. Dilapidated buildings fronting the highway. Not enough trees.

In the midst of budget season, the Marathon City Council is still struggling to gain some ground on improving the community’s aesthetic image, particularly along the U.S. 1 corridor.

Community Image Advisory Board (CIAB) members Pete Chapman and Patti Childress (formerly the council’s Beautification Committee) appeared before the council for their quarterly report.

Chapman said the committee was still in the “heavy lifting” stages of charting a definitive course of action.

Vice Mayor Mike Cinque and Mayor Ginger Snead patiently insisted they were ready to see some improvements, particularly in the way of planting new trees, planted in the median along U.S. 1 adjacent to the airport.

Chapman told council the advisory board is still awaiting approval from FDOT for their proposed design changes, specifically concerning installation of trees and foliage.

“I drive up and down the Keys, and I think the curbing and islands along U.S. gives our city a more urban look than that of a rural community,” Cinque suggested. “When I’m coming into Marathon from Grassy Key, I feel like I’ve hit an industrial park with all the lighting. I love this town, and I’d like to soften the look of the U.S. 1 corridor.”

Chapman noted that the CIAB is exploring the creation of an incentive program for residents and business owners along the main artery of Marathon to plant some trees and “gussy up their properties a bit.”

“We are defined by the businesses along U.S. 1, so we would like to formulate some sort of minimum standard,” he explained, adding that the advisory board would also be cautionary in suggesting uniform standards for all sections of the community, but instead devise an appropriate plan for each section of the Marathon business community. “Old Town is very different than Grassy Key.”

Snead expounded upon Cinque’s concerns regarding excessive lighting, adding that she was surprised so many streetlights were permissible in the midst of marine turtle nesting season.

“I agree we need more foliage and something to soften our corners, but I believe we need some kind of guidelines so we have some consistency,” Snead suggested, continuing that on a drive through town, one section looks like an industrial park and another is “like being in someone’s back yard.”

In that same vein, Ron Wampler and the building department continue to address a handful of dilapidated and unsightly properties across the city, and high on the list is the former Hanley property, a concrete skeleton of a building surrounded by a cold chain link fence, in the heart of Old Town.

Attorney Bob Miller, who currently represents the estate responsible for the property, told the council, however, that the estate does not have sufficient funds to either develop or demolish the property as it currently stands.

“What I’ve discussed with my client is the offer that we mitigate the appearance of the structure…and landscaping has been suggested as a possibility. The estate should have enough money to fix the appearance,” Miller said.

“I’m not of the general feeling that if we get rid of these buildings that that will force people to re-develop their properties,” he continued. “Redevelopment of an existing property is way more attractive than a vacant piece of land and having to go through all the processes. But, it’s an eyesore, and we’re willing to do something about it.”

Wampler said the city still had an action filed against the property and the property owner had until August 17 to file an appeal. He said he primarily wanted to alert the council that if the city were to opt for total demolition of the property, there would be a significant cost involved with that action.

“If estate doesn’t come forward with that demolition, then the city will make that demolition and then put a lien on the property,” Wampler informed.

Councilman Pete Worthington questioned the city’s ability to collect on liens on properties that eventually wind up in foreclosure, but the city attorney said it would depend on how the city is able to attach a lien to the property and address such similar issues through code enforcement.

Worthington said though there had been improvements through Old Town on nearby properties, “It’s my hope that a building that doesn’t have doors in it, doesn’t have a roof, and doesn’t have windows, whether it is structurally sound or not, something needs to be done with it. It’s not a good message to send to people coming from Key West approaching that end of town that’s the first thing they see from the highway.”

Earlier Tuesday morning in the council’s workshop, Councilman Dick Ramsay voiced his concern over the large stop signs along the bike at the intersection of U.S. 1 and 109^th Street.

“I slammed on the brakes and almost got into an accident the other day,” Ramsay said of the signage that faces oncoming, westbound traffic at the busy intersection. No mentions of the signage concerns were raised in the regular council meeting.

Recently installed signage along the bike path, though meant to alert bikers of high traffic intersections, may potentially confuse westbound drivers along U.S. 1. 

August 15, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: WHAT IS YOUR WIQ?

1. Do you know how deep a shallow injection well is? 2. What about a deep one? 3. What does EDU stand for? 4. What does MGD stand for? 5. AWT? 6. BAT? 7. SRF? 8. What is a bollard? 9. When will the dozers be coming down your street? 10. Do you know where your lateral connection is? If you cannot respond to the above questions, your WIQ (Wastewater Intelligence Quotient) is not where it should be. (Answers below.)

At the August 10^th Council meeting, I was reminded of the distance we have come on this project in three short years. All areas of the town are under construction with the exception of Boot Key, areas 4 and 6 are hooking up, and the completion date is projected at December, 2011. The “one year” letters are ready to mail to all owners. Work will soon begin in Service Area 7, the easternmost (or northernmost, depending on how you think of it) part of the city.

