Marathon Florida Keys Journal
_{City of Marathon, Florida Keys, Paradise}

Volume 14 † Issue 5  † May 2008
[In The Keys] [Kitty Talk] [Internet Stuff] [Poetry Corner]
[Hockey Puck] [Twins of the Dark Star] [Subscribe] [The Dull Stuff] [Advertising]

Marathon Florida Keys Journal proudly presents our 14^th year of quality publishing services. We continue to focus on the Florida Keys in paradise. The lead articles are the In The Keys section that offers opinions and even some editorializing. There are also articles concerning the local political beat. These articles may be published in other media outlets. They might edit them to suit their needs. We appreciate your visit and patronage. Please enjoy yourself while you are here and come back soon! Please do us a favor and sign up for our monthly reminder of the next upcoming issue of The Marathon Florida Keys Journal. Please click on our subscription link at marathon_journal-subscribe@topica.com. When you get a return email to confirm your choice, sign up at Topica, but bypass all those solicitations.

In The Keys {for current news, see our Daily News Queue}

[Catwalk Great Novel] [Events Field Fishing] [Council 8th] [MKCLT Open House]
[Jaci Rae Update] [Youth B-ball Banquet] [Turtle Nesting Tips] [Coconut Critters] [Earth Day]
[Bird Center] [Bartus Update] [Ileana Earth Day] [Tempest Community Meeting]
[Seacrest Apartments] [FKEC Vote!] [Council 29th] [Coco Plum Beach] [What's Happening!]
[Miscellany] [Finally] [ACRONYMS]

~Some articles have photos, go to http://MarathonJournal.US/journal/press/index.htm.~
~Events scheduled to be covered, go to http://runesofao.com/schedule/index.htm. Or subscribe by going to~
~webcals://calendars.office.microsoft.com/pubcalstorage/tn7rzq5z82741/L._E._Shaffer_Calendar.ics.~ Or view at
~calendars.office.microsoft.com/en-us/pubcal/viewer.aspx?path=/pubcalstorage/tn7rzq5z82741/L._E._Shaffer_Calendar.ics&tz=-240.~

These are just a few ways that we can share our beaches with these fascinating animals.  If you have questions regarding Save-A-Turtle or turtle beach monitoring visit our website at www.save-a-turtle.org.  If you have any questions about the Sea Turtle Protection Ordinance, please call your local County or City government.  If you ever find a sick, injured, or dead sea turtle, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC and ask the dispatcher to contact the stranding network.

April 18, 2008 - Marathon - Ali Adams: Displaying their “Coconut Critters” at Marathon’s Community Park, made at the first of five spring “Art in the Park” sessions for ages 5-8, are (from top to bottom), John Sheagren, Luke Hoffman, and Dante Senmartin. In addition to Coconut Critters, the participants also made masks. More fun and craft activity will occur each Thursday evening at 6 PM at Community Park through May 16. This is one of several programs run this spring by the Parks and Recreation Department. To join in the fun, call the Parks office at 743-6598 or email adamsa@ci.marathon.fl.us.

April 19, 2008 - Marathon - L. E. Shaffer & M. Kisak: Marathon Crane Point Annual Earth Day Festival April 19. Photos are located at http://MarathonJournal.US/journal/press/.

The event this year featured a number of speakers. Dr. Laurie Richardson is a biology professor at FIU. The topic was "Effects of Global Warming on the Coral Reef." Susan Nugent authored "Women Conserving the Florida Keys" in a following event. There was NOAA Ivey Kelly with "Seagrass Awareness." The last event was Crane Point's horticulturist John Henderson doing "Native and Invasive Tree ID Walk."

All day long saw healthy food from Cristiano's Cafe. There were earth-friendly crafts for kids and adults, various environmental organizations on site, casting tournament, and an adopt-a-tree program. Touring the grounds revealed the natural wonders always present at Crane Point. There was too much fun.

April 20, 2008 - Marathon - Provided by Mayor Pete Worthington: Welcome to the Marathon Wild Bird Center’s monthly e-mail newsletter!

Stand Up for Animals (SUFA) Annual Animal Hero Awards
This year we had not one, not two, but three volunteers honored with a SUFA award for their generosity towards animals. Hannah and Aydan Child (ages 9 and 7, respectively) have been volunteering at the MWBC on a weekly basis for more than a year with their dad, Dana. The kids not only help clean and feed our patients, but also they take the time to gather sticks for our nesting pelicans, assist with rescues and releases, and make sure every baby bird has a stuffed animal for companionship! Hannah and Aydan love wildlife of all kinds including snakes, bugs, and rodents and are our heroes because they will surely be animal advocates for the rest of their lives! In addition, SUFA honored Karen Prince of our chapter facility in Key West for her tireless work at making sure the chickens of Key West are as happy and content as they can be during their stay at that facility. Karen spent years in the movie business training lots of species of animals, but is best known for the chickens she trained for the 1993 movie “Flesh and Bone” starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

Original Marathon Seafood Festival
It’s been several years since we’ve had sufficient volunteer help to host a booth at the Original Marathon Seafood Festival, but this year that wasn’t so! Thanks to many volunteers, we had a wonderful display that included appearances by Betsy, our blind Brown Pelican; Sweetie, our American Kestrel of Cuban descent; Red, our Red-shouldered Hawk; and three Mallard ducklings we recently rescued from the heavy surf of a local residence. In addition, we offered for sale our new T-shirts featuring Oliver, our osprey; note cards with photographs taken by our own volunteers; a wild bird charm bracelet specially designed for us by one of our volunteers, and a temporary tattoo booth that had kids and adults giggling with delight. Thousands of folks came to the two-day event and stopped by our booth. We feel we did a great job educating them all on how to keep our feathered friends safe in the Florida Keys.

