Schools Face $4M Budget Shortfall

ISLAMORADA KEY WEST Pirates in Paradise invasion begins Kevens, a crowd favorite the past two years,returns again In L’Attitudes Re-enactments, thieves market, for BayJama III. mock battles L’Attitudes Staff BayJama III comes The 12th annual Pirates in to Founders Nov. 26 Paradise Festival, which kicks off Friday, Nov. 25, begins 10 Free concert munity for supporting art, days of literary and literal music and dance scholar- Reggae jams at Founders Park in Islamorada with pirate mania in old Key West. showcases ships for local students,” Tall ships will set sail for Dave Feder, ICE president, mock battles, a British admi- Reggae bands said. ralty court will stage the trial The lineup for the Nov. of famous female pirates Anne Reggae and rhythm. 26 concert includes Kevens, Bonny and Mary Read, and a If you know the beat, you known for his lush drum-n- pirate village will take shape appreciate the musical style bass sound; Jahfe, a Miami that got its start in Jamaica BayJama III — and it’s all free. Story, at the Truman Waterfront. band with front woman Bands, pirate re-enactors, a and is now played world- Esther Fortune; Bushwood, a kid’s pirate costume contest wide. reggae/rock band from Fort and more gets under way at On Saturday, Nov. 26, Lauderdale and Mamadee, a 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24. music fans will get a chance reggae artist born in East From 2-5 p.m. on to experience the real thing Germany. Thanksgiving Day, scurvy when BayJama III returns to Now living in Cologne, lads and lasses — and kids the Capital Bank Mamadee’s first release, too — can partake of an Amphitheater in “Color Law,” came in 2000. unconventional pirate day of Islamorada’s Founders Park. She’s also performed with thanks, with a holiday party Reggae recording artist Gentlemen & The Far East catered by Faustos at the Kevens makes his third Band with Sisters Keepers. Truman Waterfront. appearance, along with six “We’ve got crowd The KeyRazy Band will other bands and solo artists. favorites playing again this perform and be on the lookout Contributed photos And this year’s season- year and everyone will be for the Pirates in Paradise opening concert will be free, impressed with our new ris- 5B Pirate costumes are found in abundant profusion during the Pirates in Paradise crew. according to organizers from ing stars, particularly Festival, which runs Nov.24-Dec. 4.Kids can compete for prizes at the Pirate Costume Islamorada Community Tickets cost $35 for adults; Contest being held Thanksgiving Day at Truman Waterfront. Mamadee — she may just $20 for kids 12 and under. Entertainment (ICE). blow us away,” Feder said. That includes access to the Instead of an admission Also scheduled pirate village, carnival ride, a charge, ICE is asking to perform: bandana and some pirate concertgoers to bring 20Wt (original- R ervations are a non-perishable ly from the donation for the Keys), Pressing the issue Florida Keys Fourth food banks. Dimension “The free (dubbed as admission is our “South Florida way of thanking Reggae leg- the com- G See BayJama,6B Despite the cold shoulder from Marathon, the county still wants to run the city’s Fire Rescue operations. Story, 3A WWW.KEYSNET.COM MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS Schools faceSATURDAY,NOVEMBER $4M 19, 2011 VOLUME 58, NO. 93 DEVELOPMENT budget shortfall ● 25 CENTS More cuts Feds: Records coming, Jara million from a capital fund into general operating rev- warns board enues. show Wisteria Jara acknowledged the By SEAN KINNEY need to discuss the possibili- School District [email protected] ty that if the referendum fails, the district might have owned by us Superintendent Jesus Jara to cut $14 million, which needs to cut $1M told the Monroe County includes the expected $4 That’s a blow School Board on Tuesday million deficit, from its Reason: Spike he’s planning for at least a $4 budget. in students at budget was finalized in to firm seeking by F.E.B Corp. since 1967. million budget deficit for the Lower Keys resident September. F.E.B. owner Roger fiscal year that starts July 1. Sloan Bashinsky, during the charter schools development Bernstein has been trying to Superintendent Jesus get county approval to build The expected shortfall is public comment portion of Jara said he’s looking at lots By DAVID GOODHUE based on a bleak state budg- the board meeting, likened By SEAN KINNEY of different operational 35 market-rate homes; 35 etary outlook and declining that to “Armageddon.” [email protected] expenses for reduction [email protected] transient homes; five work- property values in the “That’s what’s going to opportunities, including force houses; a bar, restaurant and retail component; and Florida Keys, board happen if the referendum Fresh off a