 Grassy Key is the wild and beautiful entry way to Marathon. It has a naturally tropical look and feel to it, and the residents possess a certain independence of spirit. There are acres of protected wetlands interspersed with clusters of homes, motels and restaurants. Morton Street skirts the Gulf shore here, and on this road we find breathtaking estates, off the beaten path, hidden from the casual observer. The Dolphin Research Center is on this island, and is a main attraction for tourists visiting the Keys. This island is quintessentially eclectic. Grassy Key folks consider themselves tough and self sufficient, but the installation of city sewage and storm water collection is about to inject itself into their rural paradise bringing a boatload of pain.

Weiler Engineering delivered a comprehensive report about Grassy Key issues. They face a different set of design challenges than the more populated areas of Marathon. The vacuum system did not suit the area, and a grinder pump technology was adopted. The City Council directed staff to do what needs to be done by way of contracts and financing to assure that we move steadily through the complexities, make use of all available grants, and deal with business and individual concerns early on. The contracts have been let, the financing executed, and the initial meeting with citizens was held July 21^st.

About 80 residents attended the meeting. The questions were wide ranging. The original design, which provided several smaller collection areas, has changed to a single plant. Blue Isle and Coconut presented special problems which are being addressed as we speak. The original plans on each street are subject to changes, and some can be made easily. Where possible, changes will be made at no cost to the homeowner. When changes involve increase in material quantities, the homeowner may pay for the increase prior to the contractor working on the connection. The contractors are obligated to post advisories at least 72 hours prior to starting construction near your house. Watch for those notices, so you are ready.

If this article has brought you to the realization that sewers are really happening, we have accomplished our goal. Now is the time to come forward. There are no dumb questions. These are your homes and businesses. Go to your city web site www.ci.marathon.fl.us to get information on schedules, lateral loans, et al., or call the city at 305-289-5005. An educated public will minimize the problems associated with a project of this magnitude. The end is in sight with all new road surfaces and vastly improved water quality. Hold tight to that thought while the dust and dirt overtake your life, and, God willin’, we will all get through this together.

{Answers: (1) 90 feet; (2) 3000 feet; (3) Equivalent Dwelling Unit; (4) Million Gallons per Day; (5) Advanced Wastewater Treatment; (6) Best Achievable Treatment; (7) State Revolving Fund; (8) A short steel post installed to protect grinder pumps from collision damage; (9) Wastewater Status Report at city web site; (10) Call 305-289-4161, Weiler Engineering, for an appointment}.

MT

August 15, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: Keys Disease: Descending to Their Level? | Weekly Columns | Keys Disease | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & John Bartus | Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. – United States Constitution, Amendment 1, 1791.

On September 11, 2001, thousands of first responders heroically rushed to the scene and saved tens of thousands of lives. More than 400 of those first responders did not make it out alive. In rushing into those burning buildings, not one of them asked, “What God do you pray to? What beliefs do you hold?”

The attack was an act of war – and our first responders defended not only our City but also our country and our Constitution. We do not honor their lives by denying the very Constitutional rights they died protecting. We honor their lives by defending those rights – and the freedoms that the terrorists attacked. – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, August 4, 2010.

The Cordoba House. Or, according to the talking heads and radio pundits, the Ground Zero Mosque. Discussion of this project in the media has inflamed so many passions and caused so many to get their knickers in a wad. Let’s try and set the record straight.

The Cordoba House project is not on the Ground Zero site. It is two blocks north of the World Trade Center site. There are two Christian churches closer to Ground Zero: St. Peter’s Catholic Church (one block away) and St. Paul’s Episcopal (across the street). The proposed Cordoba House site is not a landmark building; it is a damaged building that housed a Burlington Coat Factory store.

Far from being the radicals that so many have portrayed them as, the Cordoba Initiative “…aims to achieve a tipping point in Muslim-West relations within the next decade, steering the world back to the course of mutual recognition and respect and away from heightened tensions.” According to their website, “This proposed project is about promoting integration, tolerance of difference and community cohesion through arts and culture. Cordoba House will provide a place where individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, will find a center of learning, art and culture; and most importantly, a center guided by Islamic values in their truest form – compassion, generosity, and respect for all.” The mosque will be but one part of a community center that will also house a 500-seat auditorium, swimming pool, art exhibition spaces, bookstores, restaurants, and other amenities that will make it a cultural hub for Lower Manhattan.

The Cordoba Initiative owns the property. They have every right to develop it as they see fit. Any ruling from a governing body that would attempt to stop them from exercising their right to religious freedom would be immediately thrown out of court as unconstitutional. For many, however, it’s not just a question of law.

There are those critics of Islam and Shariah law that cite its incompatibility with the freedoms protected under American law, especially the provisions that allow treatment of women as second-class beings. A little research shows that not all Muslims are radical believers and interpreters of Shariah, just as not all Christians are radical fundamentalists.

For many others, however, the question is one of allowing Muslims to “…build a mosque to propagate their religion of violence and hated a block away from where their Muslim brothers perpetrated the greatest act of terror on U.S. soil.” That juicy quote comes from a controversial “Christian” televangelist named Bill Keller. Keller has forgotten about the Muslims who were in the World Trade Center buildings as they fell on 9/11, those Muslims who responded to the site to render aid and assistance, and those Muslims who were innocent passengers on the aircraft that struck the towers.

Keller also seems to have forgotten about Christ’s overriding message of loving one’s enemies, and how He distilled ten commandments into two: love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might; and love your neighbor as yourself. I don’t recall seeing any exceptions for Muslims.