Birds at the Event Field
Unfortunately, our third month of hosting a “Bird Walk” at Marathon’s City Event Field (98th Street) was poorly attended. We know it wasn’t from lack of interest, but simply because there were too many other events scheduled that Saturday for folks to participate in. After discussing the situation with Ali Adams, program assistant for the Parks and Recreation’s Department, we’ve decided not to abandon the idea, but rather to revamp it. Instead of waiting to see who will stop by for a bird walk at 8:00 a.m., we’re going to invite local groups of children and adults--Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc.--to join us at the park for special bird-related projects. We know this program is important to help the City secure much needed funding for the Event Field and are grateful to the City for their support of our work, so we want to see it succeed. If you know of a group of children or adults that would like a special program tailored to their bird interests, please give us a call at 305.743.8382.

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Have you checked out the wish list on our web site lately? Maybe you have just the thing to donate. Please view the list at http://www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org/wishlist.html. You might be surprised at the supplies we need. Also, funds--especially in these tight budget times--are always precious. Because we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your check is tax deductible. Please mail a check of any amount to Marathon Wild Bird Center, P.O. Box 501328, Marathon, FL 33050 or call 305.743.8382 to make a credit card contribution. We will use the money to support our work in Marathon. However, you can specify that we use it in Key West simply by writing a check payable to the Key West Wildlife Center. 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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Bahia Honda’s Annual Earth Day Celebration!
The Annual Earth Day Celebration at Bahia Honda is one gathering we’ve never missed! Since the event’s inception more ten years ago, the Bird Center has gladly participated. On Saturday, April 12, 2008, volunteers once again hosted a booth, along with other environmentally conscious groups, in one of the Florida Key’s most celebrated State Parks. Volunteers wore out their voices chatting with children and adults alike offering them advice on where to see particular birds, when to call for help if they find injured birds, and how they, too, can become involved.

Spring Migration
After a year he spent recuperating, we happily returned to the wild a Wood Thrush that came to us with a dislocated shoulder in April 2007. The bird is a rather unusual species for us to take in as a patient, but this little guy wasn’t going to stick around forever--like we thought! A few months ago, volunteer Karyn Buckley noticed that he was flying UP. Unusual? Yes, for a bird we thought was permanently disabled. We moved him to a large pen (without all the pretty flora found in our specially designed Songbird Habitat) for evaluation. Immediately, he flew up, down, and back and forth--a sign that he had worked out his shoulder issues on his own and was ready to move on. Following a little research and confirmation from our friend Mark Hedden at the Florida Keys Audubon Society, we decided to release the Wood Thrush when he was most likely to meet up with other thrushes as they migrated north in mid-April. New volunteer Sara Taylor got the pleasure of releasing the Wood Thrush in our own backyard at Crane Hammock on Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

Ocean Celebration Day at the Dolphin Research Center (DRC)
The DRC invited us to participate in their annual educational program, which captures the attention of more than one hundred 3rd and 5th graders from Switlik and Poinciana Elementary Schools. The Bird Center’s part-time staff member Tracy Walraven volunteered to assist director Kelly Grinter in hosting a booth at this fun event. The groups of kids rotated among numerous environmental booths and were educated on things that related to the ocean. We chose to highlight Betsy, our blind Brown Pelican, on this day. We asked the kids all kinds of questions, such as what do birds have that no other species have (wings was a popular answer, but wrong--bats and insects have wings, too--the correct answer was feathers!), how can we tell if a pelican has swallowed a fishhook (the answer was by scanning them with our metal detector!), and how and why to report U.S. Fish and Wildlife bird bands. The day was fun and Tracy and Kelly were tickled to receive a special behind-the-scenes tour of the DRC’s new, state-of-the-art walk-in freezer by DRC director Mandy Rodriquez. We dream of such a freezer . . . stacks and stacks of frozen thread herring, capelin, and smelt . . . just the kind of fish our birdies love to eat!

Key West Wildlife Center (KWWC) Update
KWWC Facility Director Susan Prince has been busy! Twice in the last month, Susan has shipped almost 300 Key West Gypsy Chickens to our “safe haven” farm in upstate Florida, bringing the grand total to approximately 600 birds. It’s not an easy task loading up so many birds and they have to be driven at night so as not to, pardon the pun, bake in the hot Florida sun! But, in addition to the many chickens Susan and her volunteers have been accepting and shipping, they have also been busy with Northern Gannets, Red-breasted Mergansers, and ospreys. With the help of several volunteers, we successfully returned one baby osprey--featured on the front page of the Key West Citizen this month--to its parents. And a special thank you to Key West City Commissioner Mark Rossi for allowing us access to his waterfront yard, which was a perfect release site close to the birds’ nest! The big news out of KWWC this month (and again, capturing front-page coverage in the Key West Citizen) was the rescue and release of an adult Bald Eagle. The bird landed on the tarmac of the Key West Airport after a squabble with another eagle, but magnificently flew away the next day (after a night of rest, relaxation and a decent helping of fish) from the track field at the Key West High School. Way to go Susan and volunteers!

Spread the word
Enjoyed this newsletter? Please forward it to a friend! And don’t forget to visit our web site at www.marathonwildbirdcenter.org for lots more information.

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

April 21, 2008 - Florida Keys - John Bartus: John Bartus * Florida Keys Music * Lee Iacocca still makes sense

Hello everyone,

I just found this excerpt from Lee Iacocca's new book, and it made more sense to me than almost anything I've heard or read in the past eight years. So instead of a plug or an update on Florida Keys Music (one will be coming soon, however), I thought I'd share this with everyone. I hope your springtime is pleasant wherever you are, and there will be a music and band update next week.

