KEY LARGO Jazz series brings big voice to Cultural Center Kevin Mahogany headlines July 2 program L’Attitudes Staff FILM For those old enough to remember big voiced jazz singers like Johnny Hartman and Big Joe Turner, the Key Largo ‘Cars 2’: Will Pixar’s Summer Jazz Concerts series offers up Kansas City jazz vocalist Kevin Kansas City jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany. golden touch continue? Mahogany. Mahogany’s baritone the cultural center, which ers are voice has been described had been a sticking point Spy spoofery KEYS by Newsweek magazine FILM probably for arts groups trying to unknown In L’Attitudes as “the standout jazz wins plaudits book the facility. to many. vocalist of his genera- “The county has bent tion.” in ‘Variety’ Dr. Ed over backwards to help,” Catmull He plays at 7 p.m. Kay Thacker, a founder Cars 2 Saturday, July 2, at the Opens Friday, June 24 and Dr. of the Friends group, Alvy Murray E. Nelson said. Rated G, 112 min. Government and Cultural Ray To prove the county The animated sequel to Smith Center. venue can draw public 2006’s “Cars” opens this Joining him on stage: brought support, the Friends weekend in 2D and 3D (I the pio- Doug Bickel, piano; Gary group has booked a series prefer 2D). Starring the Thomas, acoustic bass, neering of jazz musicians and voice talents of Owen Craig Wanous science and Richard Hargett, singers for six concerts Wilson, Larry the Cable The Red Elvises, a Russian surf band, plays Marathon of com- drums. this summer. “Jazz is Guy, John Turturro, Emily Mahogany’s appear- puter animation to the com- Disney’s latest family film summer movie ‘Cars 2’opens very popular and it’s new Mortimer and Michael pany and creative genius June 24. ance is the second in a to the Keys,” Thacker Caine, Cars 2 takes summer jazz series being John Lasseter was the artis- Executive Officer. than $350 million worldwide said. “And the hotels and Lighting McQueen around tic addition to the original hosted by the Friends of motels in Key Largo area the world as he races in the Originally the company and helped Pixar raise more the Key Largo Cultural team. In a perfect blend of sold computer hardware and than $150 million through a are very pleased. It gives first World Grand Prix. art and science, Pixar’s Center, a group of residents and visitors The movie has little to do software to businesses, gov- public stock offering. and Key West; Disney’s ‘Cars 2’ opens. Story, founders believe art chal- activists who pushed the something to do besides with the original and could ernment agencies and the But although the partner- county to better utilize lenges the technology and medical community. One of ship was profitable for both fishing, diving and snor- actually be called Mater: technology inspires the art. the auditorium facility. keling.” The Spy Who Towed Me its clients was Disney companies, Pixar com- In March, the county The company began in Studios. But the products plained that the arrangement Mahogany’s July 2 bill because much of the story 1979 as the Graphics Group, commission approved a revolves around the lovable never sold very well and in with Disney wasn’t equi- pilot program that a division of LucasFilm, an effort to increase income, table. Profits and production G See Jazz,6B country-boy tow truck, reduced fees for use of George Lucas’ film studio, Pixar employee John costs were split 50-50, but voiced again by Larry the where Catmull, Smith and Cable Guy. Lasseter and the animation Disney owned all story and their team created computer department began making sequel rights and also col- MUSIC Mater is mistaken for a software that allowed tradi- spy and, in a series of mis- computer-animated commer- lected a distribution fee. The tional cartoon cel animators cials for other companies, lack of story and sequel adventures, crosses paths to use computer animation with 007-style secret agent including Tropicana, rights led to a contentious with very little training. But Listerine, and LifeSavers. relationship that was only Finn McMissile (Michael Lucas didn’t have the Caine) and his winsome In 1991, Pixar made a resolved after Disney CEO patience to wait for the tech- deal with Disney to produce Michael Eisner was replaced associate Holly Shiftwell nology to work in film and (Emily Mortimer). three computer-animated by Robert Iger. began looking for a buyer. feature films. But the com- After the leadership But almost as interesting In 1986, Apple’s Steve as the movie is the story of pany was still losing money change, the partnership Jobs stepped in and paid $10 and Jobs - like Lucas - con- smoothed roiled waters and 4B Pixar itself. Driven by cre- million to buy the division. sidered selling. He decided Disney agreed to buy Pixar in ative computer scientists and A newly independent com- brilliant artists and anima- to give Pixar another chance 