If we are ever to move away from bigotry and hatred, we need to promote tolerance and understanding in our society – the One Human Family creed must apply to all. Otherwise, if we accept this darkness of the soul under the guise of Americanism and patriotism, we descend to the level of the radicals who hijacked both aircraft and religion on 9/11. We must recognize that intolerant opposition to the Cordoba House project is both un-Christian and un-American.

- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside with Storm Watch, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Wednesday finds John solo at Cabana Breezes, and Thursday performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com

August 16, 2010 - Marathon - Provided by Pete Worthington: Wild Bird Center’s Online Newsletter!

Introducing www.marathonwildbirdcenter.blogspot.com

Well, we finally did it! Web mistress Susie Ward (owner of Access-to-Web.com) has helped us set up a blog. We try to “blog” daily but we may miss a few days here and there. However, it really has been fun! Director Kelly Grinter sure can talk about birds and rehab. That’s the cool thing: when you’re passionate about something discussing it comes easily. So, now you can follow us on our website, which is a complete collection of who we are and what we do, and includes pictures and stories--and allows folks to make safe donations online. Or on our Facebook page which offers a quick three sentence “news feed” with current photos. Or the blog, which gives Kelly a chance to ramble! It’s very informative and makes you feel like you’re right here in the bird hospital with us. You’ll find it at www.marathonwildbirdcenter.blogspot.com. Check it out!

The results are in . . .

The revenues from two recent fundraisers will help us get through this hot, quiet summer. We sent our 15^th Bird-day solicitation, which contained our first printed piece ever, to more than 500 friends, sponsors and those we just thought might enjoy it. In response, we heard back from 33 people for a total (so far) of $3,545.00! Thank you to those who sent in bird-day “gifts” and to those who haven’t but still want to . . . go for it! We need it and we certainly appreciate your continued support. Remember: our mailing address is Marathon Wild Bird Center, P. O. Box 501328, Marathon, FL 33050.

On Saturday, July 24^th, volunteers from the MWBC traveled down to Key West to help with another fundraiser. BW Promotions, owned and operated by Barb Wright, offered to give the MWBC partial proceeds from the Hemingway Days 5K Sunset Race that they organized. All 15 of our volunteers showed up (thanks, guys and gals!) and were assigned intersections along the route. Each was given a STOP sign (don’t worry, police officers were standing by, too!) and literally stopped traffic when the 370 runners passed through their spots. Volunteer Frank Pauly was stationed at The Mole, the halfway point in the race. This spot is rather isolated (not another soul was around) and Frank said it was surreal when the runners rounded the bend and headed right for him. After the race, the volunteers all joined the runners around the pool at the Southernmost Hotel for great food and drinks and frozen pieces of Key Lime pie. Yum! Although we made less than we expected, about $500.00, we all had a great time. Barb was so impressed by our attendance and our enthusiasm that she’s offered the same deal for a one-half marathon to be held in Key West in January 2011. We also are thankful to the Key West Wildlife Center for allowing us to receive the proceeds from a fundraiser in “their territory.”

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Our added web presence should give you a fuller picture of everything we do and why we need your financial support. Please mail a check of any amount to Marathon Wild Bird Center, P. O. Box 501328, Marathon, FL 33050, or you can visit our website at www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org to donate online. Because we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donation is tax deductible. Remember: if you ever find a sick or injured bird, please give us a call at 305.743.8382. We answer this line 24 hours a day.

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Early, early migrants movin’ through

It’s hard to believe but some birds actually head south starting in August. This past week we’ve seen hoards of Barn Swallows zipping along the highway. These little kamikazes are following their favorite food, dragonflies. Unfortunately dragonflies like to hang out in grassy areas (the right-of-way along the highway) and over the hot pavement of the highway, probably getting their own lift on the thermals generated here. This means that a number of Barn Swallows, on their blind quest for food, often collide with unsuspecting motorists. They zip around really fast! In these situations, the motorist probably didn’t even see the birds coming until it was too late.

Also, moving west to southwest, are Swallow-tailed Kites. These large, impressive birds are often mistaken by some as magnificent frigatebirds because of their long, pointed wings and long forked tail feathers; but unlike the frigates, which are dark on their underside, the kites are all white on their undersides. Frigatebirds occasionally fly in small groups of a dozen or so while the Swallow-tailed Kites often migrate in large groups of 25 or more. When the frigatebirds fly in groups, they usually are heading to offshore islands to roost for the night. When the kites fly in groups, they are migrating, basically following the chain of islands west until they feel they’ve come to a good spot to hook a left and cross the Florida Straits. Waterbirds, such as frigatebirds, make their living plucking fish from the surface of the ocean and are comfortable--except on stormy days--flying way, way offshore. Raptors, such as kites, eat ground-based animals. Specifically the kites pluck lizards and insects from the treetops. This makes them a little more cowardly than the waterbirds when it comes to crossing vast expanses of ocean. But who can blame them? So, it’s begun: the southern migration. Keep an eye to the sky!

Spread the word

Enjoyed this newsletter? Please forward it to a friend! And don’t forget to visit www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org, http://www.facebook.com or www.marathonwildbirdcenter.blogspot.com for lots more information and photos.