Take care,
John Bartus
http://www.johnbartus.com

Excerpt - Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
By Lee Iacocca with Catherine Whitney

Had Enough?

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course."

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore. The President of the United States is given a free pass to ignore the Constitution, tap our phones, and lead us to war on a pack of lies. Congress responds to record deficits by passing a huge tax cut for the wealthy (thanks, but I don't need it). The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving pom-poms instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of America my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.

My friends tell me to calm down. They say, "Lee, you're eighty-two years old. Leave the rage to the young people." I'd love to--as soon as I can pry them away from their iPods for five seconds and get them to pay attention. I'm going to speak up because it's my patriotic duty. I think people will listen to me. They say I have a reputation as a straight shooter. So I'll tell you how I see it, and it's not pretty, but at least it's real. I'm hoping to strike a nerve in those young folks who say they don't vote because they don't trust politicians to represent their interests. Hey, America, wake up. These guys work for us.

Who Are These Guys, Anyway?

Why are we in this mess? How did we end up with this crowd in Washington? Well, we voted for them--or at least some of us did. But I'll tell you what we didn't do. We didn't agree to suspend the Constitution. We didn't agree to stop asking questions or demanding answers. Some of us are sick and tired of people who call free speech treason. Where I come from that's a dictatorship, not a democracy.

And don't tell me it's all the fault of right-wing Republicans or liberal Democrats. That's an intellectually lazy argument, and it's part of the reason we're in this stew. We're not just a nation of factions. We're a people. We share common principles and ideals. And we rise and fall together.

Where are the voices of leaders who can inspire us to action and make us stand taller? What happened to the strong and resolute party of Lincoln? What happened to the courageous, populist party of FDR and Truman? There was a time in this country when the voices of great leaders lifted us up and made us want to do better. Where have all the leaders gone?

The Test of a Leader

I've never been Commander in Chief, but I've been a CEO. I understand a few things about leadership at the top. I've figured out nine points--not ten (I don't want people accusing me of thinking I'm Moses). I call them the "Nine Cs of Leadership." They're not fancy or complicated. Just clear, obvious qualities that every true leader should have. We should look at how the current administration stacks up. Like it or not, this crew is going to be around until January 2009. Maybe we can learn something before we go to the polls in 2008. Then let's be sure we use the leadership test to screen the candidates who say they want to run the country. It's up to us to choose wisely.

So, here's my C list:

A leader has to show CURIOSITY. He has to listen to people outside of the "Yes, sir" crowd in his inner circle. He has to read voraciously, because the world is a big, complicated place. George W. Bush brags about never reading a newspaper. "I just scan the headlines," he says. Am I hearing this right? He's the President of the United States and he never reads a newspaper? Thomas Jefferson once said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate for a moment to prefer the latter." Bush disagrees. As long as he gets his daily hour in the gym, with Fox News piped through the sound system, he's ready to go.

If a leader never steps outside his comfort zone to hear different ideas, he grows stale. If he doesn't put his beliefs to the test, how does he know he's right? The inability to listen is a form of arrogance. It means either you think you already know it all, or you just don't care. Before the 2006 election, George Bush made a big point of saying he didn't listen to the polls. Yeah, that's what they all say when the polls stink. But maybe he should have listened, because 70 percent of the people were saying he was on the wrong track. It took a "thumping" on election day to wake him up, but even then you got the feeling he wasn't listening so much as he was calculating how to do a better job of convincing everyone he was right.

A leader has to be CREATIVE, go out on a limb, be willing to try something different. You know, think outside the box. George Bush prides himself on never changing, even as the world around him is spinning out of control. God forbid someone should accuse him of flip-flopping. There's a disturbingly messianic fervor to his certainty. Senator Joe Biden recalled a conversation he had with Bush a few months after our troops marched into Baghdad. Joe was in the Oval Office outlining his concerns to the President--the explosive mix of Shiite and Sunni, the disbanded Iraqi army, the problems securing the oil fields. "The President was serene," Joe recalled. "He told me he was sure that we were on the right course and that all would be well. 'Mr. President,' I finally said, 'how can you be so sure when you don't yet know all the facts?'" Bush then reached over and put a steadying hand on Joe's shoulder. "My instincts," he said. "My instincts." Joe was flabbergasted. He told Bush, "Mr. President, your instincts aren't good enough." Joe Biden sure didn't think the matter was settled. And, as we all know now, it wasn't.

Leadership is all about managing change--whether you're leading a company or leading a country. Things change, and you get creative. You adapt. Maybe Bush was absent the day they covered that at Harvard Business School.

A leader has to COMMUNICATE. I'm not talking about running off at the mouth or spouting sound bites. I'm talking about facing reality and telling the truth. Nobody in the current administration seems to know how to talk straight anymore. Instead, they spend most of their time trying to convince us that things are not really as bad as they seem. I don't know if it's denial or dishonesty, but it can start to drive you crazy after a while. Communication has to start with telling the truth, even when it's painful. The war in Iraq has been, among other things, a grand failure of communication. Bush is like the boy who didn't cry wolf when the wolf was at the door. After years of being told that all is well, even as the casualties and chaos mount, we've stopped listening to him.

A leader has to be a person of CHARACTER. That means knowing the difference between right and wrong and having the guts to do the right thing. Abraham Lincoln once said, "If you want to test a man's character, give him power." George Bush has a lot of power. What does it say about his character? Bush has shown a willingness to take bold action on the world stage because he has the power, but he shows little regard for the grievous consequences. He has sent our troops (not to mention hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens) to their deaths--for what? To build our oil reserves? To avenge his daddy because Saddam Hussein once tried to have him killed? To show his daddy he's tougher? The motivations behind the war in Iraq are questionable, and the execution of the war has been a disaster. A man of character does not ask a single soldier to die for a failed policy.

