Saturday, July 14, 2007

This Week on the Island 07/15/2007


'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.
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The picture this week is the original Margaritaville (opened Jan 28, 1985) at Lands End on the Key West Bight at the end of Margaret Street. I have been looking for this picture for some time. You can see the old tower at Turtle Kraals in the background.

The book this week was 'Billy Bud' by Herman Melville.

The Weather: A little warmer than usually with 90 degrees every day and a chance for rain. We are still cooler than the West and the North East United States, plus we live on an island. Sea breezes, lots of water, beaches, bars, and boats.

There is an island off Mallory Square named Sunset Key. An undeveloped island, Christmas Tree Island, is right next to it. Developers wanted Christmas Tree Island to be part of Key West so they can build 166 homes. It is currently in Monroe County and only 2 homes can be built on it. The citizens of Key West have been fighting the annexation. This week the developers dropped their request. It looks like it will remain undeveloped for the time being.

I took another trip on the VA bus to the Miami VA this week. Another 14 hour trip. I had my teeth cleaned.

The VFW on Elizabeth Street is closing this week end and moving to North Roosevelt. They were bought out by Harbor House, the condo development going in behind Schooner Wharf.
Century 21, across the street, closed last week. They also sold out to the Harbor House development.

Our city commission voted to make the Hemingway house exempt from the rule of only 4 animals per house. They decided that the Hemingway cats are an important part of Key West history. The problem is that Hemingway NEVER owned cats when he lived in the Key West Hemingway house.

Key West, You have got to love it
'Meet me at the end of the road' - Conky Tonkin'- Jimmy Buffett
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5597N, Long 81.8016W
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