Marathon Wild Bird Center P.O. Box 501328 Marathon, FL 33050 MM 50 at Crane Point Hammock Phone: (305) 743-8382 Fax: (305) 743-8172 Website: www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org

August 17, 2010 - Marathon - Max Sears: New Marina Deck Railing & Boot Key Sunset in the Rain.

Lots of work going on at the City Marina by "Team Tanner"!

The new deck railing, the new floating dock, and Sean Cannon and Deputy Guerra discussing the work completed.

Great Job.
 

Max Sears

Sunsets over Boot Key Harbor with rain showers coming. Max Sears 

August 21, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus Keys Disease: Surreality | Weekly Columns | Keys Disease | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & John Bartus | It’s easy to find articles and columns these days that decry all the bad stuff that’s happening in this wide world of ours. Everywhere one turns (so long as one was alive in the 1960s or 1970s and remembers the neat and wonderful predictions about “the future”), one sees that modern society is nothing like it was supposed to be.

I’ve dealt with the fact that we still don’t have flying cars before. It’s probably a good thing that we all don’t wear Spandex jumpsuits and derive our nutrition from flavored pills. We haven’t colonized the moon or visited Mars, and there’s no big-wheel space station rotating to the strains of “Blue Danube.”

There is something, however, that not one futurist thought of 40 and 50 years ago. This modern development, unforeseen by the brightest minds of the day, has contributed more to the downfall of mankind than any other single thing (save for texting on a telephone). This societal destroyer, this mangler of morality, this modern-day demon seed is known by two names…

Reality TV.

Nothing smacks less of reality than the Theater of the Bizarre known as Reality TV. Where else could a Governor of a state like, say, Illinois, be indicted and impeached for numerous crimes based around his attempted “selling” of a Senate seat, parlay that indictment into a stint on Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” get fired (again), and then only get convicted for lying to the FBI about crimes for which he wasn’t convicted?!

Historians have yet to determine the precise moment of the creation of Reality TV. Some say that Phil Donahue or Geraldo Rivera is responsible; others point all the way back to the old “Candid Camera” and “To Tell The Truth” TV shows. Whatever the origins, nothing really could have prepared us for shows like “American Idol” (glorified karaoke), “Survivor: Hellish Locations” (starring moral reprobates, backstabbers, tax cheats, and former Miami Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson), the “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” true love debacles, and the myriad spinoff “Star” shows on the various small cable networks (“DesignStar,” FashionStar,” “FoodStar,” etc.). Yes, you too can compete in various televised humiliating contests for a chance at your own Reality TV show! And who needs the real justice system when there’s Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Divorce Court, the People’s Court, and all the rest of the Surreal Broadcast Judiciary?!

People have shown an almost masochistic acceptance of their own embarrassment and shame if there’s a chance it could be televised. A shining example of this behavior can be found on the “Maury Povich Show,” or, as it’s better known, the “Who’s Your Daddy Show.” Couples and former couples, of which there seems to be an endless supply, come on to the “Maury” set, argue and bicker, and react emotionally as the results from the DNA tests come in and determine whether the lowlife scumbag the audience has been booing is really the father of the cute kid on the video screen. It’s almost funnier when the man isn’t the father, and the woman, who up until this point played the victim, is shown to be as much of a slut as the man.

Even Maury, however, can’t hold a candle to the outright depravity that is the “Jerry Springer Show.” Couples, threesomes, heterosexuals, LBGT relationships, incestuous relationships, and anything else one could imagine all come on Jerry – with the added attraction of free fisticuffs! It seems to be a requirement for Springer show guests that attempted assault and battery must be performed on stage as the crowd chants, “Jerry, Jerry!”

As an allegedly sentient species on this third planet from the sun, we’ve seen the rise and fall of the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Romans, and various Democratic and Republican administrations. We’ve witnessed incredible events ranging from the microscopic to the astronomic. Yet, like moths drawn to the candle flame, we just can’t turn away from this modern phenomenon called Reality TV.

Surreal.

- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Monday finds John solo at Cabana Breezes, and Thursday performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com. 

August 22, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest Editor's Notes: RELATIONSHIPS. These days, it is all about relationships, the touchy, feely nature of how we interact with spouses, children, friends, and significant others in our search for acceptance on Facebook and Twitter. Now that you are anticipating  seamy commentary on the human condition, I have to reveal that this----is not about that! The relationships I want to explore are those between governments and cultures.

We all recognize a good relationship when we see one. I hope you are blessed with a few of those. What keeps them good? Sensitivity, mutual respect, and good manners. We have seen relationships unravel, and they are hard to rebuild. Things are said; deeds are done; trust is lost.  It takes renewed commitment and time to recover. Both sides have to want it. We can relate, right? Now let’s broaden the “relationship” universe.

We have watched the recent falling out between Key Colony and Marathon over Fire Services. It’s a small matter between two small towns. Marathon broached contract renewal in a confrontational manner, with little attention to good manners. Key Colony was shocked, took a defensive stance and backed off. Cooler heads prevailed and an inter-local agreement was achieved finally, but the relationship is damaged. Both parties will need to show restraint, respect and good manners to reestablish that trust. It will take a little time.