A leader must have COURAGE. I'm talking about balls. (That even goes for female leaders.) Swagger isn't courage. Tough talk isn't courage. George Bush comes from a blue-blooded Connecticut family, but he likes to talk like a cowboy. You know, My gun is bigger than your gun. Courage in the twenty-first century doesn't mean posturing and bravado. Courage is a commitment to sit down at the negotiating table and talk.

If you're a politician, courage means taking a position even when you know it will cost you votes. Bush can't even make a public appearance unless the audience has been handpicked and sanitized. He did a series of so-called town hall meetings last year, in auditoriums packed with his most devoted fans. The questions were all softballs.

To be a leader you've got to have CONVICTION--a fire in your belly. You've got to have passion. You've got to really want to get something done. How do you measure fire in the belly? Bush has set the all-time record for number of vacation days taken by a U.S. President--four hundred and counting. He'd rather clear brush on his ranch than immerse himself in the business of governing. He even told an interviewer that the high point of his presidency so far was catching a seven-and-a-half-pound perch in his hand-stocked lake.

It's no better on Capitol Hill. Congress was in session only ninety-seven days in 2006. That's eleven days less than the record set in 1948, when President Harry Truman coined the term do-nothing Congress. Most people would expect to be fired if they worked so little and had nothing to show for it. But Congress managed to find the time to vote itself a raise. Now, that's not leadership.

A leader should have CHARISMA. I'm not talking about being flashy. Charisma is the quality that makes people want to follow you. It's the ability to inspire. People follow a leader because they trust him. That's my definition of charisma. Maybe George Bush is a great guy to hang out with at a barbecue or a ball game. But put him at a global summit where the future of our planet is at stake, and he doesn't look very presidential. Those frat-boy pranks and the kidding around he enjoys so much don't go over that well with world leaders.
Just ask German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who received an unwelcome shoulder massage from our President at a G-8 Summit. When he came up behind her and started squeezing, I thought she was going to go right through the roof.

A leader has to be COMPETENT. That seems obvious, doesn't it? You've got to know what you're doing. More important than that, you've got to surround yourself with people who know what they're doing. Bush brags about being our first MBA President. Does that make him competent? Well, let's see. Thanks to our first MBA President, we've got the largest deficit in history, Social Security is on life support, and we've run up a half-a-trillion-dollar price tag (so far) in Iraq. And that's just for starters. A leader has to be a problem solver, and the biggest problems we face as a nation seem to be on the back burner.

You can't be a leader if you don't have COMMON SENSE. I call this Charlie Beacham's rule. When I was a young guy just starting out in the car business, one of my first jobs was as Ford's zone manager in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. My boss was a guy named Charlie Beacham, who was the East Coast regional manager. Charlie was a big Southerner, with a warm drawl, a huge smile, and a core of steel. Charlie used to tell me, "Remember, Lee, the only thing you've got going for you as a human being is your ability to reason and your common sense. If you don't know a dip of horseshit from a dip of vanilla ice cream, you'll never make it." George Bush doesn't have common sense. He just has a lot of sound bites. You know--Mr.they'll-welcome-us-as-liberators-no-child-left-behind-heck-of-a-job-Brownie-mission-accomplished Bush.

Former President Bill Clinton once said, "I grew up in an alcoholic home. I spent half my childhood trying to get into the reality-based world--and I like it here."

I think our current President should visit the real world once in a while.

The Biggest C is Crisis

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. Where was George Bush? He was reading a story about a pet goat to kids in Florida when he heard about the attacks. He kept sitting there for twenty minutes with a baffled look on his face. It's all on tape. You can see it for yourself. Then, instead of taking the quickest route back to Washington and immediately going on the air to reassure the panicked people of this country, he decided it wasn't safe to return to the White House. He basically went into hiding for the day--and he told Vice President Dick Cheney to stay put in his bunker. We were all frozen in front of our TVs, scared out of our wits, waiting for our leaders to tell us that we were going to be okay, and there was nobody home. It took Bush a couple of days to get his bearings and devise the right photo op at Ground Zero.

That was George Bush's moment of truth, and he was paralyzed. And what did he do when he'd regained his composure? He led us down the road to Iraq--a road his own father had considered disastrous when he was President. But Bush didn't listen to Daddy. He listened to a higher father. He prides himself on being faith based, not reality based. If that doesn't scare the crap out of you, I don't know what will.

A Hell of a Mess

So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, competence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "the Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen--and more important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bobblehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope. I believe in America. In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises--the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, the Kennedy assassination, the Vietnam War, the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to action for people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the horseshit and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had enough.

Excerpted from Where Have All the Leaders Gone?. Copyright © 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.

April 25, 2008 - Marathon - Councilwoman Marilyn Tempest: Community Meeting April 24th.
COMMUNITY CHARACTER

We sat in a circle near a table with iced water and chocolate chip cookies at the local theatre. But other than that vignette, there was nothing old fashioned about it. I really want to thank those who came out, the working people, the retirees, and the newcomers and certified Conchs. And a special thanks to Ginger Snead, candidate for Marathon City Council and Fred Colvard, candidate for School Board, for joining us.

The very lively discussions included Marathon beautification projects, wastewater, and the proposed dog park on the south end of the Events Field, vacation rentals, code problems, Boot Key’s future, our homeless population, and affordable housing for low and moderate-income people. These are today’s hot topics, and it was refreshing to share ideas with folks who live and work here. Their input will influence my positions on these issues in upcoming council meetings.

And before we concluded, our little group tried to put into words how they want Marathon to grow up. We found it hard to express, but were united as to how we felt. Three thoughts stayed with me from this exercise in defining our future: (1) City should set code, fees, and taxes so that middle class and working people will want to live here and can afford to; (2) Let our recovery happen naturally, with minimal interference or growth of government and (3) As best we can, hold onto and nurture our community spirit and character.