budget cycle scaling back summer The federal government Chairman John Dick said. doesn’t pass. You will have that saw the Monroe school, “maybe increase the has dealt a major blow to a upland facilities to support a Key West development com- 100-plus ball mooring field. The news comes after a school closings; you will County School District cut temperature” in district summer budgeting cycle that have mass firings; you will $9 million from its budget, buildings to cut down on pany that has claimed owner- However, the county saw more than $9 million cut have no sports programs. It’s the district now is looking air-conditioning expenses, ship of Wisteria Island off Key Planning Commission has and in a climate where board all going to be gone. The at another $1 million in cuts cutting grass less often, and West for the past 44 years. voted 3-2 to assign Wisteria a members are trying to sell a public needs to know that.” because of student growth consolidating open posi- The U.S. Department of future-land-use-map desig- skeptical voting public on a In the current fiscal year, at Keys charter schools. tions instead of hiring new Interior said this week that it nation of residential conser- referendum that would district staff budgeted to employees. owns the uninhabited island vation, limiting development The $1 million is due the in Key West Harbor, and the to between two and five enable the transfer of $9.8 spend about $80 million; district’s six charter schools “We have to pay the for enrollment growth charters the extra allocation island “is in fact under the houses on the 21-acre island. stewardship of the United In response, Bernstein has ● (around 150 students) since even though we don’t get it See Budget, 2A the $80 2011-12 million from the state,” Jara said. States Fish and Wildlife proposed a category called FISHERIES Service,” Davida Carnahan, a maritime harbor island that spokeswoman with DOI’s would let him build more ● See Cuts, 2A Bureau of Land Management, than five houses but far fewer said Friday. than his original plan. However, Monroe County At the same time, even Property Appraiser’s Office through Wisteria is in unincor- records show the island — porated Monroe County, which has no county zoning F.E.B. has tried to get the city designation — has been owned of Key West involved by FISHERIES ● See Wisteria, 3A FWC board punts on casita issue Lawyers now looking at tional issues will keep the casita debate on the table. jurisdiction In the aquatic vocabulary, casitas are illegal underwater By KEVIN WADLOW structures built on the sea floor Senior Staff Writer to attract lobster, allowing the [email protected] crustaceans to be easily har- vested by divers. It’s now ille- Buffetted by sharply con- gal to build casitas or harvest trasting views of underwater lobster from existing ones. casitas, state fishery managers Advocates of casitas tossed the spiny-lobster issue describe them as less damag- to their lawyers Wednesday. ing to the sea floor than “We’re not moving for- wooden lobster traps and say ward to legalize casitas,” they virtually eliminate Kathy Barco, chairwoman of bycatch of fish that might be the Florida Fish and Wildlife caught in traps. Hammerhead sharks are to be feared, but now they’re to be protected, as well, say state fishery officials. They’re a Conservation Commission, “The potential is tremen- said after discussion at the dous,” said Lower Keys no-take species starting in January. board’s annual Key Largo commercial diver John meeting. Coffin, a former trapper. Barco added, “The sci- “Use this wonderful gear to Sharks get protected status ence didn’t say everything abate some of the impacts [about casitas] was bad.... from trap fishing.” I’ve listened to both sides and Fishermen in the State extends don’t have an opinion yet.” Bahamas and Cuba success- no-take ban vest in Florida waters start- The no-vote decision by fully use casitas, said Lower ing in January. This rule the FWC board to seek a Keys fisherman Russell on 4 species came on a unanimous vote to harvest” the four species. legal clarification on jurisdic- Moore, president of the by the Fish and Wildlife “This animal is on the By KEVIN WADLOW Conservation Commission. brink,” said Ken Harris of Miami shark researcher Neil ● See Casitas, 2A Senior Staff Writer A parade of shark sup- Key West Extreme Hammerschlag. “The trade [email protected] porters traveled to the Key Adventures, a shark-watch- prizes them for their dispro- Largo Grande Resort from ing charter. “We need to do portionately large fins which Love for big sharks throughout the state and more [protection], not less.” have a high number of flowed freely Wednesday in urged commissioners to pro- Years ago, “it was noth- fibers,” he said.

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