www.kwtn.com Key West THE NEWSPAPER June 24, 2011 Page 1 KEY WEST THE NEWSPAPER • JUNE 24, 2011 PAGE ONE COMMENTARY It’s Still Adopt-a- Former City Commissioner Cat Month at the Ed Scales: Is He Appellate Shelter Judge Material? by Dennis Reeves Cooper WAS HE PART OF A SCHEME TO Local attorney and former city commissioner Ed Scales, SCAM THE STATE LEGISLATURE wants to be a judge— but not TO PROTECT HIS CLIENT’S just a local county or circuit MONOPOLY IN THE LOCAL judge, who have to be elected by the people every few years. TOUR BUSINESS? He wants to be a big-deal ap- the past five years. before he moved here from pellate judge, sitting on the The way the selection Lakeland. He is very likable. JUNE IS ADOPT-A-CAT MONTH and that means that all adop- Third District Court of Appeal process works is that a Judicial In fact, he is one of that genre tions of adult cats and kittens are free during June, thanks to a in Miami. Appointment at that Nominating Committee (JNC) of soft-spoken lawyers— like private donor who is underwriting expenses. But as June comes to level is, for all practical pur- screens the applicants and defrocked attorney Jim Hen- an end, shelter officials have announced that free adoptions will poses, a prestigious, well-paid sends the governor a short list. drick— who can convince you, be continued through July. All the cats that are up for adoption job for life. Then the governor makes the in just minutes, that whatever have been spayed or neutered, microchipped and are up-to-date And he wants one of those appointment. is good for one of his clients is with their shots. The shelter at 5230 College Road on Stock Island seats so badly that he has ap- We here at KWTN have also good for you. is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from plied for the job four times in known Scales for years, even See SCALES, page 6 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Info: (305) 294-4857. SPECIAL REPORT Who Really Owns Wisteria Island? by Naja Girard the State of Florida, owned the phoon!” says Sloan Bashinsky, Each of those islands belongs was sold by the State of Florida. You’re not going to believe island. one of several vocal opponents to the US government: Split So the question is: When and this one! Back in September of This, of course, is big news to Wisteria Island’s owners’ Rock Key, Tank Island (sold by how did the State end up with 1951, when the State of Florida for the group of concerned (the Bernstein and the Walshes) the US Navy to Pritim Singh), that one island? sold Wisteria Island to then- citizens opposing increased plans. Fleming Key, Demolition Key. The minutes of the debate State Representative Bernie development potential for the It all started with one Like Wisteria Island, all of those at the state level reveal that at Papy Sr, the U.S. Navy filed island. The Navy letter is not simple observation: There is islands were created by the U.S. the time of the sale, the Navy a formal objection to the sale, just a cloud on the title, “It’s a straight line of spoil islands Navy. intervened and made a strong claiming the United States, not a typhoon. A category 5 ty- just west of Key West Harbor. Wisteria Island, however, See WISTERIA, page 4 THE ISLAND’S OLDEST INDEPENDENT WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Key West THE NEWSPAPER June 24, 2011 Page 2 www.kwtn.com CAROL GORTON FULLER BITCHIN’ PARADISE I Hate a Parade by Kimberley Denney poor dogs to a crowded scene and trampled in the crowd. You Actually, I loathe a pa- chock full of canons blasting are part of the show. rade. Remember when they every five seconds. It was hor- And nothing can describe ditioned vehicle that contains used to be fun? Like, when rible. I haven’t been to Gaspa- the feeling as you turn onto your fun friends and your mom, people didn’t value their own rilla since. Duval from Front St. and see who you’ve encouraged to stay self-worth by the number of But then you move to Key the masses crammed behind an extra night because being in cheap beads hanging from West and you are like totally barricades, waiting for you. a parade is going to be like, the their necks? psyched to finally live here They love you. Really, it’s not best vacation story ever. I think my excitement during Fantasy Fest, no longer because you have 1,000 pounds You were going to have about parades started to