What exactly is Community Character? I know it when I see it, and it filled that room. Times like these are the best part of this job.

Marilyn Tempest, Councilwoman
City of Marathon, 305-731-4480

April 27, 2008 - Middle Keys - L. E. Shaffer: The Middle Keys Community Land Trust owns and operates a low-income workforce rental apartment complex. The name of the rental workforce community is Seacrest Apartments. Don't let low-income fool you though. The workforce represented here would be upper middle income is most other places in the US. Photos are located at http://MarathonJournal.US/journal/press/.

Here in the fabulous Florida Keys the median income level is set by HUD. Essentially, every county or parish has their median income set by HUD. No more than 30% of a workforce family's income can go to housing rental or ownership. That is the goal anyway.

Seacrest Apartments house a Home Deport department head, a Crane Point education specialist, Comcast employee, and several retired folks. In other words, the renters are a cross-section of Marathon's critical workforce. Everyone has the same story. They couldn't live in Monroe County without residing at Seacrest.

Seacrest Apartments have added landscaping and continued a program to replace air conditioners, refrigerators, and stoves over the long term. The laundry facility pays for itself including the replacement of old units. Seacrest is saving for new roofs and sewer connections for the near future. Renter's insurance is low because the apartments are well built and maintained.

The workforce community fits into the quiet neighborhood quite well. Everyone seems to know each other. The friendly family atmosphere is a plus for living at Seacrest. The interiors vary a bit from vaulted ceilings to more traditional. Some apartments are one-bedroom while the rest are efficiencies. The floors are stone tiled. The apartments are easy to clean. Every apartment has a ceiling fan that reduces electricity bills.

I talked to a number of residents who are very happy with their rental apartments. Some are saving to buy a house later, while others are just renters forever. I didn't meet anyone who had major complaints. Of course, there are a few who are never pleased, but Land Trust staff always try hard to satisfy every residents. Seacrest Apartments are an important and necessary plank in the critical Marathon human infrastructure that supports the greater city community.

April 28, 2008 - Middle/Upper Keys - Provided by Pete Worthington: FKEC Wants Your Vote!
Greetings,

GLEE (Green Living and Energy Education organization) is hosting their first annual GREEN LIVING AWARDS.

FKEC has been nominated because of their efforts in being an environmentally responsible company.

Please go to http://keysglee.com/html/08_expo/08_GLA_org.html to cast your vote for FKEC right now. Then, pass this email forward to others you feel might be interested in casting a vote.

FKEC has done the following (just to name a few):

-First to switch their vehicle fleet to biodiesel fuel using a 50/50 blend
-Purchased 2,000 recycling bins for our members du to lack of availability elsewhere
-Incorporated LEED building standards for their new office in Tavernier (using recycled building materials, a large cistern, bamboo flooring, etc.)
-Hosted the first two Keyswide Sustain-Ability Project meetings (KSAP) and participated in all three
-Founding member and major sponsor of GLEE
-Performs free home and business energy audits to all members
-Ordered biodegradable containers for food service at this years annual meeting
-And the list goes on!

Please visit www.keysglee.com or click the link above to go directly to the Agency/Organization voting section and cast your vote for FKEC today!

Thank you for your support!

April 29, 2008 - Marathon - L. E. Shaffer: Marathon City Council met in a special call meeting on Boot Key Bridge followed by the regular meeting. Photos are located at http://MarathonJournal.US/journal/press/. The first part of the meeting addressed the Boot Key appraisal along with the disposition of the bridge. The council expected the island to be worth more without the bridge. The problem is that is not the case. The difference in the value of the land without the bridge and removing the lift span regardless of land value and possible ligation favors removing the lift span.

Deputy City Manager C. J. Geotis presented a number of options concerning Boot Key Bridge. See the handout. The handout is no longer available. Geotis led the discussion of the various options with help from City Attorney Jimmy Morales.

Brian Schmitt spoke on behalf of the major owner, Barry Yampol, who believes that the property is worth more than the latest appraised value. Fred Endemann does not want to suffer the cost of repairing the bridge. He also rejected the appraisal’s finding. Wayne Shelton is the submarine builder and wants access to the island. Joan M. asked about the legality of the business ventures located on the island. She is worried about the environmental impacts. The property used to be a city dump and a shooting range. Mayor Worthington proposed including reliable access to the island regardless of any other options.

Mr. Walker reported on the appraisal that he submitted to the city. Barry Yampol owns 99% of the island, while Joe Nascone owns about 10 acres and Marathon Wireless has about 2 acres of the Boot Key total area.

Councilwoman Tempest proposed buying the island outright mitigating the environmental repercussions. She would remove the bridge. She also would try to get Florida Forever funding. Otherwise, she would remove the bridge. Councilman Vasil proposed purchasing outright and turning it into an eco-park, using grant-money. That was essentially Option One. His big concern is the cost of any environmental cleanup. Councilman Cinque proposed buying the island. He favored offering part of the city’s developable area in exchange for cooperation from the land owners. Vice Mayor Bull proposed to buy the island. He thinks that Florida Forever should purchase the island. He also favored providing a ferry service. Mayor Worthington proposed Option Three to include reliable access to the island regardless of the options. Council directed staff to investigate Option One, excluding dump site. They will consider access options later.

Council approved the agenda and consent agenda. An asterisk marks consent items [*].

Proclamations, Special Recognitions and Awards

1.      Mayor Worthington presented the Therapy Dog Awareness Day Proclamation.

2.      Mayor Worthington presented the National Building Safety Week Proclamation.

3.      Mayor Pro Tem Mario Di Gennaro reported that the Florida Senate passed the $200 million 4-year bond for Monroe County sewer projects. The House is next.