On the national scene, we have heard about the application to build a mosque and community center  in NYC near ground zero. There is no doubt that the Islamic group has every right to apply for permits, and has every right to build there. The law allows it, and religious freedom is honored in this country.  But the proposed project seems to be…. insensitive.  If  reconciliation and understanding are the goals, the beginnings are not auspicious. What about the relationship between Islam and our Western culture?  It is damaged. The wounds of 9-11 are still raw, and the outcry we hear is reflective of the fury we still feel about the evil attack of 9 years ago.

In 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.  How soon did our parents recover from that? The answer is, “They never did.” It is seventy years now, and the pain is a memory. We have seen incredibly moving acts of reconciliation between our two peoples during the last decade.  It took fifty plus years to reach that healing place.

I lost no one on 9-11. I was, however, on the phone with my son, aghast at the fall of the twin towers. He hung up suddenly saying, “Something’s wrong. There is an explosion. My house is shaking.” He lived in Alexandria, VA, several miles from the Pentagon. For hours, I felt mortal fear. Oh yes, I remember 9-11, and I still feel injured by that ignominious invasion of our country. I remember as though it was yesterday. Our grandchildren will learn of it, but they will not inherit the rage.

War is the total breakdown of relationships.  Rhetoric is inflammatory. Governments and cultures incite each other, deliberately or not, and allow the radical fringes to set the tone of discourse. Restraint and mutual respect are not practiced. Honor and good manners are not demanded. Why? These concepts are simple to understand, but perhaps difficult to translate across cultural boundaries. What a shame that the collective “we” that is humanity cannot see beyond its little groupings to the larger, global stage, where tolerance would yield such high returns.

Although discouraging at times, the effort to bring people of good will closer, is the loftiest of purposes. But both sides have to want it. The mosque may be built, but reconciliation will come later. Time must pass. We are not quite ready yet.

MT   

August 23, 2010 - California - Linda Hall: Vitamin D and Infant, Children's Health Low Vitamin D levels associated with increased disease severity in childhood Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Childhood SLE is a tragic disease, one of the autoimmune diseases that have risen to epidemic levels in our children in the last 20 years. Afflicted children develop debilitating kidney, joint, bone, heart, blood, and lung disease; almost all require immunosuppressants (prednisone and hydroxychloroquine) to ward off looming debilitation and death.

Dr. Tracey Wright and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found severe Vitamin D deficiency was five times more common in SLE children than in controls (37% vs. 9%), that a measure of SLE disease severity was 2.5 times higher in SLE children with Vitamin D deficiency, that 78% of SLE children who were prescribed Vitamin D were still severely deficient (that is, their pediatricians were prescribing insignificant amounts of Vitamin D while telling them – correctly in the case of SLE – to avoid the sun), and serum activated vitamin D levels (calcitriol) were significantly lower in SLE kids than healthy controls. (Tragically, the true believers of the Marshall Protocol – and I know no scientists who are – recommend these children get even less Vitamin D.) The authors concluded, “Vitamin D deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for morbidity in SLE and represents a target for intervention.”

Vitamin D deficient mothers with HIV are more likely to infect their baby.

Dr. Saurabh Mehta and colleagues at Harvard discovered higher Vitamin D levels in HIV infected mothers helped prevent fetal death and HIV transmission to the infant. At 24 months of age, toddlers from low maternal 25(OH)D HIV mothers had a 46% increased risk of acquiring HIV and a 61% increased risk of dying. The authors found an insignificant but disturbing trend for increased infection and mortality in mothers with 25(OH)D levels greater than 70 ng/ml but not enough mothers had such levels to draw any conclusions.

Vitamin D appears to be involved in a rapidly increasing number of infections, from influenza, tuberculosis, bacterial vaginitis, sepsis, the common cold, and now to HIV. When are scientists going to get around to looking at the wintertime killer and crippler of kids, meningitis?

More evidence Vitamin D deficiency is involved in infantile cardiomyopathy.

In the above paper, Dr. Jennifer Brown and colleagues at Children’s National Medical Center reported on four more babies with life threatening cardiomyopathy (when the heart swells up and cannot pump blood effectively). All four babies improved dramatically with Vitamin D treatment including three babies who are now off all cardiac medications (I hope that does not include Vitamin D, which is a crucial cardiac medicine.) and one infant who was taken off the heart transplant list after treatment with Vitamin D.

The problem with the paper was that the authors only looked at infants whose Vitamin D levels were so low that their body could not maintain their blood calcium levels and also had rickets. The authors concluded the cause of the cardiomyopathy in the four infants was low serum calcium. I emailed Dr. Christopher Spurney, the senior author, reminding him that Vitamin D has direct effects on heart muscle cells, above and beyond its effects on calcium, and that he should check Vitamin D levels on all infants with cardiomyopathy and treat those with a low levels, not just rachitic or hypocalcemic infants. He replied that the Children’s National Medical Center is now doing just that.

August 27, 2010 - Marathon - Blair Shiver: Youth Club Proposes Part Timer at City Park. Organization Promises to Remain Self-Sustaining | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & Blair Shiver. | With the dwindling volunteer base and resignations, a contingent of Marathon’s Youth Club and Parks & Recreation Advisory Board proposed the city create a part-time position to help organize and grow the various sports programs.