dim a sucker who has to pay $300/ of beads at the ready. to drive the vehicle, which is about 10 years ago during night at the Days Inn. Ok, maybe part of it is the fine, except your friend doesn’t Gasparilla in Tampa, when I You think you have re- beads. And it is totally cool wei- think you can go the whole day was more preoccupied by the ally hit the big time when you lding the power of cheap plastic. without drinking and organizes assholes who brought their are asked to participate in the But the novelty wears off by a driver who is supposed to be parade. You get to wear a re- the time you reach Antonia’s really cool and fun. ally cool costume that ends up in the 600 block of Duval. After Except you find out too costing a fortune and which, two consecutive years of find- late that your driver is Mommie try as you might, you’ll only ing helpful guys to crowd surf Dearest. And not campy fun wear once and end up selling you over the barricades in your Christopher Peterson as Joan at a yard sale for $30. But who quest for a nice bathroom and Crawford Mommie Dearest. cares? No more getting elbowed an ice cold dirty martini, you We’re talking Mean Mommie think that perhaps you and a from Hell. parade are not a match made Our goal after leaving the in heaven. parade launching point was to Until one of your GBFs get to Courthouse Deli, where invites you to be part of the Gay we’d let my mom out on a beer Pride Parade. Now, this will be run. None of the three Muriels much more civilized. For one, in the car (me, Scott McCarthy it’s way shorter than Fantasy and Susan Campbell, a/k/a Fest. You will be in an air con- See KIMBERLEY, page 5 www.kwtn.com Key West THE NEWSPAPER June 24, 2011 Page 3 NEWS BRIEFS Candidate Forum Set for Monday Ready or not, here comes Election 2011— and the Home- town! Political Action Committee has scheduled the first candi- date forum for this coming Monday, June 27, at Salute Restaurant on Higgs Beach. Social period at 5 p.m. Candidates who have declared that they are running for election or reelection, as well as potential candidates who may be just “testing the water,” have been invited to attend and speak briefly at this event, starting at 5:30 p.m. Four City Commission seats are up for grabs this year— the District 2 seat, currently occupied by Mark Rossi; the District 4 seat, currently held by Barry Gibson— who is not running for reelection; and the District 5 seat, currently occupied by Teri Johnson. Mayor Craig Cates is also running for reelection this year. Three incumbents on the Utility Board are also up for reelection. All candidates must qualify by noon on August 19. The general election is on October 4 and if any runoffs are required, that election is scheduled for November 8. Word Lists Available for Spelling Bee It’s time to help your kids prepare for the 4th Annual Frederick Douglass Community Center Summer Spelling Bee! Word lists are available until Monday, June 27, at the Frederick Douglass Community Center, 111 Olivia St. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. The spelling bee is scheduled for August 5. The contest is open to all children ages 9 to 16 years of age. See Mrs. Gwendolyn Sommers, Mr. Charles Major, Mr. James Murphy or Mr. William Stafford for the word list. Call 293-8305 for more information. WANT TO READ OR SAVE ALL SIX CHAPTERS OF MATT GARDI’S POPULAR SERIES ON FORECLOSURE FRAUD? VISIT HIS BLOG AT www.nakedconch.com Key West THE NEWSPAPER June 24, 2011 Page 4 www.kwtn.com been a State Representative for into Wisteria Inc. According to Wisteria more than 17 years. Roger Bernstein, Wolkowsky, FROM page 1 Apparently, back then, the lacking funds to finish up the and unequivocal claim to own Keys’ real estate craze included construction of bathrooms at Wisteria Island. buying up baybottom lands and the Pier House, had secured a Under the State’s policy, filling them in with dredged loan from Roger’s father, Benja- such a claim would usually put materials to create bigger and min Bernstein. Wisteria Island a halt to the sale until the issue better waterfront properties. was set aside as collateral and was resolved. Curiously, in the In the case of Wisteria Island, the Bernsteins “reluctantly” case of Wisteria Island, the State the filling-in had already been ended up with ownership of officials, under the direction of done, thanks to the US Navy.