Citizens' comments at time certain of 6:30 PM:

1.      Randy Webb spoke about his own sewering requirements. He praised staff for their help. He further spoke on his objections to not interviewing the top city manager applicants.

2.      Fred Endemann spoke on wastewater issues. He wanted Area 6 to proceed immediately. He objected to the council not assessing everyone right away.

3.      Hans Stiglitz spoke on the Switlik School cross and thanked Mike Puto. He also decried the possible loss of the last laundromat.

4.      Former Mayor John Bartus thanked Mike Puto for his long, faithful service to the city. He also recognized Clyde Burnett.

5.      Morgan Hill spoke about the budget cuts on early child care. She says that the city needs to fund the gaps. She objected to Fred Endemann’s stance on sewer assessments. Morgan said that she feels the Clyde Burnett can hit the ground running. Thanked council for the job that they are doing.

6.      Joan Nelson spoke on stuff. She didn’t like the city manager selection process. She doesn’t like the liveaboard boaters not supposedly getting city support.

Special Orders and Presentations

1.      City Manager Mike Puto presented his report.

a.       Staff provided a written wastewater update.

b.      Puto wanted clarification for the building fee waiver for non-profits. He wanted a lower fee limit to grant such waivers without council approval. Council directed staff to prepare a resolution to grant fee waivers under certain parameters.

c.       Puto requested vendor policy direction. Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance.

d.      Puto provided the Sombrero Beach Road update. The finishing touches will be completed soon, May 11^th.

e.       Community Services Director reported on emergency work on Sombrero Beach Road. FDOT accepted the Sombrero Beach Road by the beach project to put in improved parking and road system. She reported that the FKAA – Council meet May 13^th at 4 PM vice the 23^rd on the Little Venice project. She requested an assessment methodology special call meeting for June 5^th.

f.       Puto and Thomas requested to publish the Quay Boat Ramp RFQ. Council gave approval for same.

g.      Marathon High School dedication is scheduled for April 30^th.

h.      Beautification Committee placed City Hall signs at the Events Field and moved trees to the city marina.

i.        Power boat races May 13, 14, and 15^th will use the Events Field. Council waived the field usage fee.

j.        Mayor Worthington reported on the Transportation Committee events. The Key West bus route will be extended to the Vaca Cut Bridge. Two bus shelters will be installed soon.

k.      City Manager Puto thanked various staff members for all their hard work. He also thanked the numerous volunteers that help the city. FDOT will install new caution lights at 33^rd Street for the Stanley Switlik Elementary School. He finished off with a number of updates and announcements.

2.      Green Team Chair Mike Welber provided the Earth Day Report. The council directed staff to implement the team’s recommendation provided their cost is not prohibitive.

3.      Councilwoman Tempest led the discussion on Sewer Service Area 3. She reported that the FKEC might not be supportive of the city’s efforts regarding necessary land acquisition. Community Services Director Susie Thomas reported that the lease agreement doesn’t appear likely now.

City Council Items

1.      *Council approved previous meeting minutes. Items marked with an asterisk [*] are consent items approved when the agenda is approved.

Ordinances for Public Hearing

1.      None.

Resolutions for Adoption

1.      Resolution 2008-62 asked and encouraged Marathon residents to conserve energy and protect the local environment by becoming more environmentally conscious, recommending five steps to take now to begin the process of reducing personal energy consumption.

2.      Resolution 2008-63 approved the Clyde Burnett employment agreement for Marathon city manager. Mike Puto got a plaque for his service. Councilman Don Vasil laid out his expectations to Clyde Burnett. He also requested an evaluation of moving City Hall to the Fire Station. Each councilperson praised Mike Puto. Vice Mayor Bull suggested a workshop on expectations for the new city manager.

3.      *Resolution 2008-64 adopted the City Of Marathon Land Management Plan.

4.      *Resolution 2008-65 approved the conditional use permit authorizing 40-deed restricted homes for the Paradise Landings workforce-housing Swift project at 104^th Street.

5.      *Resolution 2008-66 authorized the City Grants Coordinator to apply for a Community Forestry Grant on behalf of the Marathon, agreeing to sign a Grant Memorandum of Agreement if awarded an Urban and Community Forestry Grant.

6.      Resolution 2008-67 approved Project Authorization #3 with Chen and Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc. to update storm sewer utility for 2008 tax roll and prepare MS4 annual report for an amount of $16,310.

7.      Resolution 2008-68 authorized acquiring an easement from F. James Chaplin, Bettye Chaplin and the Cecelia C. Chaplin Revocable Trust for an easement for the Service Area 4 Sewer Project at an amount equal to the system development charge applicable to the property burdened by the easement.

8.      *Resolution 2008-69 authorized Change Order # 1 to Continuing Services Agreement Work Authorization #14 approved by Resolution 2006-098 to construct Avenue K.

9.      *Resolution 2008-70 awarded surplus Emergency One Tanker Pumper to the highest bidder and placing all proceeds into the appropriate fund.

10.  *Resolution 2008-71 awarded surplus Portable Marine Wastewater Pump-Out System to the highest bidder and placing all proceeds into the appropriate fund.

11.  Resolution 2008-72 approved an amendment to the Building Department Fee Schedule to change the Plan Review Fees charged to quarter hours.

12.  *Resolution 2008-73 authorized an agreement to reimburse the Monroe County Tax Collector for wastewater non-ad valorem assessments.

13.  *Resolution 2008-74 amended the professional services agreement with Government Services Group for the development and implementation of a wastewater non-ad valorem assessment.