 Councilman Dick Ramsay raised the issue during the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening, and Parks & Rec Chairman Luis Gonzalez emphasized that with the first budget hearing less than two weeks away, the group is pressed for time to find money in the budget for additional personnel.

“I’ve met with the directors of each sport, and we’ve asked them to individualize what their needs are for their sports as the needs for football are going to be different from girls’ softball and baseball,” Gonzalez told the council, adding that Parks Director Jimmy Schmitt was in support of additional staff to help centralize registration and administer over youth sports.

According the Gonzalez, youth club programs currently serve approximately 600 kids through baseball, softball, t-ball, football, and soccer. Basketball, which is currently run by city staff during the winter months, serves roughly 100 kids. Gonzalez said the Youth Club would like to expand to include flag football and the new staff person could oversee the co-ed softball league that began just this summer.

The idea is to simplify the operation, Gonzalez said, not only with registration but also with scheduling games in other cities and bulk purchasing of equipment with the city’s buying power.

“We want one person who would know the operation of every single sport on a year-round basis,” he explained.

Local attorney Frank Greenman agreed that the position is a very good idea and administratively wise to consolidate all these activities to ensure oversight.

Though job requirements and qualifications still need to be finalized, the council pledged to support the concept.

“If we reduce our charitable contributions from $90,000 a year down to $70,000, there’s the $20,000 for the position right there,” Ramsay suggested.

Mayor Ginger Snead suggested that all vested parties, including the city attorney, come back with an outlined plan for the new position before the first budget hearing on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 pm at the Marathon Government Center.

In other business:

• Greenman reported to the council on behalf of the Land Acquisition Committee and relatively inactive Affordable Housing Task Force.

“You own five lots between you and the Land Trust,” Greenman told the council. “Three of them have permits ready to be built. There are no takers, and I think the reasons for that are obvious. Right now the market is dead, but there are five lots available whenever a qualified should come up. We also have four or five affordable houses for sale between here and Coral Shores.”

He continued that between the City of Marathon and Florida Forever, the state’s land conservation program, much of the environmentally sensitive property across Grassy Key has been purchased on recommendation of the Land Acquisition Committee.

Greenman added that Patti Childress, the city’s Land Steward, is an asset with an incredible inventory of knowledge.

• City Manager Roger Hernstadt passed along federal lobbyist Rick Marks’ report from Washington, D.C.

“There are in fact not too many things happening in Washington at this point in time,” with regard to the mid-term elections, Hernstadt reported. But, he commended Marks for his work during legislative session to which Snead quickly agreed.

“He helped us despite the fact that we heard there’d be no money, and he’s delivered more times than not for our city,” she applauded.

• Attorney Bob Miller, speaking on behalf of the estate that includes the long-discussed Hanley Property, said the owner is planning to hire a construction engineer to find out exactly what needs to be done to bring the structure into compliance.

Miller said the structure currently stands without doors and windows because there was an attempt some years ago to put a fish processing plant in the building.

“We want to make it right, and we’re going to take care of it,” he affirmed.

• Council voted to throw out the resulting bids of a Request for Proposals from three companies to perform beach cleanup services along Marathon’s Sombrero and CocoPlum beaches.

Rich Thompkins of Beachcomber of the Florida Keys, LLC who is currently contracted with the city to perform the service said his original contract was to scrape and remove seaweed periodically or combine it into the dune line. He contended that three months ago, city staff told him he would be required to remove the seaweed and that a $15,000 increase in his proposed contract – from $65,000 per year to $80,000 per year – is to cover the cost of dumpsters he’s rented to collect and remove the debris.

“I have stuff here from FDEP that says seaweed does not have to be removed every time I scrape the beach,” Thompkins said.

The council voted to extend Thompkins’ current contract that is scheduled to expire in September. He agreed to meet with Hernstadt and Ramsay, who requested he be present at the negotiating table, to iron out the kinks in the contract. 

August 28, 2010 - Marathon - Marilyn Tempest: READY FOR PRIME TIME. I almost missed it.  It was the last agenda item, the one they rush through while you are locating car keys buried at the bottom of your bag, or departing the live streaming broadcast to check your email.  But at the Aug. 24^th  morning briefing for Council, if you tuned out, you missed the fun.  The last item generated lively discussion and was demoted from resolution status to a bullet in the manager’s report. The subject of this resolution, you ask? The  purchase of a “Centrifuge With Trailer Mount System”, for a mere $622,000.  “Excuse me. Wha’s that you say?”

A number of my pet peeves were stroked the wrong way as the facts were revealed.

         1. There was a hurry up going on so that we could utilize a grant for about $400K of the price. Now, I love a good grant as much as the next guy, but a grant that locks you into extra personnel, training, maintenance, fuel, insurance and storage problems may not be such a fabulous gift. Just because a grant is out there doesn’t mean we are compelled to use it.

          2.  No comparative costs study was done for another product or outsourcing. Why not?

           3.  These large toys get buried in the budgets for Enterprise Funds, i. e. storm water and wastewater utilities, and we think they don’t really impact us, but they do. These utilities make money by charging you and me for capital and O & M. We barely look at the costs being stashed away in these budgets. (The Enterprise Funds budgets are posted at the city web site along with the general operations budget.)