2006 for approximately $7.4 pany, named Pixar, was after Disney agreed to dis- billion in stock. Steve Jobs, tors, most people probably headed by Catmull as recognize the name of one of tribute its first full-length the majority shareholder of President, with Smith as film, Toy Story, for the 1995 Pixar, became Disney’s Cheers! Pixar’s founders, Steve Jobs, Executive Vice-President t of Apple Computers. holiday season. largest individual shareholder and Director. Jobs served as That movie grossed more h names of the oth- Chairman and Chief G See Film, 6B The Key West City Commission takes the first step to legalize Sunday morning booze sales. Story, 6A WWW.KEYSNET.COM KEY WEST Pier House SATURDAY,JUNE 25, 2011 MERMAID DISCOVERS THE KEYS bidding opens VOLUME 58, NO. 51 City considers ● 25 CENTS selling chunk month — virtually nothing for the prime piece of Old of prime land Town real estate. Before the city buys or By SEAN KINNEY sells any property, voters have [email protected] to approve it via referendum, per the city charter; after voter Last November, Key West approval, the city has to com- voters gave city officials the mission two independent OK to sell a piece of com- appraisals. Those appraisals, mercial property on Front costing a little more than Street; eight months later, the $26,000, were completed and two required appraisals are returned to the city this month complete and bids are now by the Appraisal Company of being entertained. Key West and Lighthouse The property is the luxury Realty Services. Pier House Resort’s They returned three dis- Caribbean Spa comprising 22 tinct appraisal figures — hotel rooms, a conference measuring the price if the center, spa facilities and a land and property were to be rooftop deck at 529 Front St. sold today unencumbered by If you’ve got several mil- a lease, the value if it went to lion dollars to spare, you can the Pier House allowing bid until Sept. 2. Bids are uninterrupted hotel opera- scheduled to be opened on tions and the third, the value Sept. 6. Then it’s up to the as a startup, standalone hotel. City Commission to either According to the accept the highest bid or Appraisal Company of Key reject all responses. West, and with respect to the The Pier House has a above descriptors, those fig- sweetheart lease, executed in ures are $6.3 million, $3.6 1965, on the city-owned million and $3.2 million. The property until 2020. The rent: same analysis produced by $3,600 a year, or $300 a Lighthouse Realty Services Nancy Koelbel of Miami Shores becomes one with the fish at Sombrero Reef off Marathon as she dons a mermaid ● See Pier House, 2A outfit to take in the clear waters. It’s been her dream for years. Story, KIDS DAY POLITICS Photo by LARRY BENVENUTI Redistricting2B hearings under way Members of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office participate in Kids Day for residents of Tradewind Hammocks in Key By KEVIN WADLOW Largo last week. Sally Ann Crawford and Carol Albury Senior Staff Writer Johnson fingerprinted kids for safety records, Detective [email protected] Democrats: GOP is stalling Mark Coleman was there from the Dive Team, Jason A statewide series of 26 on the maps for minimal input Madnick represented the Bomb Squad, Jacek Szymanski public meetings on was there from the Traffic Division, and Lt. Nancy Alvarez Florida’s political redistrict- As a one of five Florida Amendment 6, saying it also participated, along with Key Largo Fire Rescue. ing process that opened counties covered by a would strip the Legislature Monday winds its way Section 5 order under the two counties in Florida to of its constitutional duty to toward an Aug. 18 session Civil Rights Act that relates lose residents since 2000 — set districts. MONROE COUNTY SCHOOLS in the Florida Keys. to discrimination, Monroe would account for only “I think it’s a fringe argu- How much the hearings County almost certainly about half that total. ment,” said Dan Gelber, a — or the redistricting cannot be split into a sepa- “I think we’ll still have a Democratic former state process itself — will affect rate House district, majority” in District 120, legislator now working as Griffiths backtracks Monroe County remains an Saunders said. “Then there Saunders said, “but it won’t an attorney for the Fair open question. would definitely be a legal be as much of a majority.” Districts Now organization. on panel’s sanctions “The biggest issue for us challenge,” he said. Two Florida constitu- “It’s basically saying an here in Monroe County is Florida’s population tional amendments amendment passed by the what part of Miami-Dade grew to nearly 19 million approved by more than 60 citizens can’t tell the School Board County gets attached to us,” people over the last decade, percent of state voters in Legislature what to do.” to revisit them training, School Board Vice said state Rep.