14.  *Resolution 2008-75 authorized an agreement to reimburse the Monroe County Property Appraiser for wastewater non-ad valorem assessments.

15.  Resolution 2008-76 approved the Market Rate Residential Dwelling Unit Allocation for Period 3, Year 16 and Affordable Housing Residential Dwelling Unit Allocation for Period 3, Year 16.

16.  Resolution 2008-77 approved certain purchases in excess of $10,000 and less than $25,000 and authorizing the city manager to enter into agreements in connection therewith. This is the purchase of recycling bins. This also paid for the Municode product.

Citizens' comments:

1.      Joan Nelson spoke yet again on her little people speech.

2.      Fred Endemann spoke about Morgan’s comments previously.

Council comments:

1.      Vice Mayor Bull reported on the trip to Washington DC.

2.      Mayor Worthington reported further on the Washington DC trip.

3.      Councilman Vasil had no comments.

4.      Councilwoman Tempest thanked the volunteers.

5.      Councilman Cinque thanked Mike Puto again for his service to the city.

Adjournment

1.      9:00 PM

April 30, 2008 - Marathon - L. E. Shaffer & M. Kisak: Coco Plum Beach is a wonder. Photos are located at http://MarathonJournal.US/journal/press/. The City of Marathon's stewardship of Coco Plum Beach is definitely one of its best successful, ongoing ventures. Everyone involved from Community Services Director Susie Thomas to the staff are to be commended for their efforts.

The passive beach has a beautiful entrance and parking lot leading to sandy beaches courtesy of a hurricane. The composting toilets are eco friendly. There is a couple of picnic tables to attract people. Dogs have the run of the beach. Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, Coco Plum Beach is an absolute jewel. The horizon welcomes wondering eyes. There is so much to see and do at this beach. This is not to belittle Sombrero Beach. Each beach has its own personality and attractions.

Coco Plum Beach is a natural paradise hosting all kinds of animals, birds, and plants. There are the nesting turtles. There are red mangroves. There is the wetland portion with its long trail. The far eastern portion is the de facto nudist area. Many naturists are seen picking up trash on the beach and back in the wetlands portion. During the dry season the beach looks more desert than wetlands. During the wet season you get the feel of what the Keys were like before humans set foot upon the thousands of islands. This then is one of the seven wonders in the City of Marathon.

What's Happening! Grandchildren are still what's happening. Two of them had birthdays along with their father within twenty days. How did that happen? Maybe they should have spaced those babies out a bit more. There is a summer vacation coming up. I am saving my money to spoil the grandchildren. This is my revenge on my adult children. I have some embarrassing film to show their kids too. Grandchildren are so much more fun than regular children, don't you know.

Miscellany: April wasn't quite as newsworthy as past months. The Marathon City Council is moving forward on several hard issues, especially the wastewater/stormwater system. It is hard to make fun of the councilpersons when they are doing a good, consistent job. It usually takes a year to settle into the job. Incumbency on a city council is usually worthwhile rewarding. Local politics is complex and convoluted. Funding is a maze of rules and sources, all requiring competing regulations. The upcoming November municipal elections will certainly be interesting and far more fun than the April blahs. 

Finally: Water is becoming a valued commodity exceeding even the evils of oil. States are now fighting among themselves. Think of where we would not be without plentiful, clean water? Therefore, we must all get serious about conserving water anyway that we can. So, yellow, yellow let it mellow; brown, brown flush it down. Good words to save water. Shower with friends. That can be fun. Use bathwater to keep plants green. Try some cisterns, rain barrels, and gutter collection devices to save water. Dance with some local natives to entice rain to fall from the skies. Rain, where art thou? Lake Okeechobee is getting lower. We need the rain up that way and how. Dance longer, harder, rain... I expect that we should get used to water shortages; it will only get worse.

Kitty Talk
These journals are dedicated to Kitty GreyCat's spirit. She is at RainBow Bridge along with her human friends, Leo and Doris. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please use our email form linked below to make suggestions or offer praise.  The cats have thoughts and meows that are badly interpreted by a human for publication here. So believe what you will, but enjoy nonetheless. All complaints, flames, and the like will end up in the litter box! >^..^<

Ebony: I meow that this month our human bean got into his head to give us a bath. Now you all know that isn't right. Not at all. We never asked for it. We didn't need it. It was the first ever bath we got for no emergency reason at all. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, you was the reason human bean got it into his fat head to give us a bath. I not need one at all. After you got one, the next day I got one. It wasn't nice, and I blame you for this cat disaster in my life. >^..^<
Ebony: You just jealous, because I didn't cry, moan, and yeow like you did. It was definitely awful, but I was a big, tiger cat and growl at human bean using bad cat meows he not ever heard before. >^..^<
Abby: Then, Ebony you was a better cat than I, because I not like it all. I cried loudly. I fought with claws and paws to stay out of that nasty tub. I moaned loudly. I yeowed like I was in cat hell, because I WAS in cat hell. Wet is not the condition that I liked at all.  >^..^<
Ebony: Well, I tried to get away, but that big burly human bean pinned me to the floor positioning himself away from my angry fangs and razor claws. >^..^<
Abby: Then, human bean shouldn't have picked on you at all and leave me alone. It not fair that you got all the attention that brought attention to me. >^..^<
Ebony: Use not shocked like I was. I was all wet and human bean put Sergeant's Gold Flea & Tick Shampoo on me. It was ugly. It was awful. I was abused. I was wet! That is the very worst for a cat to be wet. >^..^<
Abby: I think all sorts of shutters and icky thoughts about wet. Wet is not good. I hate it. I yeowed loudly. I didn't like it at all. >^..^<
Ebony: I never liked the wet either. I never liked it when you yeow. I run into the bathroom to see what human bean doing to you. I pawed at him, and he not stop. I growled, clawed, and even paw whapped him. I can't believe that I took up for you. I prefer you get two baths instead of me getting one, but human bean wanted to do the wet bath thing to me. He thought I had coral dust on me and making me over groom. I itchy, but I don't want no bath. Human bean always too concerned with us too much. And coral dust is awful reason for bath. >^..^<
Abby: I hear coral dust can do nasty things to nasty black cats. You deserve five baths and getting wet all the time, but what did I do to deserve a bath. I groom better than any cat, especially you black thing. >^..^<
Ebony: The only thing wrong with you is being wet all over and in between your ears. You are all wet. I not deserve such treatment from human beans and even you, you Abby thing. >^..^<
Abby:  Yes, that is the last rat! You can take your wet baths with you and your human bean too. YEOW! >^..^<