 No one thought it an issue that the “main purpose of this piece of equipment is drying out poop! And folks might not want to see or smell this piece of equipment doing its job at Coco Plum Beach or next  to Subway.”  (This quote is a fairly accurate recall of Vice Mayor Cinque’s reaction.)

Mayor Snead noted that we had in recent years purchased two other large pieces of equipment. She proceeded to give a physical representation of the work they did, which was fun to watch. One cleans out storm water  wells, and the other trims brush at the roadside with spinning vertical blades.  (It would be a good idea to report on how much money these two items are saving us, but I digress.)

Councilman Ramsay, who often keeps us at the table longer than we would like, apologized as he insisted  we needed to discuss this last item. He was right.  The resolution had not been properly vetted. In my opinion, staff was careless on this one.  Later, at the evening meeting during the manager’s report, it was agreed to delay the decision in order to seek more information.  The discussion did not generate the spontaneous laughter  it had in the morning, but delay was the right move.

 The 10 a.m. brief on City Council Day is my favorite venue for local issues.  Council thinks out loud, and gives some insight into their decision making process.  I thoroughly enjoyed the morning humor followed by sound action taken at the evening meeting. What we witnessed was a Council at its best, doing what it is supposed to do.  As a footnote, I think the mayor and vice-mayor are ready for prime time. Letterman better watch out!

MT                 

August 29, 2010 - Florida Keys - John Bartus - Keys Disease: One Out of Five… | Weekly Columns | Keys Disease | Courtesy of The Weekly Newspapers & John Bartus | Us Boomers will likely remember the old Trident gum commercials that used to start with the phrase, “Four out of five dentists recommend Trident gum for their patients who chew gum.” It always left me wondering about what the other dentist – the one out of five – believed would be better than Trident (Taffy? Tire rubber?). Well, dear readers, it seems like the “one out of five” believes some pretty strange things!

A recent poll showed that one out of five Americans believes that our President, Barack Obama, is a follower of Islam. The fact is that Obama is a Christian. He has been a Christian most all of his life, has attended Christian churches, and one of those churches featured a certain Christian pastor who caused Obama no small amount of political indigestion (remember Rev. Jeremiah Wright?). Still, the belief remains with one out of five of us that Obama is a Muslim. Happy Ramadan.

It gets worse. One out of five Americans can’t identify the United States on a map of the world. I’m not sure if it’s the same one out of five Americans who don’t know who we declared independence from back in 1776, but I bet it is. And I also bet it’s the same one out of five Americans who pee in the pool.

Now some of you may be thinking that one out of five Americans is only 20% of us, and that it’s not really that bad that 20% of us didn’t pay attention in history or geography classes. Fine. Keep on believing it’s not a horrible comment on (the lack of) American intelligence. Just remember that the next time you’re in a swimming pool with 50 of our fellow citizens, inclusive of those one out of five (or 10 in 50) Americans who are peeing in the pool as we speak. Towel, please.

It still doesn’t get better. One out of five of us believe that the sun revolves around the Earth. And you thought it was only pre-Copernican astronomers, popes, and VH1 divas? In concordance with this return to medieval thinking, one out of five Americans believes that witches are real! With the popularity of the teen vampire and werewolf movies and TV shows, I’m sure that belief in all scary monsters has risen exponentially. But it’s only 20%, right?

Running down some more of the improbable statistics, one out of five Americans believes that alien abductions are real (that would explain the appearance of Florida gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott), that the Apocalypse will happen in their lifetime, and that state-run lotteries are a sound financial investment. No wonder people like Bernie Madoff were so successful.

One out of five Americans doesn’t use the Internet. At all. This time, it’s probably not the same one out of five Americans who are unhappy with their broadband connection speed. But it just might be the same one out of five American males of working age who don’t have jobs. If only someone would come up with a way to sit in front of their computer and use the Internet to make thousands of dollars at home in their spare time…  and if only there were a 1-800 number to call for free information… we just might be able to kick this unemployment thing.

I’ve been using the “one out of five Americans” grouping like it’s a bad thing. (If the helmet fits…) It’s not always a bad thing, however, to be outside the norm, apart from the great unwashed, above average, or simply brilliant (like the above average and brilliant people who read this column). In a recent survey done by the McCormick Foundation, a majority of Americans were able to name freedom of speech as one of the freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. That’s good.

Just a little over one out of five Americans, however, were able to name freedom of religion as one of them. And only one in a thousand could name all five (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly/right to peaceably assemble, and freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances).

What’s worse, a McClatchy-Ipsos poll has found that 51 percent of Americans agree with this statement: “It is necessary to give up some civil liberties in order to make the country safe from terrorism.” And according to a USA Today/Gallup Poll, only one out of five Americans has a problem with TSA/airport security workers gawk at their naked bodies with the new full-body x-ray scanners. How would you feel about it if it were your wife? Your teenage daughter? How far are we willing to go?

Benjamin Franklin once said, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.” If only more than one out of five Americans actually believed that…

- John Bartus is a singer/songwriter and former Mayor of the City of Marathon. Currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce, John plays this Friday (tonight) at Dockside, and Saturday at the Key Colony Inn. Thursday finds John performing solo at Sparky’s Landing. www.johnbartus.com.

1. The X-Games by Hunter Shaffer [11.5] -- It is about skateboarders who skate down half pipes. They ride a bike called a BMX that people ride in competition. They get points for how many tricks they do. And people win. Tony Hawke is the all time best. He's the only one that got the best points ever.
2. The Green Zone probably comes close to the disaster called Iraq. The chief warrant officer in charge of the unit to find the WMDs just cannot find any. He soon suspects the intel has been cooked. Fortunately, a CIA station chief helps get the chief warrant officer back on track where the real action is. The ending is more a wish than a reality. Still, look at all the lives lost in a war that was not required.
3. Shutter Island is a spooky thrill ride of who is mental and who is not mental. A detective is sent to find out where a missing patient could be. He slowly is pulled into a maze of horror and truth. The film is put together in such a way as to keep you glued to your seat waiting for the next surprise. Finally, there is resolution of a kind in the feared lighthouse. You do not see films like this much anymore. I say enjoy and you will want to watch it again.
4. Hot Tub Time Machine is a combined genre of time travel mixed with spring break mania. The things wrong with three men who have been best friends all their lives are actually well done. You can empathize. Put all these things together and you have a well-defined movie that rocks and even entertains you. I liked it, even though I do not like such films as this.
5. Kickass is about some nerdy kid trying to put their comic-book heroes into reality. One young man in particular calls himself Kickass and stumbles into becoming the first superhero of the city. However, the evil mob family believes that this superhero is causing all their families. An exchange of encounters follows that is funny, full of action, and ends well. A sequel is possible when you see the mob guy’s son retaining his supposed superhero status.
6. Edge of Darkness is a gripping story of mystery, violence, and vengeance. Again, the government is involved. In the interest of security at any cost, nuclear weapons are made so that they appear to have been made by someone else. A detective is sucked into this world when his daughter comes home sick from radiation poisoning. On the way out to the hospital, she is killed by a shotgun blast. The detective will not stop until he knows everything that lead up to that event. There is your movie. Mel Gibson is at his best as that detective.
7. From Paris with Love is not a typical spy versus spy movie. The action scenes throughout Paris are excellent. The acting is good. An ambassador’s aid finally gets the call to go on a mission. He picks up the operative at the airport. The fun starts right there and goes headlong from place to another with an unbelievable body count. They are actually counting as well. The mission plays out on the screen with one surprise after another. The film is almost Hitchcock-like but actually better.
8. Letters to God is a tearjerker wannabe. Cute kid has cancer. He takes to writing a letter to God every day. This event changes the lives of mom, brother, grandma, the mail carrier, and his best friends. The story is decent since it is based on true events. The acting was a bit stiff, and the actors were capable of more. There are several movies that do this much better.
9. Dear John follows a couple deeply in love. He goes back to war reluctantly. The letters go back and forth. Then the letters stop. Yes, a Dear John letter scenario. This is ostensibly a love story for both the couple and the father and son. The problem is that the film cannot decide to be a war story, love story, or something else. Somehow, I think that the filmmakers missed their mark.
10. Alice in Wonderland gets the Tim Burton touch. Alice now a young woman goes to Wonderland once again. She is needed to bring order back. The red queen has stolen the crown from the white queen. A dragonlike creature ensures the red queen’s continued rule. Alice resists being the same Alice so many years back. Finally, after an adventure with Wonderland creatures, she takes on the creature, and the battle begins. Jonny Depp gives an extraordinary performance as the Mad Hatter.
11. Cop Out stars two very good actors. The story is your typical cops and robbers style movie. Drugs, guns, and general mayhem are the key ingredients to this unusual film. There is a serious crime story, but there is also unforced comedy. While not Oscar worthy, this one is good for repeat viewing. There is that much going on in the movie.
12. Furry Vengeance is the straightforward story of cute animals banding together to save their forest. Their target is a guy in charge of the big housing development. He is under the gun to get things moving quickly. There is the conflict. The rest of the movie is full of the animal antics against this poor guy. The resolution is predictable, but who cares. This is a nice clean, funny movie.
13. Clash of the Titans is a modern version of the classic original. We were spared the cheap special affects and amateurish acting. The story really takes hold of your interest. However implausible the plot, the action, characters, and setting combine to make an enjoyable movie. Award-winning? No. Entertaining? Yes. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl get into trouble. Boy saves the world and the girl.

14. This is It is a remembrance of the potential of Michael Jackson. Apparently, he had to die tragically to seal his place in history. The music, the songs, the dance all display the Jackson genius. This hodge-podge film is good simply because of the subject. Otherwise, the rest is a maudlin failure.

15. Repo Men is an adventure and quite good. Human organs can be had for a price. If your payments are late, two ex-military men work together to retrieve the human organ. The poor slob, who did not pay, usually passes on to the next life, you know what I mean. Well, when one member of the two-man team has to have a replacement heart, things get a bit dicey. There are surprises too. Good movie.

16. The Hangover by Ricky Shaffer [10] -- I think this one is five stars. It is really funny and it is about these four men who go to Vegas for a party. The next morning they wake up and they don't remember anything that happened. And that's all!

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