1. http://www.ups.com is really good at tracking all our package arriving and going.

2. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/pc/1/en/home was the place that I setup my entire vacation.

3. http://www.canadavet.com has the Frontline Plus for my cats.

4. http://www.comcast.com lets you manage your account online.

5. http://www.doerfelfamily.com is all about the musical group The Doerfels.

6. http://www.tribalectic.com has strange products for strange folks.

7. http://www.usaa.com is where I conduct all my insurance business.

8. http://www.votefredcolvard.com is the campaign website for Fred Colvard running for Florida Monroe County Superintendent of Education.

9. http://www.papajohns.com takes pizza orders that are eagerly consumed by the customers.

10. http://www.clickbank.com is our credit/debit card and PayPal service provider.

11. http://better.tv/bettertv/?cid=507869917&lid=435027957&tid=1517521878&ordersrc=rafbettertv is Jaci Rae's latest appearance on TV.

12. http://www.johnbartus.com is the website of a friend and local celebrity, good music too!

Poetry Corner
"Seeking Refuge"
May 4, 2008

As blazing star shine
Caresses planet's edge
Aglow with eternal life
Such as it is and was

Far into the future
Dreams that be
Yet death is signed
On each soul and heart

Finally, the mass exodus
From world's bonds
Escaping planetary old age
Seeking refuge and love

Star shine blazoned
Across uncountable
Sphere of life and light
Of hope and deliverance

Soon enough time
Across generations
A new colorful world
Looms ever larger

In the eyes of
Children known
To no creation
Hoping for home

Through thick air
Clouds silver and
Sea blue, new home
Blossoms into view

© 2008 L. E. Shaffer

Hockey Puck
NHL: The Florida Panthers lost three in a row, before winning over the Atlanta Thrashers. The result of that is the Panthers are getting really close to a playoff spot, but missing it by a narrow margin. They are assured of a winning season, considering the wins and losses. The Florida Panthers won a second game in a row by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 4 – 3. This is just a little too late. It hurts more to be outside the playoff window by so few points, but that is what it is. Life goes on until next season.

PGA: Tiger was disappointed to finish second in the Masters in Augusta Georgia.

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Bristol NASCAR Sprint Cup race saw Jeff finish 2^nd, 9^th in points; Dale Jr. 6^th, 4^th.  At the Texas Speedway, Jeff Gordon finished 43^rd, 14^th in points, while Dale Jr. finished 12^th after capturing the pole, still 4^th in the points. Dale Jr. finished seventh and is 3^rd in points, while Jeff finished 13^th and is 14^th in points at Phoenix. NASCAR Talladega Jeff finished 21^st and 14^th in points, while Dale Jr. finished 10^th and 3^rd in points.

IRL: The first woman to win a major auto race was IRL’s Danica Patrick. She handily won the race held in Japan.

NBA: The Miami Heat are out of the ongoing playoffs. The matchups are interesting. We will see how the finals turn out.

NFL: The New York Giants pulled off a Super Bowl upset over the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

MLB: The Florida Marlins are in first place and look like they are going to stay there for a while. Will wonders ever cease to amaze me and all of you!

WTA: Venus and Serena Williams still doing well. Never count them out by any means. Serena Williams won her fifth Sony Ericsson Open. Serena Williams won the Family Circle Cup, while Venus is taking some time off.

NCAA Football: Ohio State disappoints again and loses the championship game.

 

Book Three Twins of the Dark Star
Book One Tears from Ao, Book Two The Mountains of Ao and four poetry collections, Pages of Life, Visions of Life, Moments of Life, and The Book of Kalian Mysticism are available at http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/. The Runes of Ao project is ongoing. Book Three Twins of the Dark Star novel is a work in progress, but the writing goes very slowly because of the success of Marathon Florida Keys Journal. Falling Star poetry collection is a work in progress. A collaboration with K. Young on a novella called Dragon Embers is now published on the fan site known as Runes of Ao.com. Other dragon artwork is available as well. Finally, in collaboration with K. Young and Linda Hall, a group novel project is in progress and currently titled Starsongs. We currently are at an impasse.

The Dull Stuff
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of this magazine, company, or its advertisers. Inputs, email, suggestions, and letters to this journal are subject to approval by the Journal Editor. Submittals may be edited for content and length and become the creative property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of:

Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
Merchant Occupational License #48210-0076151
PO Box 501833
Marathon FL 33050-1833
(305) 743-9648 voice/fax
(305) 289-4180
(305) 289-4167

Internet URLs: www.MarathonJournal.US
 www.RunesofAo.com
www.RunesofAo.com/roa/
www.RunesofAo.com/aobp/
www.RunesofAo.com/ebony/
www.RunesofAo.com/abby/
www.RunesofAo.com/LarryShaffer/

Publication date: April 28, 2008
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
© 1995 - 2009, 2010 L. E. SHAFFER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FIRST PRINTING; ELECTRONIC & PRINT MEDIA

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